The thirty-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, starting with Chapter 6:37, Swamiji discusses those who have faith but are yet uncontrolled, and what Krishna says about those who fall from yoga. He also shares stories about Anandamayi Ma, Paramhansa Yogananda, and Yogananda's disciple Swami Kriyananda.

Here's a summary of the main points from Swami Nirmalananda Giri's talk on "Falling from Yoga":

• The Challenge of Faith and Control: Arjuna questions what happens to someone who has faith but lacks control, whose mind has drifted from yoga without achieving perfection. This reflects the human struggle with maintaining spiritual discipline.
• Spiritual Amnesia: The talk discusses how individuals can forget their spiritual experiences and insights, essentially losing the path they once walked. This is likened to a cloud dissolving, leaving one without a solid grounding in either the material or spiritual world.
• Karma of Yoga: Krishna reassures that the efforts put into yoga practice create positive karma, which does not go to waste. Even if one falls from the path, the spiritual efforts made are not lost; they contribute to future spiritual or material benefits.
• Rebirth and Continuation: Those who fall from yoga might be reborn into families where spiritual practice is valued, either among the rich or wise yogis, giving them a head start in resuming their spiritual journey. This shows how karma from past practices can influence one's circumstances in future lives.
• Regaining Knowledge: The spiritual knowledge acquired in previous lives naturally returns, impelling the individual back onto the path of yoga, often without conscious effort, due to the subconscious imprint of past practices.
• Effort Never Wasted: The principle that no spiritual effort is wasted, even if one doesn't achieve full realization in one lifetime, is emphasized. Each step taken on the path adds to one's spiritual account, facilitating progress in future incarnations.
• Stories of Spiritual Guidance: Anecdotes are shared about how spiritual masters can recognize and influence the spiritual destiny of individuals, sometimes even foreseeing their involvement in spiritual activities long before they consciously embark on the path.
• Caution Against Complacency: There's a warning about the dangers of spiritual complacency and the importance of continuous practice and vigilance to avoid falling away from the path. This is contrasted with the wisdom of recognizing one's potential for spiritual regression.

This talk provides comfort to those who might feel they've lost their way on the spiritual path, affirming that the journey is ongoing across lifetimes, with each step contributing to eventual perfection.