# Sunsets need clouds

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-sunsets-need-dust-and-cloud
- Themes: imperfection, acceptance, love, nature
- Life situations: perfectionism, relationships, self-acceptance

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Simile from the hills at Serpentine: the best sunsets come when there's cloud or dust in the sky; the imperfections spread the light into crimsons and gold. Without them the sunset isn't beautiful — imperfection is the cause of beauty.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

Sometimes there are some very glorious sunsets. But the best sunsets are always when there's a cloud in the sky, or when there's some dust from a hot day, `a windy day. As it's the dust, it's the imperfections, which spread the light into these glorious crimsons and gold. When they're not there, the sunset isn't beautiful. It's imperfection, which is the cause of beauty. It's imperfection which creates this beauty in our world.

## Teaching point

Imperfection is what makes beauty — and love — possible.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

From the Serpentine hills, the finest sunsets come when there's dust or cloud to scatter the light into crimson and gold. Forests are beautiful because no tree is straight. People and relationships are the same. Stop asking for a perfect world and learn to love the imperfect one you're in.

## Source

- [Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 36:19 to 36:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA&t=2179s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How to Be Happy in Solitude | Ajahn Brahm | 1 February 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e-XqXPvmFo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:29 to 40:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e-XqXPvmFo&t=2369s