Power Couple | Joseph & Christina Emmett

Joseph Emmett was a name quite familiar to me. I had the pleasure of knowing Judge Ed Emmett, who in our conversations over the years often mentioned his son Joseph’s keen interest in Vedanta: one of the worlds most ancient spiritual philosophies.

Vedanta, which literally means “end of the Vedas”, consists of ideas reflecting from the speculations and philosophies contained in the Upanishads.

Though instantly intrigued, destiny had other plans and it was only recently, when questions about life, my true purpose, fear of losing myself in things that I did not believe in clouding my mind, that I found myself in contact with Joseph and his lovely wife Christina Emmett.

At first glance at this power couple, calm and composed, dressed in their traditional attire of white cotton dhoti and salwar kameez; I wondered if I would be subjected to yet another utopian mindset that preached abstinence from all worldly pleasures, goals and desires. In contrast, during my conversation with the couple, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Vedanta rather advocates a way of life that exhorts us to be more efficient at whatever we do. A few excerpts from our tête-à-tête:

What draws you towards the principles of Vedanta and how has it impacted your life?

I studied a variety of wisdom traditions in my late teens. I found Vedanta to be the most comprehensive understanding of life and living available to humanity.

Vedanta renders one’s actions dynamic, emotions pure and thoughts clear. Above all, Vedanta creates a vision of Reality. I have been very fortunate to experience these improvements to some extent.

Can we say for you both that as a couple you are a match made in heaven?

As John Milton says, “The mind is its own place. It can make a heaven out of hell, a hell out of heaven.” Any relationship depends on how you meet it. Our relationship like any other depends on proper utilization of the intellect. To the extent we relate with our intellect, it is a heaven.

We met at a Vedanta Academy where we were both students of Swamiji’s three-year residential course on Vedanta.

Our vision is to live a life dedicated to self-improvement and making these tools available to all of those who seek them.

Joseph how does it impact on your work being Judge Ed Emmett’s son?

Dad is a good man. People we meet say this to me all the time. He’s been a great example of service and sacrifice and humility. Both he and Mom are quite detached and have also supported me and my siblings in whatever we’ve chosen to do. Having this support is of incalculable benefit. In terms of our work here in Houston, Mom and Dad have both been great friends to the Indian community and this has obviously helped tremendously in organizing events such as Swamiji’s upcoming seminar.

Tell us about the upcoming conference.

Swami Parthasarathy has pioneered the practical translation of ancient Vedanta for the corporate world. Swamiji has been a resource for groups such as Young President’s Organization for decades. He has addressed the World Economic Forum, The Aspen Institute, leading business schools and dozens of corporate leadership teams. At the incredible age of 91, we are very fortunate to welcome him to deliver a seminar here in Houston on Tuesday, October 16th. Swamiji will address the topic, Intense Work is Rest. In this evening talk, he will guide us how to look forward to Monday mornings! We will learn the ancient art of action and how to apply it to our modern lives. We will see that work can become recreation, creating energy rather than depleting it.

What’s your message to our readers?

Life is a series of experiences. Every experience has two parts, you and the world. No amount of developing your world will make your experiences better if you completely neglect self-development. Take the time to learn about yourself and your true identity. Then your experiences will be better and thus your life.

For more information on the upcoming conference and Vedanta classes contact Christina Emmett c: 248.761.9993 www.houstonseminars.org.