The fifty-fifth in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India’s most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.
In this talk, starting with Chapter 12:15, Swamiji discusses a list of spiritual qualities needed by the aspiring yogi, such as objectivity, freedom from anxiety, being balanced in mind and many others. He also talks about God being both Male and Female, and beyond both.
Here are the Gita verses (12:15–12:18) covered in this talk:
He who agitates not the world, and whom the world agitates not, who is freed from joy, envy, fear and distress–he is dear to me. (12:15)
He who is indifferent, pure, capable, objective, free from anxiety, abandoning all undertakings, devoted to me–he is dear to me. (12:16)
He rejoices not, he hates not, he grieves not, he desires not, renouncing the agreeable and disagreeable, full of devotion–he is dear to me. (12:17)
The same to enemy and to friend, the same in honor and disgrace, in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, freed from attachment, (12:18)
Here’s a summary of Swamiji’s talk on Essential Spiritual Qualities:
- Qualities Krishna Cherishes: Swamiji explains that Krishna describes a yogi dear to Him as always content, self-controlled, and firm in resolve. He interprets this as a state where the yogi’s mind and intellect are fixed on God with deep devotion, neither agitating the world nor being agitated by it, free from joy, envy, fear, and distress, reflecting a life aligned with divine purpose.
- Indifference as Balance: he clarifies that the yogi’s indifference, as Krishna states, is not apathy but an even-minded balance. He emphasizes that this purity in life, mind, and action—undisturbed by external or internal delusions—shows the yogi’s strength in maintaining spiritual equilibrium.
- Purity in Body and Being: Krishna’s call for purity includes the body, which he sees as an extension of the spirit. Swamiji advocates for vegetarianism or veganism, avoiding alcohol, drugs, and harmful substances, and stresses organic food choices, arguing that physical purity supports spiritual clarity.
- Transcendence of Ego: Swamiji interprets Krishna’s words to mean the yogi overcomes self-centeredness, a flaw he considers deeply detrimental. He contrasts this with narcissistic tendencies, noting that the yogi, free from obsession with personal impact or image, lives with a selfless awareness of reality.
- Cheerfulness and Stability: He highlights that a yogi is cheerful, even humorous toward enemies, as he exemplifies with a story of a woman unbothered by mockery. He sees this as freedom from anxiety over opinions or past regrets, rooted in a steady, non-egotistical confidence.
- Renouncing Ego Endeavors: Abandonment of undertakings means letting go of ego-driven goals, not action itself. The yogi acts with devotion, accepting failure as part of the world’s nature, prioritizing divine alignment over worldly control.
- Steadiness Over Extremes: A yogi avoids emotional extremes, a point Swamiji illustrates with the misery-loving character Joe Btfsplk from the comic strip L’il Abner. He teaches that this steadiness allows the yogi to discern right from wrong without self-indulgence, maintaining a consistent spiritual focus.
- Detachment from Duality: Krishna’s yogi renounces attachment to agreeable and disagreeable experiences, accepting duality as inevitable. He stresses that full devotion—achieved through meditation and japa, as he advocates—establishes the yogi in unwavering consciousness.
- Equality Toward All: Swami Nirmalananda sees Krishna’s equal treatment of friends and enemies as recognizing their divine nature and karmic ties. He advises compassion without submission, viewing relationships as mirrors of past deeds, a truth he urges one to face for spiritual growth.
- Independence from Opinions: A yogi as unmoved by honor or disgrace, a stance he connects to God’s patience with humanity’s neglect. He teaches that the yogi’s worth lies beyond external views, grounded in divine example.
- Divine Dynamics: Swami Nirmalananda reflects on Krishna’s words, portraying God as humbly pursuing humanity while the Holy Spirit, as he describes, enforces strict natural laws. He warns that darkened consciousness brings consequences, yet sees liberation in aligning with divine clarity.
- Choice as Destiny: Krishna’s message in the Gita is a call to conscious navigation through life’s challenges, which Swamiji likens to a minefield. He emphasizes that the yogi’s deliberate choices shape their spiritual path, a responsibility he insists is unavoidable.
This talk underscores the virtues and practices that align a yogi with God, blending scriptural insight with his practical interpretations of purity, detachment, and devotion.
