Transcribed by Annie(Kadamba Kanana Swami
March 2011, Melbourne)
Spiritual life is based on austerity. What is this austerity? Does it mean we have to try and do great austerities? No, it's basically the control of the senses. That is the austerity. Not to give in to the pushings of the senses. Lower animals like dogs and hogs, they don't control the senses. but human beings must have a culture of controlling the senses and only engaging them in positive activity. We can be saved from the network of death from the senses if we are taking shelter of prasadam. That is the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. So sense control means not only saying no, but also to give the senses a positive experience.
