Gita Talk 75–Qualities of Demonic Men

The seventy-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, continuing with Chapter 16:07, Swamiji discusses what devas and asuras are, and what demonic men and women are like. 

Swami Nirmalananda dives deep into the Gita’s sobering portrait of the asuric (demonic) nature—not as fantasy, but as a real psychological and spiritual condition that can overtake any person who turns away from truth, dharma, and higher consciousness. This talk explores the mindset, worldview, and behaviors of those caught in darkness: how they think, how they distort truth, and how their inner world becomes toxic. Importantly, Swami Nirmalananda warns that none of us are immune to this descent, and emphasizes the vigilance, self-honesty, and spiritual integrity needed to avoid it. Through vivid metaphors and personal anecdotes, he reminds us that even those who once shined with divine light can fall into ruin if they abandon the path.

• Asuric nature is not essential but acquired: Everyone is ultimately divine, but some become willfully blind to the light and actively resist truth.
• The asuric person is morally confused: They no longer know right from wrong—or deliberately reject it. Some even lose the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.
• They deny moral and cosmic order: Their worldview is that life is without purpose, God, or truth—chaotic and random. This is not philosophy, Swami says, but spiritual illness.
• Behavior reflects this darkness: Such people are often aggressive, cruel, envious, hypocritical, and hostile to those who walk in light. Their conduct is destructive inwardly and outwardly.
• Desire and anger become their fuel: They are bound by endless desires and rage, finding their identity in stimulation, indulgence, and control.
• They corrupt the environment around them: Like skunks spreading stench, they degrade collective consciousness simply by their presence. Swamiji urges us to turn away from such people.
• Even spiritual aspirants can fall: Swamiji recounts a story of a man who once modeled for Jesus in Da Vinci’s Last Supper, but later posed for Judas—a powerful reminder that anyone can decline spiritually without vigilance.
• A powerful metaphor: Like a bus driver crossing an icy bridge, we must drive down the center with fear and care—never assuming we are immune to danger.
• Religious platitudes won’t save us: Politeness and “positivity” are not enough—we must face the real potential for regression and choose the path of light with full awareness.
• Final call to action: Do not play with shadows. Even the beginnings of spiritual laziness, hypocrisy, or confusion can snowball into spiritual collapse. Choose light, consistently.