Question: Although I have been trying to practice Krishna Consciousness for about three years, I still find it difficult to control my senses. It is often really very frustrating. Shall I tell myself that there is so much dirt accumulated in my mind and therefore I have to be patient, or what else do I need to do?
Answer By Romapada Swami: Devotional service is very powerful and purifying, but in one sense it is also a gradual process, at least for most conditioned souls. Due to our long association with material energy, ‘from time immemorial’, we are deeply conditioned; or as you have expressed, ‘so much dirt is accumulated’, and it may take time, just as someone suffering from some chronic illness takes time to fully recover, even when treated with the right, potent medicine in proper doses.
Patience is a very essential quality, therefore, that an aspiring devotee should cultivate. However, while one has to be patient to achieve the results, “patience” should not become “slackness” in applying the science of bhakti or the rules and regulations of devotional life. In following the rules, we have to be very enthusiastic and diligent, but if the senses are still disturbing, we should tolerate the disturbances and remain patient, with the faith that enthusiastic practice of bhakti will destroy all dirty things of the heart in due course of time, however long it may take (NOI, Text 1).
Here is another important consideration: the bhakti process is indeed devotional, and we need to seek the mercy of the Supreme Lord. In other words, it is not by our endeavor alone, by trying with all our might, that we can accomplish something in devotional services, such as the attempt to control the senses. Rather, it is possible by the mercy of guru and Krishna. Effort is necessary, but insufficient without utter dependence on the grace of Krishna. When Krishna sees a devotee’s full-hearted devotional effort, He will come and sit in the heart of the devotee and personally cleanse it of all contamination! (Cf. SB 1.2.17-20) Rather than feeling frustrated, we should take impetus from recognizing our inadequacies, and strive with greater determination to take shelter of Krishna.
