View source for Spiritual Perfection through Controlling the Tongue


Among the five senses of knowledge and five senses of action, Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the tongue as the most difficult to conquer. It is described as a voracious enemy that, if left unchecked, drags the soul into the darkest regions of ignorance. However, the tongue is also the gateway to liberation. This article explores the critical relationship between the tongue and other senses, the practical method of spiritualizing the tongue through ''prasādam'' and chanting, and why this specific control is the prerequisite for becoming a spiritual master.

<div class="toc-right">__TOC__</div>

=== The Straight Line of Sense Control ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the physiological and psychological connection between the tongue, the belly, and the genitals. He teaches that these three exist in a straight line; if the tongue is allowed to eat palatable but unauthorized food, the belly becomes overloaded, and the genitals become agitated. Therefore, controlling the tongue is the first step in mastering the lower instincts.

* [[Vaniquotes:The strongest enemy is our tongue, is our tongue. Jihva-vegam. If one can control the urges of the tongue then he will be naturally able to stop the urges of the belly and the urges of the genital, three straight line|The strongest enemy is our tongue, is our tongue. Jihva-vegam. If one can control the urges of the tongue then he will be naturally able to stop the urges of the belly and the urges of the genital, three straight line.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As soon as your tongue is controlled, immediately your stomach is controlled, immediately next your genital is controlled. Simple thing. Controlling the body, mind. Mind being fixed on Krsna, no other engagement, controlled|As soon as your tongue is controlled, immediately your stomach is controlled, immediately next your genital is controlled. Simple thing. Controlling the body, mind. Mind being fixed on Krsna, no other engagement, controlled.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If one can control the tongue, brahmacarya and other purifying processes will automatically follow|If one can control the tongue, brahmacarya and other purifying processes will automatically follow.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to control the senses, you have to control the tongue first of all. Then you will be able to control other senses very easily|If you want to control the senses, you have to control the tongue first of all. Then you will be able to control other senses very easily.]]

=== The Method of Spiritualization ===

Unlike the process of ''haṭha-yoga'' or dry renunciation, which attempts to silence the senses, Kṛṣṇa consciousness engages the tongue in positive activity. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the tongue has two functions: to vibrate sound and to taste. By restricting the tongue to chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa ''mahā-mantra'' and tasting only ''kṛṣṇa-prasādam'', the enemy is transformed into a friend.

* [[Vaniquotes:If you employ your tongue in the service of the Lord, He'll reveal Himself to you. He'll reveal, revelation. So therefore we have to control the tongue. What is the tongue's business? The tongue's business is taste and vibrate|If you employ your tongue in the service of the Lord, He'll reveal Himself to you. He'll reveal, revelation. So therefore we have to control the tongue. What is the tongue's business? The tongue's business is taste and vibrate.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Tongue should be used always for glorifying the Supreme Lord. That is our business with the tongue. And the tongue should not be allowed to eat anything except krsna-prasada. Then you become liberated, simply by controlling the tongue|Tongue should be used always for glorifying the Supreme Lord. That is our business with the tongue. And the tongue should not be allowed to eat anything except krsna-prasada. Then you become liberated, simply by controlling the tongue.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Of all the senses, the tongue is the most voracious and difficult to control, but it can be controlled simply by chanting Hare Krsna and tasting Krsna prasadam, food offered to Krsna|Of all the senses, the tongue is the most voracious and difficult to control, but it can be controlled simply by chanting Hare Krsna and tasting Krsna prasadam, food offered to Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste prasadam and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Krsna, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and offer obeisances|If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste prasadam and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Krsna, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and offer obeisances.]]

=== The Starting Point of Devotion ===

In the path of ''bhakti-mārga'', spiritual realization does not begin with the mind or intellect, but with the tongue. Quoting the Vedic aphorism ''sevonmukhe hi jihvādau'', Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Absolute Truth is beyond the reach of blunt material senses; however, when the tongue engages in service, the Lord reveals Himself.

* [[Vaniquotes:Krsna's name, form, quality, etc., is not understood by these blunt senses, so how it is to be done? Now, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Again jihvadau: beginning from the tongue, controlling the tongue|Krsna's name, form, quality, etc., is not understood by these blunt senses, so how it is to be done? Now, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Again jihvadau: beginning from the tongue, controlling the tongue.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Tongue is the beginning of realization. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau (Brs. 1.2.234). As well as controlling the tongue, we have to spiritualize the tongue. If you keep the tongue materialized, then it is defective|Tongue is the beginning of realization. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau (Brs. 1.2.234). As well as controlling the tongue, we have to spiritualize the tongue. If you keep the tongue materialized, then it is defective.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the bhakti-marga, the path of devotional service, one must strictly follow the regulative principles by first controlling the tongue|In the bhakti-marga, the path of devotional service, one must strictly follow the regulative principles by first controlling the tongue.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is very astonishing that "Engaging the tongue I become perfect?" Yes. The beginning is the tongue because tongue is the greatest enemy. People are going to hell on account of being unable to control the tongue. Therefore one has to control the tongue|It is very astonishing that "Engaging the tongue I become perfect?" Yes. The beginning is the tongue because tongue is the greatest enemy. People are going to hell on account of being unable to control the tongue. Therefore one has to control the tongue.]]

=== Qualification for Spiritual Leadership ===

To become a guru or a ''gosvāmī'' (master of the senses), one must demonstrate practical control over the bodily urges. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that one who cannot control the tongue is unfit to lead others. The ability to discipline this sense is the crucial test for anyone aspiring to make disciples or advance in spiritual life.

* [[Vaniquotes:Anyone who has practiced controlling these six (the tongue, the genitals, the belly, anger, the mind and words) is permitted to make disciples all over the world. To accept such a spiritual master is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life|Anyone who has practiced controlling these six (the tongue, the genitals, the belly, anger, the mind and words) is permitted to make disciples all over the world. To accept such a spiritual master is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I cannot control even my tongue and control my genital, and I become spiritual master? This is nonsense|I cannot control even my tongue and control my genital, and I become spiritual master? This is nonsense.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One has to practice sense control as well as mind control and subdue the six forces of speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly and genitals. Then one can become expert in understanding the devotional service of the Lord and thus become a perfect sannyasi|One has to practice sense control as well as mind control and subdue the six forces of speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly and genitals. Then one can become expert in understanding the devotional service of the Lord and thus become a perfect sannyasi.]]

=== Conclusion ===

The control of the tongue is the pivot upon which the entire success of spiritual life rests. Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it clear that one cannot serve the dictates of the tongue and simultaneously serve Kṛṣṇa. By the simple yet profound practice of vibrating the holy name and honoring ''prasādam'', the tongue is conquered, the lower senses are pacified, and the devotee becomes situated in transcendence. This mastery transforms the tongue from a formidable enemy into the primary instrument of salvation.

=== 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 [[Vaniquotes:Category:Controlling_the_Tongue|Controlling the Tongue]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
[[Category:Vanipedia Gemini - Articles]]
[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - Understanding What Is Spiritualism]]

<div id="vani-provenance" style="display:none;" data-source="Vanipedia" data-author="Srila Prabhupada Vani Temple" data-license="CC BY-NC-SA 4.0" data-origin-url="{{fullurl:{{PAGENAME}}}}">This content is a part of Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani Temple. Source: https://vanipedia.org</div>