Why Be a Star When You Can Be a Moon?
Srila Prabhupada often quotes this verse by Canakya Pandit:
ekaś candras tamo hanti na ca tārā-sahasrasaḥ
"If there is one moon in the sky, it is sufficient to give light to the whole sky. What is the use of millions of stars?"
There are many so-called stars here in the material world: leading politicians, well-known scholars, reputed scientists, powerful businessmen, famous movie stars, prominent rock musicians, etc. But none of them have been able to do anything to bring actual light to this darkened world. All i ./ t takes is one moon, one pure devotee of Krishna, to bless the entire world with the all-auspicious light of Krishna consciousness. His moon light will bring peace and prosperity to the entire human civilization. One moonlike pure devotee of Krishna can lead the entire world out of chaos. When Srila Prabhupada started this movement he was hoping that he could make at least one such moon-like disciple. But after starting this movement he said, "Fortunately, by Krishna's grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. Many moons.
So the conclusion is that instead of trying to be a star, a so-called prominent person in this material world, one should strive to be a moon, who can give Krishna consciousness to the entire world. Srila Prabhupada explains in his conclusion to Teachings of Lord Caitanya that such person enjoys eternal fame:
"One who is famous as a Krishna conscious man enjoys eternal fame. In the material world, everyone is striving for three things: he wants his name to be perpetuated, he wants his fame to be broadcast all over the world, and he wants some profit from his material activities. But no one knows that all this material name, fame and profit belong to the temporary material body and that as soon as the body is finished, all name, fame and profit are finished also. It is only due to ignorance that everyone is striving after the name, fame and profit that are connected with the body. It is deplorable to become famous on the basis of the body or to become known as a man of spiritually developed consciousness without knowing the supreme spirit, Vishnu. Real fame can only be had if one attains Krishna consciousness."
We are eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada for revealing such spectacularly amazing knowledge to us.
Contributions gratefully accepted at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
What to do when I become envious when my you, my Gurudeva, show more attention to other disciples (especially new disciples) or to other devotees?
Your servant,
Gaura Lila devi dasi
As far are new devotees goes, just as the parents have to give more attention to little babies than they do to their grown up children, new devotees require more training and guidance from the spiritual master. So naturally they sometimes get more attention. This does not mean that my older, more experienced disciples like you are less important.
Do not think that you are not being noticed. This morning as we were leaving the temple I particularly noticed you out of all the devotees how you were especially enthusiastic in the send off the devotees gave us. I so much noticed you that I mentioned your name to the other devotees in our vehicle.
So, whether you are externally recognized or not recognized, you are always being recognized by Guru and Krishna for the wonderful devotional service you are rendering every day. So, kindly continue enthusiastically in your service to Guru and Krishna, and surely Krishna will shower His causeless mercy upon you like torrents of rain in the monsoon season.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
ekaś candras tamo hanti na ca tārā-sahasrasaḥ
"If there is one moon in the sky, it is sufficient to give light to the whole sky. What is the use of millions of stars?"
There are many so-called stars here in the material world: leading politicians, well-known scholars, reputed scientists, powerful businessmen, famous movie stars, prominent rock musicians, etc. But none of them have been able to do anything to bring actual light to this darkened world. All i ./ t takes is one moon, one pure devotee of Krishna, to bless the entire world with the all-auspicious light of Krishna consciousness. His moon light will bring peace and prosperity to the entire human civilization. One moonlike pure devotee of Krishna can lead the entire world out of chaos. When Srila Prabhupada started this movement he was hoping that he could make at least one such moon-like disciple. But after starting this movement he said, "Fortunately, by Krishna's grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. Many moons.
So the conclusion is that instead of trying to be a star, a so-called prominent person in this material world, one should strive to be a moon, who can give Krishna consciousness to the entire world. Srila Prabhupada explains in his conclusion to Teachings of Lord Caitanya that such person enjoys eternal fame:
"One who is famous as a Krishna conscious man enjoys eternal fame. In the material world, everyone is striving for three things: he wants his name to be perpetuated, he wants his fame to be broadcast all over the world, and he wants some profit from his material activities. But no one knows that all this material name, fame and profit belong to the temporary material body and that as soon as the body is finished, all name, fame and profit are finished also. It is only due to ignorance that everyone is striving after the name, fame and profit that are connected with the body. It is deplorable to become famous on the basis of the body or to become known as a man of spiritually developed consciousness without knowing the supreme spirit, Vishnu. Real fame can only be had if one attains Krishna consciousness."
We are eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada for revealing such spectacularly amazing knowledge to us.
Revealing the Absolute Truth--Kaunas, Lithuania--2 October 2015
Update: Fund Raising For New Temple in Austin, Texas USA
$34,524.82 collected with $2,465,475.18 still to go.Contributions gratefully accepted at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate
Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:
Question: What To Do When I Feel Envious?
Please accept my humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
What to do when I become envious when my you, my Gurudeva, show more attention to other disciples (especially new disciples) or to other devotees?
Your servant,
Gaura Lila devi dasi
Answer: Try Harder So That You Are Also Recognized
When I was a young devotee I was also jealous of my Godbrothers who were being more recognized than me. Knowing that a devotee is not supposed to envious I did not feel good about this. Therefore I wrote Srila Prabhupada asking him how I could become free from this envy. Srila Prabhupada very much surprised me with his answer. He did not tell me to give up my envy. He called it spiritual envy and encouraged me to engage this envy in Krishna’s service by using it as an impetus to try harder so that I would also become recognized.As far are new devotees goes, just as the parents have to give more attention to little babies than they do to their grown up children, new devotees require more training and guidance from the spiritual master. So naturally they sometimes get more attention. This does not mean that my older, more experienced disciples like you are less important.
Do not think that you are not being noticed. This morning as we were leaving the temple I particularly noticed you out of all the devotees how you were especially enthusiastic in the send off the devotees gave us. I so much noticed you that I mentioned your name to the other devotees in our vehicle.
So, whether you are externally recognized or not recognized, you are always being recognized by Guru and Krishna for the wonderful devotional service you are rendering every day. So, kindly continue enthusiastically in your service to Guru and Krishna, and surely Krishna will shower His causeless mercy upon you like torrents of rain in the monsoon season.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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