Review of "The Inspired Wisdom of Lalla Yogeshwari"

Light of the Spirit's latest release is an insightful commentary on a spiritually inspiring poem

Light of the Spirit Monastery proves itself as a powerhouse of practical spiritual resources once again with its latest, a commentary on the mystical poetry of Lalla Yogeshwari, a Yogini from 14th Century Kashmir who is revered as a Siddha, a soul that has realized the ultimate levels of the Spirit. 

Right from the first stanza, Lalla’s words grip you with her existential dilemma of being lost in this miserific Samsara we call The World and the condition of radical ignorance that has us stuck in it. The poems are very enjoyable even on their own. The poetess’ passionate cries of weariness over this illusory life and ethical exhortations give the aspiring Yogi a lucid reminder of the spiritual predicament of being stuck in a nightmare with only a slim measure of time to awake if, and only if, they heroically strive for it. We always need these reminders, because the human mind is nothing if fickle, and spiritual ecstasies or great moments of meditative clarity quickly give way to the same material delusions we say we have left behind unless they are coupled with unrelenting effort. I know that from personal experience! 

The commentary is brilliant, and helps to cement the truths that Lalla experienced directly in her own being in our minds. It is only the sincere and matured spiritual aspirant who has practiced a career of Sadhana for many decades that can write a commentary on something like Lalla’s Vakhs with any degree of value and George Burke is perfectly qualified. His sober insights and entertaining anecdotes reveal a humble and completely dedicated practitioner of authentic Yoga, making this work a rare treat. His expositions coupled with the poems themselves have within them every single essential truth necessary to sustain an entire spiritual journey in and of itself. You will learn everything you need, from vairagya-stirring passages reminding you of the ultimate futility of life in this world, from motivation-inspiring calls to greater effort in sadhana, and reminders of the basic truths of the spiritual life to which we must return again and again as we progress like the reality of Karma, the distinction of the Self from Brahman and their attributes, and the plain necessity of living a balanced life. 

Peppered throughout the commentary are various other poems by other authors which are a delightful addition to what is already an enjoyable book, and verses from the Bible and the Bhagavad-Gita which show the universality of Lalla’s spiritual awakening, that she walked the same path walked by all Yogis and Saints and enlightened people throughout all time and all space. 

This book is of immense value to the already convinced practitioner of authentic Yoga, but it is not the ideal starting point. For that I would personally recommend the perennial classics, The Bhagavad Gita and The Upanishads. The value of this book is in providing extra motivation for the one who has already resolved to be a spiritual aspirant. 

While this volume is slim, it couldn’t be more jam-packed with excellent content. A good spiritual book should really have everything you need, in one volume, so you can return to it again and again so that instead of amassing a vast library of spiritual books you can simply return to the one book. Abbot Burke has blessed us with just this. I happily give this book Five Out of Five Stars. This book is available on Amazon right here.

To conclude, here is a beautiful image of the holy image Kashmir, Lalla Yogeshwari:

Looking at this image fills me with a longing for realization and contemplating her holiness fills me with a great devotion for her. Oh Lalla Yogeshwari, please lead us to the ultimate spiritual liberation!

This book is available for purchase right here!

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May God bless you in your quest for enlightenment and glory!