Become A Moon and Illuminate the Universe

Krishna Das Kaviraja describes that the devotees of Lord Caitanya illuminate the entire universe:

jaya śrī-caitanyacandrera bhakta candra-gaṇa
sabāra prema jyotsnāya ujjvala tri-bhuvana

"All glories to the moons who are devotees of the principal moon, Lord Caitanyacandra! Their bright moonshine illuminates the entire universe."
--Caitanya-Caritamrita (Adi 13.5)

For this wonderful verse Srila Prabhupada gives a purport as follows:

In this verse we find the moon described as candra-gaṇa, which is plural in number. This indicates that there are many moons. In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says, nakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī: "Among the stars, I am the moon." (Bg. 10.21) All the stars are like the moon. Western astronomers consider the stars to be suns, but Vedic astronomers, following the Vedic scriptures, consider them moons. The sun has the ability to shine powerfully, and the moons reflect the sunshine and therefore look brilliant. In Caitanya-caritamrịta Krishna is described to be like the sun. The supreme powerful is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, or Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and His devotees are also bright and illuminating because they reflect the supreme sun. The Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 22.31) states:

kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

"Krishna is bright like the sun. As soon as the sun appears, there is no question of darkness or nescience." Similarly, this verse also describes that by the illumination of all the moons, brightened by the reflection of the Krishna sun, or by the grace of all the devotees of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the entire world will be illuminated, despite the darkness of Kali-yuga. Only the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu can dissipate the darkness of Kali-yuga, the ignorance of the population of this age. No one else can do so. We therefore wish that all the devotees of the Krishna consciousness movement may reflect the supreme sun and thus dissipate the darkness of the entire world. (end of purport)

Just see what a wonderful order Srila Prabhupada has given to the members of the Krishna consciousness movement! He has expressed his desire that they should be moons and reflect the Krishna sun for the illumination of the entire world! Just as the reflecting power of a mirror depends on how clean it is, the members of the Krishna consciousness movement will be potent moons for dissipating the darkness of the Kali Yuga according to the degree of their purity. Therefore we must always strive for the utmost purity in our Krishna consciousness for the sake of the fallen, conditioned souls of this age.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Awaken from the Nightmare?

As always I found your lesson today very good and insightful. I am realizing that I am in a dream, and that my dream is within another. How do we awaken ourselves from all of them?

I feel as if my Krishna consciousness is awakening, yet I am not yet moving from this dream-nightmare. Why do I have to wait for the dream to be over? Why can't I end it right now? I am awakening Krishna consciousness. Why can't I be with Him 100% right now?

Joe

Answer: Understand and Be Who You Are

To end the dream, you simply have to understand and accept that you are the eternal servant of Krishna and fully surrender yourself to Him through the transparent via medium of His pure representative, the bona fide spiritual master. Then you will be 100% with Krishna right now.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari