Gita Yajna in Mungaru Male

I was getting back home late evening after a hectic day in office. Post Shivaratri, summer was slowly stabilising its position and I was feeling extra hot.
As usual to other days, I started navigating multiple FM stations to cheer up my mood. Decided to settle on 'FM rainbow' as the RJ was discussing about 'Mungaaru Male' meaning 'Monsoon rains' thinking this may give some respite from the scorching heat. This brought memories of childhood days in Shimoga, heart of Malnad. There were incessant rains during monsoon called 'Jadi male' in kannada. Jackfruit pappadams were our family's favourite snack that went with the pouring rains. Mungaaru Male is the recent blocbuster all across 'Karunadu' and I got fully tuned to hear one of its popular title song.
'Mungaaru maleye, enu ninna hanigala leele'
'olava chandamama, naguta banda manadangalake'
'preeti belakinalli, Hridaya horatide meravanige'
'Avala Premaduurina kadege, preeti payanavo'
'Mungaaru maleye, enu ninna hanigala leele'
Wow! Kudos to the lyricist. This is heart rendering lyrics after many years in Kannada film industry. Drawing parallels from romance to Monsoon rains, a new breakthrough in romantic poetry? I couldn’t help but stop at 'Music world' to get the music CD.
Beyond gross enjoyment, there is plane of emotional pleasure involving fine feelings. We experience different flavors of emotions based on relationships. Poetry helps us to intensify our emotional experiences and thus enhance relationship. Beautiful phenomenon in nature are expressions of Nature romancing its creator. Be it the waves of ocean jumping to embrace the moon or the embrace of earth by early morning sunrays in winter. Poetry is all about relating human emotions to nature's love for its creator. Nature has fallen in love and is in an ocean of bliss romancing the creator. Prakrti is feminine and an expansion of the primal female energy (Sri Radha). Can we learn from nature to romance and fall in love with our ultimate creator? Is this the message of the Gita? Is this Bhakti? Is this why it is said 'Country side is made by God and city is made by man'? My mind went towards the 10th chapter of the Gita where Sri Krishna('Ultimate creator') elaborates how to find him in various natural phenomenon. Following are some of them

Of the Adityas I am Visnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, I am Marici of the Maruts, and among the stars I am the moon.
Of horses know Me to be Uccaihsrava, who rose out of the ocean, born of the elixir of immortality; of lordly elephants I am Airavata, and among men I am the monarch.
Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.
But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.
Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental om. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas.

