Light of the Spirit Podcast

September 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda | Erasing Karma & More

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) for the September 2025 Satsang, offering practical and profound answers to spiritual questions sent by seekers around the world. Topics include: • The newly released Spirit & Life volumes • Karma, meditation, and spiritual awakening • Babaji’s Cave and Yogic science • The Cathars, astrology, and the science of yoga • Soul origins, free will, dreams, and more Order the new book “Spirit and Life: The Four Gospels for Awakening” now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mPXkCR Skip to the topics that interest you with these timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:35 New books: Spirit and Life 03:54 Points for success: making yourself an individual 07:16 About Brahmamuhurta 08:51 How many stages are there in spiritual awakening? 11:48 Story of a spiritual man in Vrindavan) 15:51 A question about early retirement and spiritual dedication 17:43 Narayan Das and Ma Anandamayi 20:18 A question about the Cathars 21:53 Sources of negative dreams 25:45 Is it necessary to engage in “intimacy” to get rid of the karma? 29:33 Yogananda and the annoying vegetarian 33:12 Babaji’s Cave 34:38 About Universal Spiritual Core Values 35:58 Will God sometimes mitigate karma? 43:30 Do all religions lead to the same goal? 46:39 Why is yoga considered a science rather than a religion? 49:43 How long must I meditate to see God? 51:25 Theresa Neumann story 57:00 Where do new souls come from? 1:01:49 About free will 1:03:30 Can a swami be released from his vows? 1:10:47 Did Lahiri Mahasaya say no one should become a sannyasi? 1:13:05 Is yoga good for mentally ill people? 1:15:42 About astrology 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/

Voices of God, Past Lives, and the Path Beyond Death August 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

In this illuminating August 2025 Satsang, Swami Nirmalananda Giri responds to deep spiritual questions with insight, humor, and clarity. Topics include: • How to recognize the voice of God vs. ego • Yogananda’s surprising experience with Divine trickery • The value (or not) of past-life recall • Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi in Soham Yoga • Life after death, and what the soul truly journeys through • Astrology, dreams of saints, and spiritual chants • Marriage vs. monastic life—and what Ramana Maharshi reveals • How to live with gratitude without grief Includes stories of Anandamayi Ma, Ramana Maharshi, and Yogananda, plus reflections on India, the Ganga, and the ever-present Self. Chapters are included for easy navigation. 00:00 Introduction 00:23 A story of Anandamayi Ma 03:04 The nature of spiritual questions 03:58 Is it possible for God to speak to you in your mind in English? 05:33 God plays a trick on Yogananda* 07:05 How do you distinguish God’s voice from your ego? 12:03 Is there spiritual value in trying to remember your past lives?* 16:58 Progress in Soham Yoga: Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi? 18:37 Where is the safest place to bathe in the Ganga? 21:39 The nature of India 31:31 Does the sun cause cancer? 32:21 Being thankful for people and pets without being overwhelmed at their passings? 37:11 Is it possible to be blissed-out all the time? 40:58 What is the process and journey of the soul after death? 43:01 Can one listen to spiritual chants during meditation? 44:06 Marriage or monastic life? 44:13 A story of Ramana Maharshi 50:13 “Enlightenment” that goes away 52:23 Are dreams of sages of the past of any value? 54:05 Is astrology beneficial in spiritual life. 55:57 What does a liberated soul do in the afterlife 58:16 What decides where a person goes after death? 59:50 Should we try to keep in mind that we are ever perfect? #SpiritualQuestions #Satsang #spiritualteachings 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/

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

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/

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

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/

Learn In-Depth Spirituality – May 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/