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.

Obstacles in Meditation and How to Overcome Them

From a photo by Tejo Coen. Part 10 in the Commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, by Swami Nirmalananda Giri 27. His designator [vachaka] is ‘Om’ [Pranava]. Usually, vachaka means that which is denoted by speech, in this case meaning that Ishwara is designated by the … Continue reading

The Difference Between Soul and Spirit

Q: Since you have Christian-oriented or Christian-based material on your website, will you explain to me what the Christians mean when they talk about a “spirit” and a “soul”? They seem to be two things. Your situation reminds me of mine when after twenty years … Continue reading

A Practical Approach to Solving Meditation Problems

Q: I have been practicing OM meditation, specifically to get through some severe anxiety and panic I suffered after an accident (and to get closer to God). I believe I am plagued by some type of oppression and have been for a long time. I … Continue reading

Karma and Reincarnation: Fundamental Spiritual Laws

Q: How important is belief in karma and reincarnation? Comprehending the two principles of karma and rebirth is not needful just because they are facts of universal life, but because they give us a right perspective on all facets of life itself. Without knowledge of … Continue reading

How to Choose Your Spiritual Name

Q: Can you help me find or choose a spiritual name, one that will express my understanding? Since you are interested in a name that indicates your inner spiritual life, you can go about it in two ways. 1) You can choose a proper name, … Continue reading

What Is Life on the Astral Plane Like?

There are many levels in the astral world, and they are all much more stable than the earth plane. Spending time in the astral plane is exactly like living within the earth plane, though in some of the higher worlds thought is more evidently a … Continue reading

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