Vivaaha and Transcendence

The kalyana mandapa was overflowing with festive atmosphere. It was Muhurtha time, one half hour before noon. After participating in the 'kaashi Yatra' ceremony, I came back to take a seat to observe the further rituals of the wedding of one of my far cousins. I was surprised to see a bunch of Europeans next to my seat. They were observing the proceedings with wide open curious eyes. My cousin works in a European multinational and she had invited her Business partners. I exchanged introductions, talked little bit about the global IT business scenario. Once the fire sacrifice (homa) started, Svetlana who was more curious and vocal among the group eagerly questioned about the significance of all these rituals. Svetlana questioned me "Two people love each other madly and they have decided to go together in life, Why bring divinity and all these complex rituals" "Its just pure attraction and why spend huge amounts of time on rituals" "Cant you just party and celebrate this Pure attraction?"
I was elated. Beautiful question at the right time since I was researching on the spiritual significance and meaning of various rituals used in ceremonies and festivals. I had some initial study and contemplation done on 'vivaha samskara' from the time I got invited to multiple marriages in my office. I asked Svetlana "Is it enough to come tegether just to satisfy physical cravings and emotional bonding?" "Its ok for basic sustenance and living - Wont life be more exciting when people in love partner together to commit to a journey to explore and discover the unknown infinite?"
Svetlana looked puzzled - "you believe in all this? Anyway iam getting curious, tell me more"
In the vedic culture of Sanatana Dharma, whole human life is dedicated for discovering the infinite(athato Brahma jijnaasa) and finally establishing oneself as a member of the infinite World. To streamline this transformation, society is divided into 4 varnas and asramas. Love between man and woman is invested to find everlasting eternal love in the infinite world. This investment is a process and hence the couple seek divine support and blessings for this journey.
It was Muhurtha time. All of us got up to bless the couple by showering rice grains. The process of Mangalasutra dharana started.
Svetlana's interest in topic got more deeper. She asked me "What are the various rituals in marriage? How do you seek divine support for this exciting journey towards the infinite?"
There are 5 to 6 critical steps in a marriage ceremony.
1) Naandi (Inviting the ancestors to seek their blessings)
2) Punyaah (Inviting the devataas expecially Varuna and Vaastu devata -> The water is used for mandapa and place purification)
3) Kanya Daana (The father gifts daughter to the Groom) (Being a feminist Svetlana raised her eyebrows hearing that a girl is gifted in marriage! I asked her to control her emotions for the time being)
4) Paani Grahana (The Groom accepts the hand of the bride) & Mangala Sutra dhaarana
5) Saptapadi combined with Laaja homa ( 7 steps of commitment and seeking divine support for the journey toward infinte)
The journey of purification towards eternity is undertaken in primarily 4 asramas - Brahmacari(Student phase), Grihastha(Householder), Vanaprastha, Sanyaasa. Asramas are institutions which assist spiritual cultivation. Lord Visnu and the devataas are the protectors of these institutions. These asramas also assist in gradual withdrawal from sensual indulgence and cultivation of inner life in transcendence.
The last 2 asramas of Vanaprastha and Sanyaasa have more proximity towards samadhi leading to a total withdrawal and disinterest in wordly affairs.
This is not deliberate but natural due to cultivation of higher taste in transcendence. The foundation of such a taste is put in the early 2 asramas of
Brahmacari and Grihastha which equips an individual towards total inner absorption by the time he reaches Vanaprastha. Just like any long and ardous journey needs a partner for support and motivation, our inner journey also needs a Co-traveller. Identifying a soul mate as a cotraveller towards the infinite and entering into a commitment and bond for the combined inner journey seeking the support of the Gods is technically called 'Vivaaha'.
Svetlana looking satisfied replied "Iam quite impressed with the sublime and ethereal objective of a vedic marriage. The real higher ideal of why
Soul mates come together to satisfy the integration with cosmic sporting of loving exchanges". The bride's side started inviting all of us for a sumptous lunch. After Lunch while I was about to leave, Svetlana and her friends thanked me for the wonderful insight into Hindu marriage. The thought of the universality of Vedic culture crossed my mind. I remembered the following sloka from the Gita where Sri Krishna spoke about organization of society into 4 varnas and asramas
Gita 4.13
catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam
According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.

Pracodayat!........... Kallahalli

It was Sunday morning. My parents were visiting us for a week. We all were in a hurry early morning getting ready to participate in the thread ceremony of the elder son of one of our close family friends.We had to reach Kallahalli 'Chikka Tirupathi' temple just 2 kms before Kanakapura. The muhurtha was at 9AM. The road to Kanakapura is pretty good. Traffic was quite less as it was Sunday early morning. Somehow my contemplative instincts become very active when iam driving in a serene environment with skimpy traffic. To further trigger thoughts, my son started his usual barrage of questions and this time it was about thread ceremony.
To differentiate Humans from animals and to redirect them towards Brahman, vedic culture of sanatana dharma prescribed 16 samskaras and upanayana samskara is one of them. Upanayana(Upa+Nayana), as the name suggests initiates one into Spiritual vision or cultivation of 'Sastra Cakshusu'(seeing the world from the vantage point of the sastras). Upanayana Samskara is the beginning of the individual's journey towards Brahman. Just like a river takes its birth and proceeds hurriedly towards merging with the ocean, the individuals' river of divine love takes its birth thru Upanayana samskara to proceed towards merging in emotion with the Connosieur of Love Rasaraja Sri Krishna. My son enquired about the key aspects of the thread ceremony rituals. Initiation into the Gayathri Mantra by a bonafide Guru is the primary essence of Thread ceremony. Technically the word 'Gayathri' is made of two words'Gana'(song) + 'Trayate'(liberation). Hence Gayathri is the song of liberation. Thread ceremony also initiates one into Nitya karma or sadhana to cross over the inauspicious attachment to matter(Bhava sagara). The nitya karma is to be performed by the candidate thrice a day during Sandya kala and is called Sandyavandana. The Gayathri combined with nitya karma acts as a churning agent supplying the candidate with divine wisdom. Vibration of Gayathri mantra assists one with philosophical aptitude to further deepen contemplation and transcendental understanding.
We crossed the majestic 'Art of living' campus. This remembered me that Pranayama is performed during Sandyavandana prior to chanting the Gayathri. Pranayama enables concentration with single minded focus. Hence it is a preamble to maximise the benefit of divine vibrations. '5 kms to chikka Tirupathi' - a signboard beckoned us. The village of kallahalli has a huge dwara at the entrance welcoming visitors to their own vaikuntha. A big GarudaKhamba in the front hinted that the temple is built in SriVaisnava style. It is a sampradaya in Sri Vaisnava temples to pay obeisances once at the GarudaKhamba. Otherwise inside the temple we may commit the offence of our feet facing one of the diety.
After conveying best wishes, i advised the newly initiated Brahmacari of the wonderful benefits of Gayathri and Nitya karma. One has to just surrender to these divine vibrations, and they take us to wonderful unexplored territories in transcendence. After taking darsana of the main diety Srinivasa, we could also witness the Srinivasa Kalyanotsava. Kalyanotsava is a wonderful sadhana to remind us that we are all members of 'Vasudaiva Kutumbham' and our real well being is to reintegrate into the eternal familyof Radha-Krishna or Lakshmi-Narayana. It is said that everday is a festival(Nitya utsava) in our eternal family. After having sumptous prasadam of Puliyogare,yogurt rice and hoilge, I was worried of driving back to Bangalore without feeling drowsy. But the effect of prasadam is such, it makes you spiritually active. Immersed in the 'dasara padagalu' sung in Hindustani style by Pt. Bhimsen joshi, I had a very refreshing drive back home. While taking my evening tea, after taking an hours rest following excerpt from one of the best conversation since time immemorial reverberated in my mind
Supreme Lord Sri krishna said
7.19 -> After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.

The words 'Vaasudevam Sarvam iti' is very important. One of the great acaryas had the following to say about the above statement:

In the beginning of spiritual realization, while one is trying to give up one’s attachment to materialism, there is some leaning towards impersonalism, but when one is further advanced he can understand that there are activities in the spiritual life and that these activities constitute devotional service. Realizing this, he becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and surrenders to Him. At such a time one can understand that Lord Sri Krishna’s mercy is everything, that He is the cause of all causes and that this material manifestation is not independent from Him. He realizes the material world to be a perverted reflection of spiritual variegatedness and realizes that in everything there is a relationship with the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus he thinks of everything in relation to Väsudeva, or Sri Krishna. Such a universal vision of Väsudeva precipitates one’s full surrender to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna as the highest goal. Such surrendered great souls are very rare.

Our real timeless Valentine

"SMS your way into your Valentine's heart"
"This Valentine fall in love again at the Leela palace"
"Purchase exclusive diamond jewellery this valentine season"

While I was going thru the pages of Bangalore times enjoying my morning coffee, I was bombarded with advertisements and articles related to the love's day - Valetine's day. The whole last week was such. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's 'Shikshataka' was playing on our CD player that morning. The last 3 verses especially glorify the love of the cowherd girls 'the gopis' of Vrindavana for Sri Krishna.
On this day, Lovers across the world express their depth of feelings and the extent of passionate love towards their valentine. But can anybody match upto the Gopis love for Sri Krishna. Love's Nadir can be found in the sacred emotions of the Gopis. It cannot but be - Gopis are established in eternal timeless reality and are loving the complete reality(Purnam) Sri Krishna. The Gopis expereinced love beyond time. The love which had the foundation of extreme selflessness. We are partial components(amsha) and our passionate love will find its fulfillment only when we find Sri Krishna - 'Reality the beautiful'. Love based on the body retires with time since matter dissolves with time. At the soul level, our object of love is only Sri Krishna. Is Sri Krishna our real Valentine? Is this the real message of the Gita?
After having breakfast, I hurried to my car. I had to reach office early that day for an important meeting.As i hit on the ignition, Vidyabhusan's Gita chanting vibrated in my car deck. Coincidentally the chanting was the famous verse Gita:18.56 which had a direct bearing on my contemplation of Sri Krishna as the real Valentine. In this verse Sri Krishna is directly giving a clarion call to all of us to give up all kinds of religion and love and just surrender to him in love in the mood of the Vraja(Vrindavana) gopis. This is the means to eternal fulfillment. 'ma sucah' Dont worry! Si Krishna comforts all of us thru his friend Arjuna

'Khalbali (Churning wisdom thru mental turbulence)'

It was pitch dark room. I was sitting at the edge watching curiously Post interval progress in one of the posh multiplex theatres in Noida Delhi. Big B on his death bed stuns the audience by the punchline so rare for a fatherinlaw in conservative Indian society 'Mohobbat aur Maut dono bin bulaye mehmaan hote hain'. KANK was one of the controversial movies of 2006.
While driving to the airport my mind was lingering around the key words 'Bin Bulaye Mehmaan' - 'uninvited guests'. The departure schedule showed that i still had an hour time before going for the security routine. I thought of walking around the book shop, handicrafts and restaurants. 'Athithi devobhava' artistically written at the back of the cashier in one of the restaurants drew my attention. My mind became turbulent -> Should i embrace differents kinds of uninvited guests as 'Devobhava'? While enjoying the inflight dinner served by the beautiful air hostess, i was struggling hard to extract something positive from the mental turbulence. Coincidentally the 'Khalbali' song from 'Rang De Basanti' was playing in one of the audio channels. Seeing butter on my plate which is borne out of causing turbulence in milk, i became more optimistic to extract value from my mental turbulence.
What would be uninvited guest on a mental, emotional plane? These are new unplanned, accidental experiences feeding fresh data to the mind. 'Desha sutti nodu' 'Kosha odi nodu' goes a kannada saying. Travelling to newer unexplored places especially of historic
philosophical significance feeds immense fresh data to the mind. These act as the churning rod causing turbulence of the existing database of information and experiences to generate nectarean wisdom. Wisdom is generated when the churning rod of descending knowledge of the Vedas operate on our minds. If one wants to feast on constant nectar, one has to use the churning rod of Gita's wisdom daily.
After safe landing an advertisement on Mantra meditation drew my attention at the baggage counter. Continuing my contemplation I thought of the role played by chanting Mantras in causing turbulence. Turbulence caused by the churning rod of the divine vibrations of the names of Hari cleanses the consciousness This is self explanatory in the meaning of the word 'Mantra' = 'Mana(Mind) + Trayate(liberate)' -> Mantras are sounds which liberate the mind by churning out poisnous thoughts borne out of time immemorial association with matter(tri gunas). Mantras purify the mind and douse the consciousness with divine emotion towards
the Creator(Paramapurusa).
It was almost midnight by the time i reached home. I was enthused by the fact of using mantras to churn nectarean wisdom and kick out poisonous acidic thoughts. This may well be my path to eternal freedom. Being optimistic, I set my alarm to wake up at 5AM to
start my morning mental workout using mantras ..........................
I went to sound sleep thinking the following related lines from Sri Krishna's divine conversation of the Gita with his bossom buddy
Arjuna
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said:(Chapter 6)
A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquility.
To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical
and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it is,
it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.
The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to
curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service,
is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.
- Inner Voice
Inspired by the Divine Grace of Saints

Music, dance, Sculpture and YAJNA

The white ambassador came to a stop. We walked briskly to once again behold the beauty of 'AmaraShilpi' Jakkanacharya's masterpiece - 'temple of Halebidu'.
All my previous visits to Halebidu were very brief and filled with guilt of having missed the opportunity to understand the background culture of a byegone era which created such a marvel. This time I was determined to convince my family to hire a 'guide'. With my resurgent interest in rational spirituality combined with the recent reading of the book 'Evolution of Theism in the Indian subcontinent', I was curious to know of any background of spirituality behind the immense dedication needed to build a structure of such intricate and detailed workmanship.
The guide was very fluent in English and had a passion for Archeology. We picked the best even though had to wait to get our turn. After a brief narration of how King Vishnuvardhana converted to Vaishnavism under the tutelage of Acarya Sri Ramanujacharya, we proceeded towards understanding the cultural and sculptural intricacies. The sculptures of 'Sri UgraNarasimha decorated with the garland of Hiranyakasipu's intestines ' and 'Ganges coming from Sri VamanaDeva's lotus feet with Bali Maharaja as onlooker' stood out among all of them. I realised that glorious activities of various Dasavataras was the common theme and motivation for Jakkanacharya and team. Shakuntala, Visnuvardhana's wife was a great dancer. The guide described the dance floor and the audience seating inside the temple precints. The diety ChannaKesava was frequently entertained by the various cultural performances. 'The temple is an extended cultural center'. Various kinds of music,dance,theatre was performed regularly for the pleasure and satisfaction of the Ishta Deva.
Why these artisans and kings spent decades together and consuming lots of resources for depicting activities of Visnu? Cant this time and effort used for economic development etc? My mind peaceful until now collecting observations became excited for the first time - Eureka! -> the culture was rooted in 'Yajna' - 'activities done for the pleasure of the supreme'. I had recently read the definition of Yajna and mention of it in 'The Gita' as a means for spiritual enlightenment.
Generally people think yajna means performing fire sacrifice or 'Homa'. But according to Gita, any activity performed with the intent of satisfying the supreme becomes yajna. Performance of Yajna emancipates the spirit self from the clutches of matter.These wonderful structures speak about the culture prevalent in Hoysala and Vijayanagar empire. One can easily assess how Spiritual emancipation was the central essence of human life and pivot of culture and arts. This was to such an extent that even forms of entertainment like Sculpture, Music, Dance and theatre were dovetailed towards Yajna with Paramapurusa as the center. Is there a better means of meditation than Sculpting any of the glorious activity of the Dasavatara for decades? With such intense meditation, the sculptors came in touch with more fundamental and joyful layer of existance and reality. Meditation became passionate addiction for these sculptors ……………………...
Back in the car all were silent, dumbstruck with awe at the work and dedication of the Sculptors. One of my cousin broke the silence by initiating discussion on the origins of carnatic classical music and its correlation to Yajna (the act of satisfying the supreme). I narrated slokas from the Bhagavatham glorifying Nama Sankirtan as the only effective way of doing yajna in this age of faults - Kali Yuga. The divine musical science and art with the various ragas practiced in Vaikuntha descended onto the earthly realm thru Sriman Purandara Dasa - Father of Carnatic classical music. With the Vedic scriptures unanimously declaring 'Nama Sankirtan' as the primary means of spiritual perfection in kali yuga, compositions and rendering of Purandara dasa enabled many to adopt the method of congregational glorification of the names of Supreme Lord Hari. When music is practiced for the pleasure of the supreme, it is called Sankirtana Yajna. When we were having coffee at the roadside dhaba, I read aloud the following verses from the Gita which summarised all the discussions we had throught out our wonderful trip

9.27 -> Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.
9.34 -> Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.


