Hare Krsna,
Metaphorically the sky, sun, cloud, earth and the evening darkness can apply aptly to the spiritual master. Just as the sky is covered by dense clouds accompanied by lightning and thunder, the conditioned spirit soul is covered by ignorance caused by entanglement with the three modes of material nature. He suffers the three-fold material miseries and undergoes the repeated cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease. These material miseries are compared to scorching summer heat. He is wandering in this material world looking for little pleasure. However, his situation is just like a criminal who is dunked in the water of material miseries and then taken out briefly for some respite. He considers this momentary respite happiness. By good fortune, he may come in contact with a bonafide representative of the Supreme Lord who is empowered to deliver the jiva from all material miseries.
“Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” (CC Madhya 19.151)
Just as the sun absorbs the earth’s water and stores them as cloud for the rainy season, the spiritual master receives benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as merciful persons give their lives or wealth for the happiness of society, the spiritual master, disturbed by the conditions of the suffering living entities, delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. Like a cloud that pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, the spiritual master removes the blindfold of ignorance and opened the living entities’ eyes with the torch of knowledge. Until then the living entity is like the earth emaciated by the summer heat, or a person emaciated by intense and fruitless austerities. The spiritual master’s pouring of mercy fully nourishes the living entity and thereby receives his desired results. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.
“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru, my spiritual master, opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.” (Invocation Prayer)
“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.” (Gurvastakam 1)
Unfortunately, in Kali-yuga pure devotees and true knowledge of the Vedas are overshadowed by bogus gurus and atheistic doctrines. This is compared to evening darkness that allows glow-worms to shine, but not the bright stars. Therefore, it is a matter of great fortune to attain the shelter of a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, Krsna.
“O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.” (SB 6.14.5)
“As clouds sometimes clear, even in the rainy season, and sometimes the moon, stars and sun become visible, so even in this Kaliyuga there are sometimes advantages. The Vedic movement of Lord Caitanya’s—the distribution of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra—is heard in this way. People seriously anxious to find real life should take advantage of this movement instead of looking toward the light of mental speculators and atheists.” (Krsna Book, Chapter 20)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 