Language Study as a
Path of Self-cultivation
A warm welcome to the Śabda·vidyā Sanskrit Studio!
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My name is Luke Gibson, and I look forward to exploring the Sanskrit tradition with you, both as a language and as a resource for living a more intentional and meaningful life. Drawing on over a decade of experience teaching the language, I wrote Reading Sanskrit (Columbia University Press, 2025), a fresh introduction to Sanskrit based in texts from the Buddhist tradition. I also created the Śabda·vidyā Sanskrit Studio, an intimate learning space where I share this passion with a global community of English- and Chinese-speaking classical language enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and lovers of South Asian culture.
In the live online Sanskrit courses on offer here, we are guided by three main goals:
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Integrate language learning with the exploration of South Asian literature, philosophy, and religion—engaging deeply with the rich interplay between Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Offer affordable courses that are as rigorous and in-depth as university-level programs while remaining learner-centered and relaxed, free from ivory tower elitism or mystification.
Treat the study of classical languages as a discipline for self-cultivation—an opportunity to step away from the relentless overstimulation of our hyperconnected world and enter into dialogue with ancient thinkers and their time-honored traditions.
May we learn, grow, and have fun together!
Shall we get started?
Featured Courses
Elementary Sanskrit
Sep 1, 2026 - Dec 17, 2026
Embark on your Sanskrit journey—the gateway to South Asia’s vast spiritual and literary heritage. This course guides you step by step through pronunciation, script, vocabulary, and grammar, while introducing you early on to authentic texts, chanting practice, and the rich cultural world behind the words.
Intermediate Sanskrit
Feb 23, 2027 - Jun 10, 2027
Take your Sanskrit learning to the next level—moving well beyond the fundamentals of sandhi, Devanāgarī, and inflection into a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of Sanskrit modes of expression, all through direct engagement with great spiritual and literary classics.
Student Reviews
What’s New
Does “Yoga”
Really Mean “Union”?
Buddhism and
the Language of the Gods
April 8, 2026
Nov 5, 2025
Aśoka’s Edicts: Religious Pluralism in Ancient India
Jun 27, 2025
Sanskrit Saying
“If one cannot follow the way of the wise in full, one should follow even a small part of it—
for once on the path (mārga), one no longer loses heart.”
—Vallabhadeva, Subhāṣitāvalī (“Garland of Well-Said Verses”), 2641
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Banner image:
Virūpākṣa Temple, Hampi, Karnāṭaka (photo by Dmitry Rukhlenko)