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.

Are You Among the “Nirvanics”?

“Nirvanics” mentioned in this article The way of the wise “Those who meditate with perseverance, constantly working hard at it, are the wise who experience Nirvana, the ultimate freedom from chains” (Dhammapada 23). Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion, frequently used the expression “godwards” … Continue reading

Six Quick Answers to Spiritual Questions

Here are answers to some of the spiritual questions which readers have asked us. If you have questions on spiritual life, we invite you to explore our site to increase your knowledge, or use our contact form here. Q: If I am not mistaken, the … Continue reading

3 Factors for Maintaining Brahmacharya

Q: How can I succeed in maintaining brahmacharya? It is not easy. Whenever we begin any positive endeavor it is only natural that opposition to it will arise, both from without and within. However, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is … Continue reading

Messiahs vs. Avatars

Q: What is meant by “messiah” versus “avatar”? How are Jesus and Krisna similar and how are they different? Are they both Messiahs? Are they Avatars? “Messiah” is a Hebrew word meaning “anointed one” as does the Greek word Christos from which “Christ” is derived. Almost … Continue reading

7 Ways to Deal with Those Who Say You Are a Godless Heathen

Q: What do you say to some pious individual who uses his or her “religion” like a weapon? If I am a believer in Sanatana Dharma, how do I defend myself against wing-nuts who have convinced themselves that I am going straight to hell? The … Continue reading

Unhappy Pleasure Seeking and the Antidote

The conclusion of When Rites Go Wrong “To those attached to enjoyment and power, whose thought is stolen away by this kind of talk, resolute insight in meditation is not granted” (Bhagavad Gita 2:44). Prabhavananda: “Those whose discrimination is stolen away by such talk grow … Continue reading

Explore Blog Categories