From Becoming a Servant of the Senses to Becoming a Master
A central theme in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings is the analysis of who is actually in control: the living entity or their senses. In the material conception of life, although one may claim independence, one is actually dragged by the dictations of sight, taste, and touch. This article explores the distinction between the go-dāsa (servant of the senses) and the gosvāmī (master of the senses), explaining how one can regain their spiritual autonomy through devotional service.
Definition of Go-dāsa
The term go means senses, and dāsa means servant. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the entire materialistic world is operating under this condition of go-dāsa. People are driven by the unbridled demands of their senses—lust, anger, and greed—mistaking this slavery for freedom. A person in this state is constantly reacting to the "pushing" of the senses rather than acting from the platform of the soul.
- Adanta means unbridled, uncontrolled. Go means indriya or senses. Materialistic persons, they cannot control their senses. They are servant of the senses, godasa. Go means indriya, and dasa means servant.
- Everyone is servant of the senses. Everyone is acting being dictated by the senses: "Oh, it is very nice. Let me see." The eyes dictate what we see.
- Being illusioned by the conditions of the external energy, one falsely thinks himself to be the served, but actually he is not served; he is servant of the senses like lust, desire, anger, avarice, pride, madness and intolerance.
Qualification of a Gosvāmī
In contrast to the servant of the senses, a gosvāmī is one who has mastered the mind and senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that simply donning the dress of a renunciant or holding a title does not make one a master. If one claims to be a spiritual teacher but secretly succumbs to the dictation of the tongue or genitals, it is considered hypocrisy. True mastership is an internal state of control where the senses no longer dictate the living entity's actions.
- Gosvami does not mean go-dasa. Go means senses, and dasa means servant. If we keep the title gosvami and become servant of the senses, it is cheating.
- If I am servant of the senses, how I can become gosvami, how I can become svami? That is false, hypocrisy.
- One who controls the mind (and therefore the senses as well) is called gosvami, or svami, and one who is controlled by the mind is called godasa, or the servant of the senses.
Path to Mastery
The transition from servant to master is not achieved by repressing the senses, but by engaging them in a higher cause. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that when we employ our senses in the service of Kṛṣṇa, the master of all senses (Hṛṣīkeśa), they become purified. By becoming a servant of the Supreme, one automatically becomes a master of the material senses, achieving true happiness and freedom from illusion.
- Why not becoming the servant of the Supreme instead of serving on the servant of the senses? You cannot become master. Actually, you become master of the senses when you are actually servant of Krsna; otherwise it is not possible.
- This has to be purified: not to become the servant of the senses, but to become servant of the master of the senses. Then you also become master of the senses. That purificatory process is called devotional service, bhakti.
- At that time (when the living being realizes he is the servant of the senses) he begs for the service of the Lord and thus becomes happy without being illusioned by so-called material happiness.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice facing every living entity is whether to remain a slave to the flickering demands of the material body or to rise to the platform of spiritual mastership. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that one cannot be a master of the material world; one can only be a master of one's own senses by becoming a servant of Kṛṣṇa. This transformation from go-dāsa to gosvāmī is the practical perfection of spiritual life.
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 Becoming a Servant of the Senses. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.