- Inner Voice
Inspired by the Divine Grace of Saints

At your service,
Ram

ellu-bella to bevu-bella to firecrackers

It was arrival of another long weekend due to Makara Sankranti. Our office coffee table discussions hovered around each of our vacation plans. Some of them had movie plans, visiting a cool restaurant, while some planned for a resort visit to chill. These are all fine but somewhere we hit saturation after long years of indulgence. Is there something more to it? I have through the years anticipated the arrival of Sankaranti with enthusiasm of snacking on my mom's ellu, bella. This time my mind started to get an itch towards contemplating on the metaphysical importance of this festival. With some deep discussion and analysis on the Gita for the past few years, I thought of exploring any correlation between teachings of the Gita and festivals.

Makara Sankaranti is primarily related to the Sun God and his journey Northward called Uttarayana. In the descending history of the supramental knowledge of the Gita, Sun God plays a very vital role. Arjuna was startled to hear that he is not the first recipient of Gita's liberating wisdom. Following excerpt from the 4th chapter of divine converstation gives the details .

The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku.
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.
Arjuna said: The sun-god Vivasvan is senior by birth to You. How am I to understand that in the beginning You instructed this science to him?
The Blessed Lord said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!
Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.

Festivals are supposed to encourage contemplation to move soulward. Normally we are consumed and engaged with 3 modes of material nature mostly dominated by modes
of passion(rajas) and ignorance(tamas). Festivals propel us towards Sattva or mode of goodness provided we celebrate it knowing its full intent and background. Some of our biggest festivals like Rama Navami, Dusshera, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Diwali(Naraka Chaturdasi, Bali Padyami) are related to celebrating the glorious activities, events, and 'Abhyuttanam Adharmasya' of Dasavataras. Deep contemplation on the metaphysical intent and observance in satisfaction of the intent of the festival is needed.
Lending ear to the glorious activities of Dasavataras purifies one's lower nature and elevates one to Sattva guna and beyond to Suddha Sattva. Combined with this Nama Sankirtana and prasadam is sure to give us a glimpse into eternal transcendental existance beyond the three gunas.

- Inner Voice
Inspired by the Divine Grace of Saints

Vasudaiva kutumbham

It was late evening. The temple room was packed with curious spiritual seekers. The acarya was expounding the Gitopanishad and disciples were astounded seeing his heartfelt affection for Trees, insects and human beings belonging to any class, creed. The acarya had established himself on the plane of 'Vasudaiva Kutumbham' which is the primary qualification for one to perform the duty of the Guru - 'The spiritual master. Ultimate selflessness culminates in Spiritual selfishness on the plane of Vasudeva kutumbham.
When we experience oneness on the fundamental plane of the soul, heartfelt feeling and caring for all living beings sprouts in the heart due to realisation that we are all part
of one Kutumbha -> Vasudaiva Kutumbham.
Advaita or oneness is experienced when one in love. I asked my mother the other day -> why she feels pain when iam unwell. Its because of the bond and love. Even there are many film songs expounding that two become one when in love. The best way to experience oneness with the whole cosmos is to fall in love with the origin -> the infinite supreme person and realise Vasudaiva Kutumbham thru Bhakti Yoga. Meditation is the natural outcome of love.
This is not just in theory but has to be experienced. Spiritual knowledge is not just to satisfy our intellectual curiosity but to go to the platform of experiencing and living with the mindset and realisation of that knowledge. Its just not enough to know CMMI but needs to be applied to help Projects achieve Zero defects. That is the difference between Jnana and Vijnana. Vijnana culminates in ananda. If Projects are the laboratory to experiment and try out the principles of CMMI, everyday life incidents and experiences are an opportunity to apply the principles of Gita. Every life incident should be seen thru the filter of Sri Krishna's divine words in Gitopanishad.
On the physical plane, our love is limited to the physical family. As we progress in our inner journey, the concept of my family goes on extending till I experience that whole cosmos is 'My family'.