The seventy-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, continuing with Chapter 17:05, Swamiji discusses externals in religion, and how they can affect us, and the food, sacrifice, tapasya and almsgiving liked by people of different gunas

Spiritual Context

• Everything in creation is vibration—including matter—so external environments and objects influence our inner state.
• Even seemingly minor aspects (e.g., food, sounds, surroundings) can affect consciousness; nothing is truly insignificant on the path to Self-realization.
• Swamiji emphasizes discrimination (viveka) in evaluating what helps or hinders spiritual life.

Misguided Austerity and Harmful Practices

• Some people engage in extreme austerities not sanctioned by the scriptures, often driven by self-hatred, ego, or attention-seeking.
• These practices can be harmful to the body and mind, and often arise from tamasic delusion rather than sincere spiritual aspiration.
• True purity lies in the mind and consciousness—not just the physical body.

Threefold Division of Food (Gunas)

• Sattvic Foods (pure, uplifting):
• Increase life, vitality, strength, cheerfulness, and clarity.
• Are flavorful, substantial, and satisfying without causing distress.
• Examples: wholesome, fresh, balanced foods.
• Rajasic Foods (agitating):
• Pungent, sour, salty, excessively hot, harsh, stimulating.
• Cause agitation, restlessness, and sometimes disease.
• Often pursued by those obsessed with control, discipline, or dietary fads.
• Tamasic Foods (degrading):
• Stale, overripe, leftover, putrid, or decomposed foods.
• Include meat and food offered or taken from others’ plates.
• Such foods cloud the mind and dull spiritual perception.

Energy and Food Exchange

• Accepting food or items from others—especially negative individuals—can transfer energetic imprints or vibrations.
• Swamiji warns against prana theft or negative energy exchange, especially when people are unaware or manipulative.
• Even garments can carry energy; discretion is necessary in both giving and receiving.

Integration of Dharma in Daily Life

• True yoga and spiritual life must pervade all aspects of one’s life.
• There is no such thing as a “private” part of life exempt from dharma—partial sincerity leads to hypocrisy and failure.
• If someone is unwilling to apply dharmic principles universally, they should not claim to be on the spiritual path.

Closing Note

• With characteristic humor and self-deprecation, Swamiji closes by affirming that despite imperfections, sincerity and persistence matter most.
• “I’m all I’ve got”—a reminder that transformation begins with who we are now, not some idealized self.

The seventy-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, continuing with Chapter 16:20, Swamiji discusses the three qualities which cast us down: Kama, Krodha, and Lobha: Lust (intense desire in general), anger, and greed. He also talks of using the scriptures as guides for our upliftment. He then begins the 17th chapter, The Division of Threefold Faith.

Main Theme: A continuation of the 16th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, focusing on the threefold gateway to hell—desire, anger, and greed—and how these traits lead to spiritual ruin.

Key Points from the Talk:

Spiritual Decline Is Progressive:

• Krishna teaches that those who ignore God and Dharma do not merely stay stagnant; they fall into progressively lower states of consciousness and rebirth.
• You are either going upward or downward—neutrality is an illusion.

The Triple Gate to Hell:

• Desire (Kama): Addictive craving that dominates one’s thoughts and actions.
• Anger (Krodha): Reactive rage that lashes out at the world and oneself.
• Greed (Lobha): Insatiable hunger for more, rooted in inner misery.
• These are destructive of the self—not the Atman itself, but our capacity to realize and live from the Self.

What to Do:

• Abandon these three gates.
• Either remove yourself from toxic environments or eliminate these tendencies from within.
• Liberation from these leads to what is truly best for the soul.

Ignoring Scripture Leads to Ruin:

• Those who cast aside scriptural teachings and follow their own impulses achieve neither happiness nor perfection nor the Supreme Goal.
• Scripture (Shastra) is the true measure of right and wrong—not personal preference or vague spirituality.

Importance of Dharma Texts: Swamiji recommends study of:

• The Bhagavad Gita
• The Upanishads
• Yoga Sutras (with commentary)
• Works of Adi Shankaracharya
• The book Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Religion

On Faith (beginning of Chapter 17):

• Faith is not merely belief; it is shaped by one’s Prakriti—the vibrations of one’s mind-body complex.
• Three types of faith correspond to the three gunas:
• Sattwic faith leads to reverence for the gods and the divine.
• Rajasic faith is drawn to powerful spirits or forces.
• Tamasic faith becomes obsessed with the dead, ghosts, and ancestor worship devoid of higher purpose.

Warning Against Spiritualism:

• Spiritualism (obsession with spirits of the dead) is described as utterly tamasic and spiritually dangerous.
• Swamiji cites Sri Ramakrishna: “Think of God, and you will become God. Think of ghosts, and you will become a ghost.”

Food and Environment Matter:

• Everything we absorb—food, books, media, and company—affects our spiritual energy and destiny.

Closing Insight:

“Those who do not study the scriptures and instead follow personal impulse will find no perfection, no happiness, and no liberation.”

Swamiji ends the talk by previewing the next chapter—The Division of Threefold Faith—which explores how faith manifests according to one’s inner nature.

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.”