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Light of the Spirit Podcast

Light of the Spirit Podcast

By: Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)
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 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 Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke), director of Light of the Spirit Monastery.Copyright 2025 Light of the Spirit Podcast Christianity Hinduism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Voices of God, Past Lives, and the Path Beyond Death August 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

    Voices of God, Past Lives, and the Path Beyond Death August 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda
    Aug 3 2025
    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/
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • July 2025 Satsang • Swami Nirmalananda • Guidance on the Path of Awakening

    July 2025 Satsang • Swami Nirmalananda • Guidance on the Path of Awakening
    Jul 6 2025
    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/
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Soham, Saints, and the Stream of Dharma – June 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda

    Soham, Saints, and the Stream of Dharma – June 2025 Satsang with Swami Nirmalananda
    Jun 8 2025
    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/
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    1 hr and 3 mins
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