Talks on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
About the Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is the most popular of the scriptures of Hinduism. In this series of talks on India’s spiritual classic, Swami Nirmalananda illumines its importance for all spiritual seekers, and for yogis in particular.
The Bhagavad gita is the immortal dialog between Sri Krishna and the yogi-warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra on the eve of the Mahabharata war.
In 700 verses, the sage Vyasa relates the teachings of Sri Krishna on the foundational philosophy and practices necessary to succeed in spiritual life.
In these talks Swami Nirmalananda gives explanations of Sri Krishna’s teachings in the Gita which will be of practical value both to beginners and also to experienced students in spiritual life. Most talks are about 20 minutes long, though some are longer.
About the Speaker
These talks are by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke), the founder and director of the Atma Jyoti Ashram (Light of the Spirit Monastery) in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, USA. His writings are featured on the monastery’s website, OCOY.org.
Swamiji has over a half a century of background in study of the world’s religions. During his first trip to India in 1963 he was given sannyas by Swami Vidyananda Giri, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, who had himself been given sannyas by the Shankaracharya of Puri, Jagadguru Bharat Krishna Tirtha.
In his many pilgrimages to India, he had the opportunity of meeting some of India’s greatest spiritual figures, including Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and Anandamayi Ma.
Swami Nirmalananda is the author of numerous books on practical spiritual life, including his own translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and his commentary on the Gita, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening.
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Talks on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
About the Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is the most popular of the scriptures of Hinduism. In this series of talks on India’s spiritual classic, Swami Nirmalananda illumines its importance for all spiritual seekers, and for yogis in particular.
The Bhagavad gita is the immortal dialog between Sri Krishna and the yogi-warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra on the eve of the Mahabharata war.
In 700 verses, the sage Vyasa relates the teachings of Sri Krishna on the foundational philosophy and practices necessary to succeed in spiritual life.
In these talks Swami Nirmalananda gives explanations of Sri Krishna’s teachings in the Gita which will be of practical value both to beginners and also to experienced students in spiritual life. Most talks are about 20 minutes long, though some are longer.
About the Speaker
These talks are by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke), the founder and director of the Atma Jyoti Ashram (Light of the Spirit Monastery) in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, USA. His writings are featured on the monastery’s website, OCOY.org.
Swamiji has over a half a century of background in study of the world’s religions. During his first trip to India in 1963 he was given sannyas by Swami Vidyananda Giri, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, who had himself been given sannyas by the Shankaracharya of Puri, Jagadguru Bharat Krishna Tirtha.
In his many pilgrimages to India, he had the opportunity of meeting some of India’s greatest spiritual figures, including Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and Anandamayi Ma.
Swami Nirmalananda is the author of numerous books on practical spiritual life, including his own translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and his commentary on the Gita, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening.
The seventy-seventh in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India's most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.In this talk, continuing with Chapter 16:18, Swamiji discusses the qualities of an evil mind, and the need to separate ourselves from such people. He also shares the story of Yogananda's saintly devotee, Luther Mckinnie.Theme: The nature and progression of demonic traits (asuric qualities) in human beings, as described in Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita.Core Traits of the Asuric (Demonic) Mind:* Clinging to egotism, power, arrogance, desire, and anger: These are not just tendencies—they are proudly embraced by such individuals.* Malignant mindset: Such people are spiritually toxic and hostile toward all things divine, both in themselves and in others.* Hatred of God: Not always explicit, but demonstrated by hatred of dharma, sacredness, or anyone who embodies divine values.* Self-hatred lived out: Many demonic behaviors stem from loathing oneself and one’s divine potential—leading to self-destruction.Manifestations in Behavior:* Justifying evil behavior: Through ego-claims like “I’m just this way” or “That’s my culture,” they defend destructive traits.* Exploiting others: Especially seen in business or manipulation—ruining lives for personal gain.* Religious hypocrisy: They may practice religion outwardly, but use it for egoistic reasons—to be praised, to control, or to justify wealth.* Living in delusion: Addicted to imagined glories and desires, lost in castles of fantasy, often arrogant and greedy in both dreams and actions.Spiritual Consequences:* Rebirth in demonic conditions: These souls are repeatedly reborn among similarly degraded beings, entrenching their condition.* Spiritual decline: They move progressively lower in awareness, and may eventually take birth as animals.* Extreme cases: Swami shares Yogananda’s story of a human soul born as a cat due to past-life karma—underscoring the real potential for regression.Real-Life Examples:* A boy smoking from gutters: A young child rescued through kindness but hated by his corrupt family—a poignant example of early innocence amidst depravity.* Wealthy but spiritually empty lives: Stories of multimillionaires clinging to sweaters or dying of alcoholism—bound by materialism and devoid of spiritual richness.Uplifting Moments:* The story of Luther McKinney: A deeply spiritual man of humble background whose purity of heart uplifted others—including sobering an alcoholic woman simply through his peaceful presence.Final Reflections:* We must avoid even minor compromises with darkness—spiritual regression is possible for anyone.* Compassion is needed for the truly lost, but discernment and boundaries are essential.* Even the demonic have divine roots, but their current manifestation is hostile to the light.* Swami concludes with a call to vigilance: “Let’s stay on the upward way.”
Gita Talks
Talks on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
About the Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is the most popular of the scriptures of Hinduism. In this series of talks on India’s spiritual classic, Swami Nirmalananda illumines its importance for all spiritual seekers, and for yogis in particular.
The Bhagavad gita is the immortal dialog between Sri Krishna and the yogi-warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra on the eve of the Mahabharata war.
In 700 verses, the sage Vyasa relates the teachings of Sri Krishna on the foundational philosophy and practices necessary to succeed in spiritual life.
In these talks Swami Nirmalananda gives explanations of Sri Krishna’s teachings in the Gita which will be of practical value both to beginners and also to experienced students in spiritual life. Most talks are about 20 minutes long, though some are longer.
About the Speaker
These talks are by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke), the founder and director of the Atma Jyoti Ashram (Light of the Spirit Monastery) in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, USA. His writings are featured on the monastery’s website, OCOY.org.
Swamiji has over a half a century of background in study of the world’s religions. During his first trip to India in 1963 he was given sannyas by Swami Vidyananda Giri, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, who had himself been given sannyas by the Shankaracharya of Puri, Jagadguru Bharat Krishna Tirtha.
In his many pilgrimages to India, he had the opportunity of meeting some of India’s greatest spiritual figures, including Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and Anandamayi Ma.
Swami Nirmalananda is the author of numerous books on practical spiritual life, including his own translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and his commentary on the Gita, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening.
