Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)

Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) is the founder and director of the Light of the Spirit Monastery (Atma Jyoti Ashram) in Cedar Crest, NM, USA.

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.

For many years, Swami Nirmalananda has been engaged in deep study of the spiritual unity (actual identity) of Jesus Christ and his teachings with India and Sanatana Dharma. It is his conviction that original Christianity (not contemporary “Churchianity”) and original Yoga are not just compatible, they are essentially one; that Jesus lived in India for most of his life, being a Sanatana Dharma missionary to the West, and that after his resurrection he returned to India and lived the rest of his life in the Himalayas.

He has written extensively on these and other topics, many of which are posted here at OCOY.org. Of major significance are: The Christ of India, Soham Yoga: Its Theory and Practice, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening and his various commentaries on spiritual texts which you can explore in the Dharma for Awakening section.

Most of his writings available here at OCOY.org are also available in print and ebook formats at Amazon and other online book outlets.

How You Can Break Through the Net of Maya

“This, My Maya, made up of the three gunas, is difficult to penetrate” (Bhagavad Gita 7:14). Since time immemorial Maya has been referred to as a net such as is used for catching fish and birds. However hard it may be to break through this … Continue reading

Avoid the Coming Misery: Be an Effective Yogi

Sutras 16 through 22 of Book Two of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sutra 2:16. The misery which is not yet come can and is to be avoided. This is an extremely important sutra because it is implying that all karma can be expunged and never … Continue reading

Three Remarkable Indian Saints | Podcast

Click here to listen to Three Remarkable Indian Saints if you do not see the player above. The podcast length is 27:15 minutes. Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda The next heart-treasure I want to tell you about is Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda of Sivananda Ashram. Her name means Bliss of Sivananda’s Heart, and … Continue reading

When Will Perfection Come for Us?

A Continuation of the Commentary on Theologia Germanica, by the Frankfurter. “Now when that which is Perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” But when doth it come? I say, when as much as may be, it is known, … Continue reading

Memories of Sri Maitri Devi | Podcast

Click here to listen to Memories of Sri Maitri Devi if you do not see the player above. The podcast length is 15:03 minutes. My first trip to India I was always in walking distance of at least one saint. And sometimes I was living with them. Late … Continue reading

The Sea of Karmas and How We Should See It

Sutras 12 through 15 of Book Two of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Sutra 2:12. The reservoir of karmas [karmashaya] which are rooted in the kleshas brings all kinds of experiences in the present and future lives. A more literal and better translation would be: “Rooted … Continue reading

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