Episodes

The twenty-first 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, starting with Chapter 4:22, Swamiji discusses the spiritual qualities needed for success in yoga, how to dissolve karma, the prayer used by monks before meals, the different types of offerings in spiritual life, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachings...

The twentieth 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, starting with Chapter 4:16, Swamiji discusses the nature of action and inaction, how we can view situations in our spiritual life objectively and intelligently, and how we must restrain our thought and our lower self, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachi...

The nineteenth 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, starting with Chapter 4:10, Swamiji discusses how God incarnates to facilitate our enlightenment, the traits one will develop when successfully practicing yoga, the practice of Japa Yoga, and some of the ways to approach God. He also introduces the concep...

The eighteenth 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, starting with Chapter 4:07, Swamiji discusses what Maya really is, and why God incarnates from age to age, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachings in the Gita. Here are the main points from this talk on Why Does God Incarnate?: Divine Incarnation's Pu...

The seventeeth 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, starting with Chapter 4:01, Swamiji discusses what Krishna says is the "Eternal Yoga taught from the beginning," shares stories of Anandamayi Ma, and discusses how God incarnates, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachings in the Gita. Here are the main p...

The sixteenth 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, starting with Chapter 4:01, Swamiji discusses how we can become like Arjuna: "foe consumers." He talks about various yogis he knew, such as Swami Rama of Hardwar, Anandamayi Ma, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Sri Datta Bal and others, plus other aspects of ...

The fifteenth 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, starting with Chapter 3:37, Swamiji discusses the effects of spiritual ignorance, the need to control our senses, the different levels of the mind, and why a yogi needs a sense of humor, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachings in the Gita. These spiritua...

The fourteenth 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, starting with Chapter 3:36, Swamiji discusses the Hindu concept of sin (papam–wrong-doing), and the nature of desire and anger as the prime obstacles in spiritual life. He also includes a story about Paramhansa Yogananda plus other aspects of Krishna'a te...

The thirteenth 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, starting with Chapter 3:31, Swamiji discusses how to be released from the bondage of karma, the necessity for discernment in spiritual life, and how attraction and aversion are obstacles in spiritual life, plus other aspects of Krishna'a teachings in the ...

The twelfth 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, starting with Chapter 3:29, Swamiji discusses how our yoga practice should be evident in our lives and be an examples to others. He talks about Krishna's words on dedicating our actions to God, and the power of our spiritual associations and the company we k...

The eleventh 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, starting with Chapter 3:21, Swamiji discusses a wide range of topics, including different concepts of avatars, a story about Anandamayi Ma, and more about our lives as examples to others. Here's a summary from the talk "Our Lives as Examples." Krishna's T...

The tenth 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, starting with Chapter 3:13, Swamiji discusses a wide range of topics, including “Eating” through the senses, how to make our lives more spiritual, and our lives as examples to others. Here are the main points from Swami Nirmalananda Giri's talk on living for ...

The ninth 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, Swamiji discusses the Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga) and the Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga), how they differ and how they are related. Here are the main points from Swami Nirmalananda's talk on the two paths of yoga from the Bhagavad Gita: Arjuna's Dilemma: Arj...

The eighth 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, beginning with Chapter 2:63, Swamiji continues to discuss the sequence of obstacles which leads to a spiritual downfall as outlined by Krishna in the Gita. Here are the main points from Swami Nirmalananda Giri's talk on the Bhagavad Gita on the path of downf...

The 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, beginning on Chapter 2:49 Swamiji discusses Self-surrender, and the tangles of the mind preventing this. He also talks about the sequence of obstacles which leads to a spiritual downfall. For those wishing to make a deeper study of the Gita, Swamiji's comme...

The sixth 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, Swamiji discusses how to fix our minds on God, and the specific methodology to do so. He talks about Soham Yoga and why it is relevant to the teachings in the Gita. Here is a summary of this talk on the Gita: Spiritual Guidance: Swami Nirmalananda highlights...

The fifth 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, Swamiji discusses Krishna's teachings on the tranquility aimed for in yoga practice and meditation, and how to attain it. The commentary begins with Gita chapter 2, verse 45. These spiritual teachings will affect your spiritual growth and your practice of yoga...

The fourth 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, beginning with chapter 2:39, Swamiji discusses Krishna’s statements about who we are and aren’t, and then begins the subject of Karma Yoga, the Yoga of Action. He also discusses how our spiritual efforts gather interest. Summary of Gita Talk 4 Here is a sum...

The third 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, Swamiji discusses Krishna’s declaration of His and our immortality. The commentary begins with Gita chapter 2, verse 30. Summary of the Third Gita Talk: Divine Oneness: In these verses, Krishna emphasizes that we are inherently one with God, inseparable and ...

The second 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, Swamiji discusses Krishna’s description of the Self, the Atman, the real inner Self of our self, and how that knowledge will determine how we act and react in all situations of our lives. These spiritual teachings will affect your spiritual growth and your p...

The first 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, Swamiji gives the background of the Gita: what it is, why it is important, and how the Gita came about. He then discusses the beginning of the discourse–Arjuna’s dilemma at the beginning of the historic battle at Kurukshetra at the beginning of the Mahabharata...

Video Talks about 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 ...