Vastu, The Environment as the Teacher

09/21/25

As many of you know, I went back to school earlier this year. It has been quite an adjustment to step into that kind of environment again. One of the first things that I noticed is that there is a very academic way in which language is used. It is like a subgroup within a language. As I interacted with it, I started to get the hang of it. Even though it is still a work in progress, I am learning to express myself in that way in that environment.

The Pratyabhijñā-hṛdaya, The Heart of Recognition, is a collection of twenty sūtras or aphorisms. In sūtra three, it is stated that subjects (the ones who perceive) and objects (the things perceived) mutually affect and change each other. One of the Sanskrit teachers I follow makes the following comment about this sūtra:

“This is crucial to realize, since most of us tend to assume that we are encountering reality as it is. In fact, what you bring to any given experience (which, of course, is your entire history) profoundly shapes the nature of that experience. And it is also the case that the experience shapes you.”
—Excerpt from The Recognition Sūtras by Christopher D. Wallis

Since this is the case according to this philosophy, we could say that our surroundings are constantly affecting us and also teaching us something. And that what is around us is also changing because of us and learning from us too.

We are going to be practicing and exploring this in class this week. 

I look forward to seeing you in class.

Breathe easy,

Blessings,

Jorge Nihāl