Summary

The text discusses the importance of overcoming ego (represented by "clouds") to allow our inner consciousness ( symbolized by the "sun") to shine through in our lives.

Abstract

The essay draws a parallel between Earth's relationship with the sun and clouds, to our own consciousness and its obscuration by the ego. It suggests that personal challenges and negative experiences over time accumulate into egocentric barriers, detaching us from our truest selves. The author posits that becoming aware of these clouded perspectives is critical. They assert that accepting life's events with non-attachment, rather than internalizing them, reduces the power they hold, much like the sun perpetually shines despite temporarily concealed by clouds. The article advocates mindfulness practices such as meditation as tools for dissipating these "ego-clouds," thereby fully realizing our innate nature. The ultimate goal of dissolving the egoic clouds is to allow oneself to be a conduit of positive energy.

Opinions

Clouds in the metaphor symbolize the ego. They obscure our self-awareness and disrupt the expression of our conscious being.
Inner peace is hindered by the ego, resulting from clinging to hurtful experiences rather than moving past them.
Mindfulness and meditation facilitate the process of letting go of the ego, bridging the gap towards realizing one's pure consciousness.
As per the author, past negative experiences need not affect us indefinitely or inhibit our potential – this belief is a fault that can be corrected by changing our perspective.
The article suggests living in the present moment, not allowing one's history to impinge upon one's capacity to feel joy now.
The natural state of a person without ego interference is likened to a constantly shining sun.
The problems plaguing humanity are attributed in part to these ego issues. Addressing them leads to a significantly improved societal condition.
Meditation can be effective, even for those most clouded by their egoic layers, to sense and gradually connect with one's core self that's beyond the temporary turmoil.
The author offers resources through his website to embark on a journey toward mindfulness and self-discovery.

Describing the Human Predicament: The Sun, the Clouds and Us

The work of our lives is to dissolve the clouds.

Today I have a visual metaphor to explain the fundamental problem most humans face. It’s about the sun, the clouds and us.

Here’s how it works. The sun is always shining. Always. From the time it was created, the sun has always shone.

But sometimes we here on Earth can’t tell. Why? Because clouds come between us and the sun. They get in the way. But we still know the sun is there.

Our consciousness is like the sun

It’s similar with our inner worlds. In this case, the sun is like our consciousness, which is the essence of who we are. It is timeless and eternal.

But most of us, most of the time, don’t realize that. Why?

Because we have clouds obscuring our contact with that consciousness. If the sun is our consciousness, what’s analogous to the clouds?

Our EGOS.

Yes, those pesky egos. They prevent us from realizing who we truly are.

What are those ego clouds made of? All the experiences we had in life that we did not allow to pass through us. They’re composed of all the things we held onto.

Experiences we held onto

Like what? Like being made fun of frequently as a kid because you were chubby. Or slow. Or had a lisp. Or your girlfriend broke up with you in tenth grade because she found somebody more popular. Or your parents split up when you were ten and you developed abandonment issues that plagued you for the next forty years.

Here’s a highly personal one. We had a share day in fourth grade where we were supposed to bring in something that meant a lot to us. I had just won a tennis tournament so I brought in the trophy I’d won.

When I shared that with the class, a kid named Dave Truesdell blurted out, “Tennis is a sissy sport!” I was devastated. His comment verbally decked me.

Dave was a football player, the tough guy’s sport. And guess what? He was one of my best friends, and actually didn’t mean any harm by the comment.

But that was an experience I held onto. That I did not let go of…For many years. And I’m not exaggerating.

All the way into high school, I was embarrassed to talk about my tennis or be seen in tennis clothes. I was also afraid to go to the beach in the summer because I had a tennis/farmer’s tan!

Princeton cures my tennis image problem.

It wasn’t until I got to Princeton University that I felt comfortable about being known as a tennis player. Why? Because it was considered a “cool” sport among the prepsters that dominated Princeton.

And I swear to you, had Dave never said that, I’m confident I wouldn’t have cowered in the darkness about my tennis for all those years.

We all have examples of these experiences that we held onto that, collectively, created a thick cloud that blocked us from accessing our conscious selves.

The world’s biggest problem

And as the title says, it is those clouds that, together, serve as the main problem plaguing humanity. Get rid of these clouds and the world would be a radically different, infinitely better place to live.

How do we dissolve these ever so damaging clouds within us? First and foremost, we have to become aware of their existence. That’s the main point of this, and many other of my articles.

If you are more than a few French fries short of a Happy Meal, and most people are, it is those clouds that are the reason.

We can dissolve the clouds

And the good news is, you don’t have to live with those clouds. Just about everyone on Earth believes that not feeling very good is inevitable. It’s life. It’s the way it is. So you just deal with it as best you can.

NO!

It’s not inevitable. Why? Because you can dissolve those clouds.

How? By letting go of them when they come up. Don’t fight with them. Let go of them.

Getting quiet inside through meditation and mindfulness helps that letting go process immensely. I know I’m a broken record in saying that, but I do it because it is so central to attaining well-being.

The takeaway

So use that image. Your consciousness, your fully realized being, is deep within you. It’s there. Right now. It’s always been there. Just like the sun. But you developed these ego clouds over the years that prevent you from realizing that.

Get quiet and let go.

Dissolve the clouds.

Let the shine through.

So you can be a source of warmth for the world.

Try my simple, free meditation program at davidgerken.net.