Controlling Senses By Accepting God's Prasādam
In the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the process of controlling the senses does not begin with repression but with positive engagement, specifically starting with the tongue. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the tongue is the most difficult sense to control, yet it is the gateway to spiritual realization. By restricting the tongue to vibrating the holy name and accepting only prasādam—food offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead—the devotee spiritualizes their existence. This article explores how the acceptance of prasādam acts as a powerful tool for sense control, immunity from material contamination, and ultimate liberation.
Beginning of Spiritual Life
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the path of self-realization begins with the tongue. If one can discipline the tongue by avoiding useless talk and eating only kṛṣṇa-prasādam, the other senses will automatically fall into line, making spiritual progress possible.
- With the tongue begins spiritual life. If we restrict our tongue not to talk uselessly, simply talk of Krsna or chant Hare Krsna, read Krsna books, and when you are hungry, take krsna-prasadam, then it will be possible, you can control the tongue.
- To accept the Lord's prasada means to control the entire set of senses.
- Another function of the tongue is to taste and accept the Lord's prasada. We have to begin our service to the Unlimited with the tongue and become perfect in chanting, and accepting the Lord's prasada.
Immunity from Contamination
Eating food cooked for one's own sense gratification entails karmic reaction and binds the soul to the material world. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that accepting prasādam immunizes the devotee against the contamination of material nature, just as a vaccine protects against disease.
- The material world is full of contaminations, and one who is immunized by accepting prasadam of the Lord (food offered to Visnu) is saved from the attack, whereas one who does not do so becomes subjected to contamination. BG 1972 purports.
- Food taken and cooked for oneself is material, but food cooked for the Supreme Lord is spiritual prasada.
- Don't take anything which is not Krsna prasadam and don't talk anything which is not Krsna. Then you become liberated. Your path of liberation is open.
Method of Understanding Kṛṣṇa
While modern epistemology relies heavily on visual and auditory perception, Vaiṣṇava philosophy posits that God is understood through the tongue. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that by chanting and tasting prasādam, the devotee realizes Kṛṣṇa directly, a process that transcends mental speculation.
- Generally we understand by seeing or by hearing. Hearing is there, but here it is recommended tongue, especially. Why tongue is used? Because if you simply chant Hare Krsna by your tongue and taste Krsna prasadam, you will understand Krsna.
- Deity of Krsna should be seen. That is the benefit of the eyes. The ears should be engaged hearing about Krsna. The tongue should be engaged for eating Krsna's remnants of foodstuff, prasadam.
Etiquette of Acceptance
Advanced devotees understand the absolute nature of prasādam and accept it immediately with great reverence, bypassing ordinary social or hygienic formalities. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites the example of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to illustrate that faith in prasādam is a symptom of spiritual elevation.
- Bhattacarya was very glad to receive this prasada from the hands of Lord Caitanya Himself. Indeed, without taking his bath and without performing his daily duties or even washing his teeth, he began immediately to eat the prasada.
- Persons who are not very highly elevated in pious activities cannot believe in the remnants of food (prasadam) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor in Govinda, the holy name of the Lord, nor in the Vaisnavas.
- By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all the dullness in the mind of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was eradicated. After reciting the following two verses (CC Madhya 6.225 - 6.226), he ate the prasadam offered to him.
Conclusion
The act of eating, often considered a mundane necessity, is transformed into a liberating activity when one accepts God's prasādam. Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently emphasizes that the discipline of the tongue is the foundation of all sense control. By refusing to taste anything not offered to Kṛṣṇa, the devotee navigates the material world without becoming contaminated, gradually developing a higher taste that leads to pure love of God.
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 God's Prasadam. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.