Video Talks on the Bhagavad Gita

by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

*Learn to Lead a Successful Spiritual Life*

Talk 77–The Qualities of Evil

The seventy-seventh 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, continuing with Chapter 16:18, Swamiji discusses the qualities of an evil mind, and the need to separate ourselves from such people. He also shares the story of Yogananda’s saintly devotee, Luther Mckinnie.

For those wishing to make a deeper study of the Gita, Swamiji’s commentary on the Gita, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening: A Practical Commentary for Leading a Successful Spiritual Life can be found at Amazon.com.

Here are the Gita verses (16:18–16:19) covered in this talk:

Given over to egoism,
Power, insolence, lust and wrath,
These malignant people hate Me
In both themselves and in others. (18)

These malicious evildoers,
Cruel, most degraded of men,
I hurl perpetu’lly into
Only the wombs of demons here. (19)

Here are the main points from this talk Qualities of Evil:

🔥 Theme: The nature and progression of demonic traits (asuric qualities) in human beings, as described in Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita.

🪓 Core Traits of the Asuric (Demonic) Mind:

  • Clinging to egotism, power, arrogance, desire, and anger: These are not just tendencies—they are proudly embraced by such individuals.
  • Malignant mindset: Such people are spiritually toxic and hostile toward all things divine, both in themselves and in others.
  • Hatred of God: Not always explicit, but demonstrated by hatred of dharma, sacredness, or anyone who embodies divine values.
  • Self-hatred lived out: Many demonic behaviors stem from loathing oneself and one’s divine potential—leading to self-destruction.

🧨 Manifestations in Behavior:

  • Justifying evil behavior: Through ego-claims like “I’m just this way” or “That’s my culture,” they defend destructive traits.
  • Exploiting others: Especially seen in business or manipulation—ruining lives for personal gain.
  • Religious hypocrisy: They may practice religion outwardly, but use it for egoistic reasons—to be praised, to control, or to justify wealth.
  • Living in delusion: Addicted to imagined glories and desires, lost in castles of fantasy, often arrogant and greedy in both dreams and actions.

🌀 Spiritual Consequences:

  • Rebirth in demonic conditions: These souls are repeatedly reborn among similarly degraded beings, entrenching their condition.
  • Spiritual decline: They move progressively lower in awareness, and may eventually take birth as animals.
  • Extreme cases: Swamiji shares Yogananda’s story of a human soul born as a cat due to past-life karma—underscoring the real potential for regression.

💔 Real-Life Examples:

  • A boy smoking from gutters: A young child rescued through kindness but hated by his corrupt family—a poignant example of early innocence amidst depravity.
  • Wealthy but spiritually empty lives: Stories of multimillionaires clinging to sweaters or dying of alcoholism—bound by materialism and devoid of spiritual richness.

🌱 Uplifting Moments:

  • The story of Luther McKinney: A deeply spiritual man of humble background whose purity of heart uplifted others—including sobering an alcoholic woman simply through his peaceful presence.

🧭 Final Reflections:

  • We must avoid even minor compromises with darkness—spiritual regression is possible for anyone.
  • Compassion is needed for the truly lost, but discernment and boundaries are essential.
  • Even the demonic have divine roots, but their current manifestation is hostile to the light.
  • Swami concludes with a call to vigilance: “Let’s stay on the upward way.”

Below is an audio version of this talk from our Gita Talks Podcast

Author: Swami Nirmalananda Giri

Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)

Swami Nirmalananda Giri, founder of Light of the Spirit Monastery, has spent over six decades immersed in the study and practice of Yoga and and the spiritual traditions of East and West. He is the author of more than 30 books on meditation, practical spiritual life and Sanatana Dharma. Learn more »