The Forms of Sanskrit Technology: Aranyaka

The Upanishads are polished Sanskrit scriptures based on the wisdom that flowed out of the mouths of forest-dwelling sages. Aranya means "forest" and Aranya + ka means "created out of the forest condition."

Aranya is a word derived from the Sanskrit verb root meaning "to pause, stop, leave off, delight in, enjoy one's self, take pleasure in." With its lush trees, delicious roots, soft light, and mossy earth true pleasure is found within the protection of a forest. Everything vital to life is found in balance in the forest.

There is peace in the forest because when the lion is fed, he's fed. When the snake has eaten, he's eaten. Nothing is killed or destroyed to an extreme like it is in our world outside the forest. Animals are not farmed. Children are not made victims of adults' wars. And there's no religion formalized in books and creeds.

Religion is simply following the rhythm of the forest. In fact, the original Sanskrit word for "religion," is rta (from which we get the English word -- rhythm). Later the word became dharma, which means "to hold together" or "maintain."

When you are in rhythm -- when your blood and breath move together in synchrony, for example -- you become deeply observant. You see things that we miss totally in the world outside of aranya -- or that simply don't exist in our concrete jungle at all. You become aware of your inherent connection to nature -- how your movements (even the movement of thought) affects everything else.

In the forest of our simplified existence, we uncover our innate wisdom. That sense of knowing how a bud turns into a leaf or why fish swim in groups. That sense of living within the palm of a beautifully upturned hand.

It's wrong to think of the Aranyakas as philosophy. Wisdom that flows from this context is instead a song.

That's why the Aranyakas are described as shruti, "that which is heard."

Of course nowadays a real forest is rare to find. We find ourselves instead creating indoor sanctuaries -- Yoga studios, ashramas, and homes -- where we can sustain enough silence to be able to listen properly. The act of practicing Yoga itself is to create a forest out of your own body. In the span of an hour, you can be a tree, a frog, a lotus, a cobra, and a lion.

And by chanting the sweet Vedic hymns you instill the presence of the forest within your very cells.