Gita Talk 77–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.

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: Swami 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.”