Obscured by clouds

Two questions often puzzle the thoughtful seeker: if atma, soul, is divine, pure, eternal, and God's superior nature, why is it influenced by maya? If it is pure, why does it undergo the karmic cycle of birth, death and rebirth?

Gita says that atma is a fragment of Paramatma. Atma provides consciousness to the mind, senses and intellect. Maya, composed of the three gunas - sattva, goodness, rajas, passion, and tamas, ignorance - veils consciousness. Though atma remains untouched, its association with mind, senses and ego leads to bodily identification. This misidentification entangles the soul in desire, anger, greed and attachment, binding the divine spark to inferior energy much like a clear sky obscured by passing clouds or a movie projected on a white screen.

In the karmic cycle, atma witnesses and energises all actions performed by the body. When the mind and senses act under maya, karmic imprints form and accompany the jivatma across rebirths. The cycle continues until purification is achieved. Gita urges transcendence of the gunas and cultivation of spiritual awareness. The mind, senses and intellect must be purified, and one must take refuge in Krishn.


Through surrender, devotion and detachment from ego-driven desires, the soul sheds bondage. Once purified, it regains its true nature and merges with Paramatma, experiencing divine bliss. Thus, the dilemmas are resolved: the Soul is pure, but entanglement creates an illusion. Liberation lies in aligning with God's will, rising above the gunas, and realising the eternal truth that atma and Paramatma are one.