Clouds and Moon

60 Clouds and moon

During the rainy season, we cannot see the moon because it is covered by the clouds. The clouds, however, are radiant with the glow of the moon’s rays. Similarly, in our material existence we cannot directly perceive the soul, because our consciousness is covered by the cloud-like false ego, the false identification with the material world and the material body.

The Bhagavad-Gita describes that the energy of the soul is consciousness. When this consciousness is manifested through the screen of the false ego, it appears as dull material consciousness in which there is no direct vision of the soul or God.

We think that material consciousness is full of hope and happiness. This is comparable to thinking that the luminous clouds are lighting up the night sky. Actually, the clouds are dark and they hamper the moonshine; they appear luminous only because they are filtering the brilliant rays of the moon.

Similarly, at times material consciousness appears pleasurable or enlightened because it is filtering the original bliss and enlightened consciousness coming directly from the soul. The false ego hampers and obstructs the real spiritual consciousness, which is fully enlightened and peaceful.

– Radhanath Swami

By RNS Articles

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59 comments

  1. Thank you Radhanath swami for this article. Recently, I had to go through an experience and as I read your blog, this makes me think that your words are so true.

  2. very nice comparison & wonderfully given a superb message in conclusion

    thanks Radhanath Swami

  3. Very Beautiful and Practical E.g .Thank You Radhanath Swami Maharaj ! Hare Krsna !

  4. false ego is like the cloud,which stops the light of the soul like shinning moon……………..

  5. For spiritually enlightened souls…it is so easy to derive powerful lessons from simple things (Eg: Mother Nature)…It is thought provoking!!!

  6. Just as the luster of gold shows up on polishing it, the beauty of the soul is visible upon purification through chanting. Thank you Swamiji for giving us this realization.

  7. Wonderful analogy. We should realize that our material consciousness is hampering the progress of our spiritual consciousness and therefore try to root out our false ego. thank you for sharing these wonderful realizations.

  8. Radhanath swami explains so beautifully the difference between material and spiritual consciousness! Thank you!

  9. Very good analogy. it is necessary to curb the false ego. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.

  10. Amazingly explained with an Amazing analogy. All glories to His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.

  11. Thank you very much for giving this understanding of our cloud like false ego

  12. Wonderful quality of Radhanath Swami to explain deep philosophical topics with very simple examples and analogies.

  13. “The false ego hampers and obstructs the real spiritual consciousness, which is fully enlightened and peaceful”. This statement by HH Radhanath Swami brings in clarity and instructs us to strictly deal with our false ego for advancement in spirituality.

  14. Radhanath Swami has very nicely explained the fleeting & temporal nature of material happiness.

  15. Thank you Radhanath swami for explaining the material consciousness and soul with clouds and moon.

  16. Amazing description of the two consciousness that makes the discrimination easy.

  17. that example make things clear…thank u prabhu for giving us an extract of maharaj’s nectarine words.

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