About Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) Swami Nirmalananda is a monk of the ancient Swami Order and founder of Atma Jyoti Ashram (Light of the Spirit Monastery). With deep roots in both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, he has authored over 30 books on meditation, Vedanta, and the mystical life of Christ. His teachings reveal the essential unity of Sanatana Dharma and original Christianity, drawn from decades of contemplative experience, pilgrimage in India, and study with great spiritual teachers such as Swami Sivananda and Anandamayi Ma. In this month’s satsang, Swamiji answers questions from students on a range of spiritual topics, including: Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:29 New book: Christian Non-Dualism 03:22 Gita Talks Project (GitaTalks.ocoy.org) 04:22 Are there hierarchies of souls? 08:30 Thoughts on magnetic and vibrational therapy 13:12 The greatness of Lalla Yogeshwari 22:21 The correct pronunciation of Soham 24:45 A typical day at Atma Jyoti Ashram 47:37 A saying of Anandamayi Ma 49:51 Can a guru take away karmas? 54:24 The war of good and evil: what lies ahead? 1:02:05 Jesus: “Greater things shall you do…” 1:07:11 Sanatana Dharma in the West 1:15:00 The Gita Mahatmyam (Glory of the Gita) 1:16:28 Dharma, organ transplants, and the subtle body To learn more, visit: https://ocoy.org https://gitatalks.ocoy.org https://lightofthespiritpress.com Books by Swamiji: https://amazn.so/9FN0kcr FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

July 2025 Satsang • Swami Nirmalananda • Guidance on the Path of Awakening

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) for the June 2025 Satsang, a deep and wide-ranging spiritual conversation flowing from Soham meditation to the mysteries of saints, sannyas, the caste/purushartha connection, the question of virgin birth, and the soul’s entry into the stream of Sanatana Dharma. Swamiji speaks on: • Cremation or Burial: the pros and cons of both • The four castes and purusharthas as inner archetypes • How and why spiritual masters incarnate • The value of dying consciously and holy company (satsanga) • Whether meditation affects dreams, and more With his signature clarity, Swamiji weaves together insights from Eastern and Western mysticism, sharing stories from saints he knew and teachings from scriptures he lived. Timestamps for Key Topics 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Why is cremation better than burial? 06:01 Satya Sai Baba and the Soham mantra 06:40 Soham mantra and sannyas initiation 07:40 The St. Thomas cross 07:31 The Triadic heart of Siva 08:05 What is the best way to help others? 10:23 The correspondence of the four castes and pursharthas 15:27 Why do masters come into the world? 19:52 About the “thoughtless state” 23:44 Entering the stream of Sanatana Dharma 33:09 Would a virgin birth be against natural laws? 38:38 Dying in an unconscious state 47:02 What is the value of holy company? 51:38 Does meditation affect dreams? 54:18 Can you recommend a Gita translation? 56:18 GitaTalks.ocoy.org 56:33 What is a “master”? 1:00:18 Light of Soham #spiritualawakening #satsang #soham OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Soham, Saints, and the Stream of Dharma – June 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this May 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. #satsang #hindudeity #spiritualawakening Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:31 New book: Christian Non-Dualism 01:32 Interview with Narendra Modi by Lex Hixon 04:42 Hindu Deities: imagery and symbology 06:47 Recommended book: Hinduism–The Universal Religion 07:44 The meaning and symbolism of Sri Ganesha 09:20 The meaning and symbolism of Brahma, the Creator 11:46 The meaning and symbolism of Vishnu 14:56 The meaning and symbolism of Siva 23:39 The meaning and symbolism of Saraswati 25:33 The meaning and symbolism of Lakshmi 27:57 The meaning and symbolism of Durga 34:44 The meaning and symbolism of Kali 41:46 The meaning and symbolism of Krishna [43:25] Krishna’s flute-mantra [end 44:25] 45:10 The meaning and symbolism of Rama 52:26 Differences between Theosophy and Rosacrucianism? 57:13 The difference between Supreme Father and Supreme Soul 1:03:39 Is the 5th dimension emerging? 1:08:31 What is the difference between hypnotism and meditation 1:13:19 Soham or Sa Ha? OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Learn In-Depth Spirituality – May 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this April 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. #satsang #spiritualityyoga #spiritualawakening Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Easter, Yogananda, and the King of Kings 04:42 Book recommendation: Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception 09:28 Was Swami Sivananda married? 10:17 Sound and Breath for yogis 18:17 Soham Yoga Meditation metholology 21:39 Attitudes during Soham Meditation? 25:48 A question about dreaming 26:57 The difference between Sanatana Dharma and the Bible regarding prophecy 28:49 “Forget and Forgive” in the Shastras? 32:50 Spelling of Soham: Soham or Sohum? 34:55 Are there real yogis and saints in India today? 44:30 Experience with a sadhu at a railway station 50:30 Meditation sickness? 54:17 Regaining an experience in meditation 55:06 What happens to the soul in the afterlife? 1:00:27 Discovery of Gajanana Maharaj and Soham Yoga 1:03:08 Light of Soham and Inspired Wisdom of Gajanana Maharaj OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Learn Spiritual Realities – April 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Here is a summary of the talk "Qualities of Brahman" by Swami Nirmalananda Giri, based on the 13th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:



In this talk, Swami Nirmalananda Giri explores the nature and qualities of Brahman, the all-encompassing divine reality, as described in the Bhagavad Gita. He emphasizes that Brahman is the essence of everything—both animate and inanimate—permeating all existence as the sustainer, creator, and absorber of life.



The talk highlights the need for a yogi to refine their consciousness to perceive Brahman’s subtle presence, which is both near and far, undivided yet appearing divided. Brahman is presented as the source of all light, knowledge, and existence, beyond darkness, and seated in the heart of all beings.



The discussion also touches on the interplay of Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (vibrating energy or material creation), the inevitability of karma, and the importance of self-realization through practices like mantra repetition (e.g., "Soham") and meditation.



Main Points:



 1.  Brahman as All-Encompassing: Brahman exists both outside and inside all beings, encompassing everything—animate and inanimate—since all is composed of living, moving particles, embodying life itself.
 2.  Subtlety of Brahman: Brahman is incomprehensible due to its subtlety, requiring a yogi to refine their consciousness to perceive its presence, which is both far and near.
 3.  Unity and Multiplicity: A true yogi perceives both the unity of Brahman and the apparent multiplicity of existence simultaneously, aiming for omniscience as the ultimate goal.
 4.  Sustainer of Beings: Brahman is the foundation of all existence, sustaining everything, shining as the life within all, without which nothing could exist.
 5.  Creator and Absorber: Brahman generates and withdraws all creation cyclically, as exemplified by Krishna’s statement in the Gita about sending forth and retracting beings helplessly within this process.
 6.  Light of Light: Brahman is the source of all light, enabling existence and manifestation, existing beyond darkness as the singular, eternal light.
 7.  Knowledge and the Known: Brahman embodies wisdom, being both the process of knowing, the knower, and the object of knowledge, seated in the heart of all beings.
 8.  Spiritual Practice: The yogi uses practices like "Soham" meditation and japa (mantra repetition) to align with Brahman, recognizing it as the primal word or sound of creation.
 9.  Purusha and Prakriti: Creation arises from the interplay of Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (material energy), both eternal aspects of Brahman, with Prakriti driving action and manifestation.
 10. Karma and Responsibility: All experiences, including pleasure and pain, stem from individual karma, reflecting personal choices and actions, not external blame; self-awareness dissolves karmic ignorance.
 11. Self-Realization: True knowing comes from experiencing Brahman, not just theorizing about it, and devotees who comprehend this approach the divine state of being.
 12. Humility in Learning: Swamiji critiques superficial knowledge, encouraging persistent effort and humility in the spiritual journey, rather than assuming mastery from minimal understanding.



The talk concludes with a call to deepen understanding of the Gita through Swami Nirmalananda’s book, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening, emphasizing practical spirituality and self-awareness.

