Here is a summary of the talk "Qualities of Brahman" by Swami Nirmalananda Giri, based on the 13th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:

In this talk, Swami Nirmalananda Giri explores the nature and qualities of Brahman, the all-encompassing divine reality, as described in the Bhagavad Gita. He emphasizes that Brahman is the essence of everything—both animate and inanimate—permeating all existence as the sustainer, creator, and absorber of life.

The talk highlights the need for a yogi to refine their consciousness to perceive Brahman’s subtle presence, which is both near and far, undivided yet appearing divided. Brahman is presented as the source of all light, knowledge, and existence, beyond darkness, and seated in the heart of all beings.

The discussion also touches on the interplay of Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (vibrating energy or material creation), the inevitability of karma, and the importance of self-realization through practices like mantra repetition (e.g., "Soham") and meditation.

Main Points:

1. Brahman as All-Encompassing: Brahman exists both outside and inside all beings, encompassing everything—animate and inanimate—since all is composed of living, moving particles, embodying life itself.
2. Subtlety of Brahman: Brahman is incomprehensible due to its subtlety, requiring a yogi to refine their consciousness to perceive its presence, which is both far and near.
3. Unity and Multiplicity: A true yogi perceives both the unity of Brahman and the apparent multiplicity of existence simultaneously, aiming for omniscience as the ultimate goal.
4. Sustainer of Beings: Brahman is the foundation of all existence, sustaining everything, shining as the life within all, without which nothing could exist.
5. Creator and Absorber: Brahman generates and withdraws all creation cyclically, as exemplified by Krishna’s statement in the Gita about sending forth and retracting beings helplessly within this process.
6. Light of Light: Brahman is the source of all light, enabling existence and manifestation, existing beyond darkness as the singular, eternal light.
7. Knowledge and the Known: Brahman embodies wisdom, being both the process of knowing, the knower, and the object of knowledge, seated in the heart of all beings.
8. Spiritual Practice: The yogi uses practices like "Soham" meditation and japa (mantra repetition) to align with Brahman, recognizing it as the primal word or sound of creation.
9. Purusha and Prakriti: Creation arises from the interplay of Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (material energy), both eternal aspects of Brahman, with Prakriti driving action and manifestation.
10. Karma and Responsibility: All experiences, including pleasure and pain, stem from individual karma, reflecting personal choices and actions, not external blame; self-awareness dissolves karmic ignorance.
11. Self-Realization: True knowing comes from experiencing Brahman, not just theorizing about it, and devotees who comprehend this approach the divine state of being.
12. Humility in Learning: Swamiji critiques superficial knowledge, encouraging persistent effort and humility in the spiritual journey, rather than assuming mastery from minimal understanding.

The talk concludes with a call to deepen understanding of the Gita through Swami Nirmalananda’s book, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening, emphasizing practical spirituality and self-awareness.

Join Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) in this March 2025 Satsang to elevate your spirit by growing your knowledge of meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening.

Listen to his new Talks on the Bhagavad Gita here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzUa3GQViSbVFbfQW_yugfTi5u9x8W7bb

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. #satsang #spiritualityyoga #spiritualawakening

Use these timestamps below to navigate to topics which he discusses in this month's satsang:

00:00 Introduction

00:41 What is satsang?

01:59 Good spiritual books to read

03:21 About Mabel Collins

10:17 What is the soul, and where is it located?

16:31 Questions about the caste system

23:46 Reflections on Gandhi

29:08 Do all religions and wisdom traditions lead to the same goal? 33:48 Do we need a master to give the soham mantra?

39:35 Do you pray or only do Soham sadhana?

41:00 How does one navigate the intersection of this world and the next?

42:15 A technical question about Soham sadhana

43:25 A question about the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg

45:04 A question about Swami Muktananda on Soham

46:16 Were Buddha’s original teachings atheistic?

50:00 Vivekananda story and yogi’s having integrity

55:43 Swami Sivananda’s marriage before he took sannyasa

56:28 How to dispose of old rudradksha and tulsi malas

58:26 Balancing spiritual duties and social interaction

1:00:39 Appraising Yogananda’s wisdom and the meditation methods ascribed to him

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