Vanaprastha — A Forgotten Life Stage, Remembered
Vanaprastha comes from Sanskrit: vana means “forest,” and prastha means “to go forth.” In the traditional four stages of life, it marked the passage between grihastha (householder) and sannyasa (renunciation).
Unlike sannyasa, which called for complete withdrawal from possessions, roles, and identity, vanaprastha was a stage of gradual retreat. It was a time to step back from household duties, pass them to the next generation, and turn toward the forest for contemplation, teaching, and spiritual practice. It carried dignity as a period of wisdom and transition, recognizing that we need space to withdraw slowly, not all at once.
Though this stage has faded from memory, its essence — of retreat, renewal, and vision — belongs to all people. Across cultures, humans have always gone alone to the land, listening for guidance and returning with clarity for their communities.
The work we carry here grows from the lineage of the School of Lost Borders, a bare-bones approach to rites of passage born in the deserts of California. At its heart lies something timeless: stepping away from daily life, sitting in solitude with the land, and returning with insight and purpose.
In India too, rishis and munis once went to the forests as part of their path. Today, this possibility has nearly vanished. For many — especially women and queer people — going alone into the wild can feel unsafe or out of reach. With this loss, we lose a way of knowing ourselves as part of the living world, as its kin and stewards.
Vanaprastha is a step toward remembering. In the company of others, within containers of ceremony, we return to the land — not as renunciates, but as people seeking renewal, clarity, belonging, and community.
This is the spirit that guides our work, and the path we continue to walk — one return at a time.
Vandana Bhalla
Vandana grew up in Pune, India, with a deep love for music and the natural world. A graduate in English, her path has carried her through many stages — from playing bass in a teenage rock band to becoming a well-known techno DJ, to training as an audio engineer and working as a voice-over artist. Throughout, she has remained a spiritual seeker, drawn to Buddhism, meditation, and the quiet wisdom of the wild.
Her first encounter with wilderness rites of passage came through the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute — an experience that felt like coming home. This led to training at the School of Lost Borders in California, where she completed the month-long intensive, assisted on multiple vision fasts, and continues to be mentored by elders of the tradition. She is also certified as a NOLS Wilderness First Responder (WFR).
Today, Vandana serves as a wilderness guide and ceremonialist, bringing rites of passage to India through Vanaprastha. She is passionate about creating safe and inclusive spaces for people to meet themselves in nature, and considers this work her deepest calling.
When not guiding, Vandana can often be found making art, listening to music, or quietly walking the land.