Gita Talk 61–Qualities of Brahman

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this March 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. #satsang #spiritualityyoga #spiritualawakening Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 What is satsang? 01:59 Good spiritual books to read 03:21 About Mabel Collins 10:17 What is the soul, and where is it located? 16:31 Questions about the caste system 23:46 Reflections on Gandhi 29:08 Do all religions and wisdom traditions lead to the same goal? 33:48 Do we need a master to give the soham mantra? 39:35 Do you pray or only do Soham sadhana? 41:00 How does one navigate the intersection of this world and the next? 42:15 A technical question about Soham sadhana 43:25 A question about the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg 45:04 A question about Swami Muktananda on Soham 46:16 Were Buddha’s original teachings atheistic? 50:00 Vivekananda story and yogi’s having integrity 55:43 Swami Sivananda’s marriage before he took sannyasa 56:28 How to dispose of old rudradksha and tulsi malas 58:26 Balancing spiritual duties and social interaction 1:00:39 Appraising Yogananda’s wisdom and the meditation methods ascribed to him OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge – March 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this February 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 02:02 A long question on karma 21:49 What is Swadharma? 26:00 Is taking pain medicine avoidance of karma? 31:18 Difficulty having a positive attitude towards all 35:07 Can humans reincarnate as humans or plants? 42:48 How much does Grace figure in spiritual development? 44:29 What are your favorite quotes from Anandamayi Ma? 52:04 Mental pronunciation of the Soham mantra. 1:02:49 Overcoming sexual and drug addiction to walk the spiritual path 1:07:48 Yogananda’s most important teaching 1:11:45 A question about dreams (unanswered) 1:13:32 Closing remarks OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Learn Effective Spirituality – February 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this January 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Does God pay personal attention to our needs? 06:18 Is God a He, a She or an It? 07:36 What is the Atman? 09:46 Being overwhelmed by how little one knows spiritually 10:18 Is it possible to help others through prayer? 15:43 What is your opinion of suicide? 20:27 Can others really help us, or is it just up to us? 21:50 Did Jesus learn much of what her taught in India? 27:26 Were Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna only myths? 31:05 What if I have no faith in yoga? 32:40 Yogananda meet Charlie Chan 38:14 What are visions? 40:30 What are miracles? 45:10 Is it necessary to be married or single to succeed in yoga? 47:21 What does the Gita mean by “devil, asura”? #satsang #spiritualgrowth #spiritualawakening OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Grow Spiritually – October 2024 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this December 2024 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://gitatalks.ocoy.org 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Gita Talks notice 01:40 The body’s need for water 04:00 Book–Hinduism, the Eternal Religion 05:37 Reminders for spiritual living 09:07 A question about vegetarianism 14:07 Is it possible to change after years of a wasted life? 15:59 Eye position in meditation 19:36 Can people refuse to reincarnate? 24:21 Is image worship wrong? 38:01 Is Yoga just stopping thoughts in the mind? 41:44 Can God be realized by meditation without ritualistic worship? 43:34 Are Advaita and Monism the same? 45:21 Can past mistakes be erased? 49:31 Can scriptures be fully trusted? 1:02:50 Stories of Anandamayi Ma, and her mother, Didi Ma #satsang #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Learn Effective Spirituality – December 2024 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this November 2024 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening. Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://gitatalks.ocoy.org 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. During his first trip to India 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 the United States he also encountered various Christian saints, including Saint John Maximovich of San Francisco and Saint Philaret Voznesensky of New York. Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang: 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Notice: Talks on the Bhagavad Gita 02:50 Avoiding the distractions of family life 05:27 Sri Ramakrishna’s parable of the snake 09:52 Story of Mother Krishnabai 13:33 Pursuing spiritual life while living with an agnostic spouse 21:18 A philosophical question 22:27 What is Shakti and how does it affect us? 25:05 What is the difference between Iswara and Parameshwara? 33:51 How can I attain samadhi? 37:52 How does one know whether to lead a monastic life? 41:16 Gurus and their supposed infallibility 45:43 What do you advise for a daily spiritual routine? 48:48 Leading a spiritual life in a family situation 49:47 Learn Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) 52:48 Praying for departed souls 56:20 How to understand the teachings of Jesus better #satsang #spiritualgrowth #sanatandharma OCOY.org RESOURCES Get FREE pdf spiritual ebooks at our E-Library: https://ocoy.org/site/e-library/ Listen to Podcast on practical spiritual topics: https://ocoy.org/podcasts/ Website: https://ocoy.org A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student–Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom FREE Meditation Guide and weekly blog updates, podcasts and more: https://ocoy.org/signup FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL https://www.facebook.com/light.of.spirit/ https://twitter.com/Light_of_Spirit https://instagram.com/lightofthespirit/

Grow Spiritualy – November 2024 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

A Practical Resource for the Spiritual Student. Discover the timeless wisdom of India and the yoga path to freedom. This podcast channel offers you a wealth of practical and thought-provoking knowledge about the Oriental origins of Christianity, the simple and classic tradition of Yoga and the Yoga Life, the practical messages of the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures, and much more. Journey beyond the forest of cliches, contradictions, and confusion about Yoga, Hinduism, Christianity and metaphysical thought, through the unconventional wisdom of Abbot George Burke, director of Light of the Spirit Monastery.

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