12 Beyond Birth and Death
beautiful person and tell us, ‘“‘Oh, there is a beautiful
girl, a beautiful boy. Let’s go see.” The ears are telling
us, ““Oh there is very nice music. Let us go hear it.”
The tongue is saying, “Oh, there is a very nice
restaurant with palatable dishes. Let us go.” In this
way the senses are dragging us from one place to
another, and because of this we are perplexed.
indriyanam hi caratam
yan mano’nuvidhiyate
tad asya harati prajnam
vayur navam ivambhasi
“As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong
wind, even one of the senses on which the mind
focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.” (Bg.
2.67)

It is imperative that we learn how to control the
senses. The name gosvami is given to someone who
has learned how to master the senses. Go means
senses, and svami means controller, so one who can
control the senses is to be considered a gosvami.
Krsna indicates that one who identifies with the
illusory material body cannot establish himself in
his proper identity as spirit soul. Bodily pleasure is
flickering and intoxicating, and we cannot actually
enjoy it because of its momentary nature. Actual
pleasure is of the soul, not the body. We have to mold
our lives in such a way that we will not be diverted
by bodily pleasure. If somehow we are diverted, it is
not possible for us to establish our consciousness in
its true identity beyond the body.
