Vision
Language and Culture
To study a classical language is to borrow a new pair or eyes; from the comfort of our classroom or home, we step into another time and place, gaining a critical awareness of our present way of being and revealing hidden boundaries or unexpected possibilities. In our classes, I strive to blend the study of the Sanskrit language with a non-sectarian, academically rigorous exploration of classical South Asian culture, including its various outlooks on existence.
Many students come to Sanskrit out of an interest in Indian philosophy, religion, or spiritual practices like yoga or meditation. If that sounds like you, you may find our courses’ thoroughgoing engagement with these themes more stimulating than the heavy focus on narrative or “secular” literature typically found in the early years of most university Sanskrit programs. This journey will include both Buddhism and Hinduism—the two main streams of ancient South Asian spirituality—because a deep, well-rounded understanding of either tradition requires at least some familiarity with the other.
You live a new life for every language you speak.
If you know only one language, you live only once.
—Czech Proverb
Bringing Sanskrit to Life
Though it may seem that way to us at first, languages—even ancient Indo-European languages—are not simply grammatical puzzles to be deciphered through dry linguistic analysis. I believe that, with the proper encouragement, students can start developing an intuitive feel for classical languages like Sanskrit. To achieve this, I place a strong emphasis on reading texts aloud and on the memorization and recitation of Sanskrit verses—especially subhāṣita-s (versified maxims)—to help students internalize the language’s rhythm and syntax.
The limit placed on the number of students in each class is intended to foster active student engagement; before receiving feedback from the teacher, participants consistently have the opportunity to practice reading or reciting texts and share their understanding or translation. Most importantly, I aim to create a relaxed and welcoming environment in which we can enjoy the learning process rather than rush toward quick results.
The Purpose of śabda-vidyā
Śabda is one of the Sanskrit words meaning “sound” and, by extension, “word,” “speech,” or “language.” This intrinsic connection between sound and language highlights the deeply oral nature of Sanskrit culture. Unlike Classical Chinese, for example, Sanskrit is fundamentally a language that is meant to be voiced and heard aloud.
The term śabda-vidyā translates to the “science (vidyā) of language” or “linguistics,” with a particular emphasis on the field of Sanskrit grammatical analysis (vyākaraṇa). This word, associated mainly with the Buddhist tradition, is essentially interchangeable with śabda-śāstra, a general term for the study of language, about which a well-known saying (subhāṣita) from the Pañcatantra (“Five Book”) states:
anantapāraṃ kila śabdaśāstraṃ svalpaