The forty-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, starting with Chapter 9:06, Swamiji discusses the Hindu concept of ages (kalpas), what is prakriti, and how both deluded souls and great souls respond to God.

Here's a summary of the talk "Dwelling in God" by Swami Nirmalananda Giri.

• Divine Dwelling: Just as winds move in space without affecting it, beings dwell within God, the absolute, without affecting His nature. This illustrates our true essence as part of the divine, beyond the material world.
• Criticism of Duality: Swamiji criticizes the concept of duality where God is seen as separate from humanity, leading to misconceptions like God being perfect while humans are sinners. He emphasizes that humans are inherently divine.
• Cyclical Nature of Creation: He explains the concept of 'kalpa' - an era lasting 4,320,000,000 years, dismissing apocalyptic predictions by noting that we're not close to the end of a cosmic cycle.
• Misinterpretations of Religious Prophecies: The talk includes historical anecdotes about religious groups predicting the end of the world, illustrating how such predictions lead to disillusionment when they fail to materialize.
• God's Nature and Action: God is described as indifferent and unattached to the actions of the world, not influenced by human emotions like anger or pleasure. His presence is what animates and moves all things.
• Human Perception of Divinity: Many people, due to delusion or lack of understanding, do not recognize the divinity within themselves or in human form, leading to self-deprecation or nihilistic views about existence.
• Karma and Delusion: The speaker talks about how actions driven by false beliefs or ignorance lead to vain hopes, deeds, and knowledge, trapping individuals in a cycle of delusion.
• Spiritual Practice and Lifestyle: He advocates for spiritual practices like yoga meditation and japa (mental repetition of a mantra) to align with one's true divine nature, moving away from materialism and towards enlightenment.
• Ethical Living: There's an emphasis on ethical considerations like vegetarianism and veganism, paralleling them with not exploiting animals, which reflects a broader theme of compassion and non-violence.
• Worship and Realization: True worship is described as merging oneself with God, not just external rituals. Knowing God as the eternal origin of all beings shifts one's perspective from seeing through the material to seeing the material within the divine.
• Community and Association: The talk advises against associating closely with those who embrace darkness or negativity, advocating for a life among those who recognize and live their divine nature.

This summary encapsulates the key teachings and critiques presented in the lecture, focusing on spiritual realization, critique of religious misconceptions, and the practical application of spiritual principles in daily life.