Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Atma Jyoti 'ashram' - Christian priests or swindlers?

Atma Jyoti 'ashram' - Christian priests or swindlers?

Swami Devananda Saraswati


Sta Ram Goel wrote this in 1988, and he would not be surprised to learn that Christian priests and monks in America have adopted the very same tactics to attract a whole generation of American youth interested in Hindu spirituality, back to Christianity. The leader in this movement today is Abbot George Burke of Atma Jyoti Ashram in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. He is better known on the Internet as Swami Nirmalananda Giri.


Atma Jyoti Ashram was originally called Sri Isha (=Jesus) Jyoti Sannyas Ashram and was located at Borrego Springs, California. Fr. George Burke is a Greek Orthodox Christian priest, and if reports are correct most or all of the community of brothers attached to him are Christian priests.

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Satya's avatar

Satya · 825 weeks ago

I know these guys. This photo was shot at the Kali Temple in Laguna Beach, California. (see Ma Kali in the shrine behind them!) They used to wear white ages ago when this photo was taken, before the younger monks took sannyas, as is tradition. By the way, Isha also means Lord, as in the Isha Upanishad. Does Devananda think that the ancient rishis who wrote the Upanishads were Christians too? This seems like a tempest in a teapot to me.
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Brett Kelly's avatar

Brett Kelly · 800 weeks ago

I read one of "Abbot" Burkes books years ago and was interested in finding out more about him recently. All of his credentials are and should be questioned including those within the Orthodox and Catholic circles.

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