Bhakti philosophy emphasizes that every soul is always serving someone—the choice is simply who you serve.

Life is meant to serve Krishna, entailing a full-time employment with Krishna. But we may be in a situation wherein we get employed by Māyā—full-time, overtime!

Moonlighting for Māyā: The boss you did not know you had

Moonlighting is the practice of working a second job or side gig outside of a person’s regular primary employment hours.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 22.16 describes this principle of moonlighting for Māyā:

kāmādīnāṁ kati na katidhā pālitā durnideśās
teṣāṁ jātā mayi na karuṇā na trapā nopaśāntiḥ

“O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up.”

Māyā’ controls our overtime.

Which Shift Are We Working?

We have been working all three shifts in Māyā’s service for millions of lifetimes, and still we don’t get tired.

People watch an entire Netflix series in a day after their hard day’s work. They go partying for six hours after working for eight hours. Isn’t this moonlighting for māyā?

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also describes how a conditioned soul moonlights for Māyā. This is one of the very first verses spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī:

nidrayā hriyate naktaṁ
vyavāyena ca vā vayaḥ
divā cārthehayā rājan
kuṭumba-bharaṇena vā

“Life is wasted at night in sleeping or in sex enjoyment. Life is wasted during the day by desiring material objects or supporting family members.”
—Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.3

Clocking in for God : Moonlighting for Krishna !

The perfection of life is when we engage overtime—all the time—in Krishna’s service.

Mahāprabhu was not satisfied with day-long kirtans. He once said, “Why are we wasting our nighttime?” And thus began the night kirtanas at Śrīvāsa’s house. All the devotees were moonlighting for Krishna!

The gopīs would serve their households, do their chores, and discuss pastimes about Krishna. And at night, they would moonlight for Krishna when Krishna would play His flute and invite all of them into the forest.

Śrīla Prabhupāda moonlighted for Krishna. His entire day would be spent serving Krishna, and at night, he would get up around midnight and write his commentaries on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – Daytime service, and nighttime service.

The Six Gosvāmīs gave up everything, including sleep, food, and recreation, to serve Krishna—to moonlight for Krishna – nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau…They conquered the urges of eating, sleeping, and recreation.

The Ultimate Truth About the Two Bosses

We need to observe our life—what are we exactly doing? Are we moonlighting for Krishna, or are we engaged in multiple shifts in Māyā’s service?

When we come to the path of Krishna Consciousness, we understand the futility of material desires, and we desire to work for Krishna. But many times, our attempts are thwarted by the forces of illusion, and we begin moonlighting for Māyā.

We may spend three or four hours in Krishna’s service, and then justify spending some time in mental stimulation or entertainment, stating that it is our “relaxation time.” We may not realize that we are actually moonlighting for Māyā.

Moonlighting for Māyā keeps us busy chasing temporary rewards, but what lasting salary does it give us? As the below verse says, although Nārāyaṇa—the Lord of the three worlds—is the greatest master and freely offers His eternal abode, we foolishly seek to serve insignificant worldly masters for meager rewards.

nathe nah purushottame tri-jagatam ekadhipe cetasa
sevye svasya padasya datari pare narayane tishthati
yam kancit purushadhamam katipaya-gramesham alpartha-dam
sevayai mrigayamahe naram aho mudha varaka vayam

Why settle for temporary bonuses when we can serve Kṛṣṇa and receive the eternal wealth of love?

prema-dhana vinā vyartha daridra jīvana
‘dāsa’ kari’ vetana more deha prema-dhana

“Without the wealth of love for Godhead, my life is useless and impoverished. Please accept me as Your servant and give me the salary of ecstatic love for You.”

So, which is preferable? Krishna’s light or Māyā’s moonlight?