Withdraw the Mind Under the Control of the Self
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that true spiritual life begins when one learns to detach from the temporary material world. Whether practicing the yogic principle of pratyāhāra to control the senses, understanding how the Supreme Lord universally withdraws His energies, or demonstrating unflinching love, the concept of withdrawal is central to spiritual elevation. By studying these quotes, we learn how to pull our consciousness away from illusion and fix it eternally upon Kṛṣṇa.
Withdrawing the Wandering Mind
The mind is inherently unsteady and naturally drawn toward material sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that a serious transcendentalist must be vigilant, constantly pulling the mind away from wherever it wanders and bringing it back under the strict control of the Self.
- From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.
- From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.
- Gradually, even the mind, which he used as a means to attract the Lord, as one attracts a fish to a hook, withdraws from material activity.
- Thereupon that man who spoke on different subjects with thousands of meanings and who fought on thousands of battlefields and protected thousands of men, stopped speaking and, being completely freed from all bondage, withdrew his mind from everything else.
Withdrawing Senses from Material Beauty
The senses are constantly seeking external stimulation, particularly the eyes seeking worldly beauty. Through the yogic practice of pratyāhāra, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we must actively withdraw our senses from these temporary material engagements to focus on the eternal, spiritual beauty of the Lord.
- In the yoga system this process is called pratyahara, which means, in technical language, "the opposite." Now the eyes are engaged in seeing worldly beauty, so one has to withdraw them from enjoying that beauty and concentrate on seeing beauty inside.
- The eyes are engaged in seeing worldly beauty, so one has to withdraw them from enjoying that beauty and concentrate on seeing beauty inside. That is called pratyahara.
- The senses of the Krsna conscious persons are used only for some particular purpose in the service of the Lord and are withdrawn otherwise.
- Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha. Here we have got attraction, material, so we have to withdraw this attraction. How it will be possible? If we become more attracted to Krsna, then this attraction will go away.
The Supreme Lord's Cosmic Withdrawal
The creation, maintenance, and annihilation of the material world are executed simply by the supreme will of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that through His expansion as Mahā-Viṣṇu, the Lord breathes out millions of universes and effortlessly withdraws them all back into His inconceivable form at the end of time.
- I (The Supreme Lord) create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy.
- Maha-visnu, from whose breathing millions of universes emanate and into whom they are again withdrawn, may be accepted as the Lord of the universe.
- When the cosmic manifestation is annihilated, these different expansions of Narayana's potencies (the demigods) will merge into Narayana. In other words, all these demigods will die. Their living force will be withdrawn, and they will merge into Narayana.
- The navel of the Lord is so deep and coiling that it appears that the whole universe again wants to withdraw into the navel, being attracted by God's beauty. The Lord's navel and the ripples on His belly always increase the beauty of His bodily features.
The Unwithdrawing Love of a Pure Devotee
While we must withdraw our attachment to the material world, our attachment to Kṛṣṇa must be absolute and eternal. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that pure Vaiṣṇava philosophy dictates that once a soul has fully surrendered in love to the Supreme Lord, that loving service can never be withdrawn, even if the Lord appears severe or unyielding.
- If anyone surrenders to Krishna wholeheartedly and engages in His service he cannot say later on I resign. It is not something like material service. Once surrendered, it cannot be withdrawn.
- This is Vaisnava philosophy. "Krsna may be very cruel, but I cannot withdraw my love for Him." This is real love. "If Krsna benefits me, then I will love," then that is not love; that is business.
- This is called unflinching faith. In spite of seeing my respectful superior abominable, not willingly, but by accident, still, I should not withdraw my respect.
- According to Bhisma, love means reposing one's affection completely upon one person, withdrawing all affinities for any other person.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda expertly reveals that the process of withdrawal is not merely about giving up the world, but about actively redirecting our energy toward the absolute reality. We must practice the discipline of pulling our flickering minds and eager senses away from temporary material allurements. While the Supreme Lord demonstrates His supreme power by withdrawing entire universes, the pure devotee demonstrates supreme love by never withdrawing their surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Through this perfect balance of material detachment and spiritual attachment, the soul achieves eternal peace and pure devotion.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Withdraw. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.