Welcome to Parā Technica

As technological advancement accelerates at an unprecedented rate, especially with the staggering advances in artificial intelligence, we have an immense opportunity ahead of us. We have the chance to pause and reflect on what this moment reveals about ourselves, our priorities, and our values. We have the opportunity to ask deeper questions so that we can become more intentional in choosing the path we take, both in how we use technology and continue to develop it.

To pursue this potential, we began, as meaningful explorations often do, in the simplest way possible: through conversation. This one started between the two of us (Mohak Shroff and Sadhu Aksharananddas). Over the past two years, we started talking about the technological leaps we were witnessing. Our discussions often turned philosophical and reflective. We looked toward the technological horizon and tried to understand what it all meant and what the path forward could be. At one point, we envisioned writing a book capturing our conversations, but quickly realized that it wouldn’t work with the pace of change in AI.

So instead, Parā Technica was born. A space for reflection on our relationship with technology. It is a place where inquiry, discussion, and exploration seek to inform not only how we build, but why and to what end, and, ultimately, to better understand ourselves and how we leverage technology in this Era of AI. With the blessing of our guru, Mahant Swami Maharaj, we embark on our journey of Parā Technica: an experiment to ground modern innovation with more considered inquiry.

Parā Technica is a synthesis of two concepts from two meaningful traditions:

• Parā (परा) (pa-raa): A Sanskrit word meaning “higher,” “beyond,” or “supreme.” It comes from the Upanishadic distinction between Aparā Vidyā (worldly, empirical knowledge) and Parā Vidyā (higher, enlightened knowledge). Parā invokes this pursuit of transcendent understanding.

• Technica: From the ancient Greek technē (τέχνη). While it is the root of "technology," its original meaning conveys a sense of craftsmanship, artistry, and the skillful process by which something is made or achieved. It implies an artful practice, one that is informed by beauty and intention.

Together, Parā Technica is our mission statement: to navigate the age of AI by drawing on insights from philosophy and spirituality.

Although this project begins as a dialogue between the two of us, its purpose is to grow that conversation. Whether you are a technologist with a philosophical spirit, an innovator searching for deeper principles, or simply a curious mind navigating our complex world, we hope you have found your community.

Welcome to Parā Technica!