Foundations
Before you step into the tradition, a few maps: of words, of structures, and of time
Come, friend, before we jump straight into deep water, let us stand at the shore for a moment. Four maps are laid out here, and two reflections, telling you what this whole canon is, how it is divided, and how old it is. Once this outline settles in your mind, every other text starts to recognize its own place.
You can enter the tradition straight through any text, but the road is easier with a map in hand. These pages are those maps: of words, of structures, and of time. Look through them first, and the other texts begin to settle into place.
Four pages of groundwork
Two reflections that grow out of these
Frequently asked questions
In what order should I read these pages?
Start with Sanatana Dharma and Hinduism, then the map of the canon, and then the canon in time. The two reflections can be read at any point.
Will the other texts make sense without reading these?
Yes, every text stands complete on its own. But these maps tell you which stream, which layer, and which age a text belongs to.
Why does the tone here differ from the rest of the site?
These pages speak in a seated, storyteller’s voice, so that even dry structures open like stories. The matter stays the same; the telling runs a little warmer.
For anyone who thinks in systems, these four maps and two reflections do one job: they lay out the structure behind every text. Once you see the structure, each new text lands not in some empty slot but in a place of its own.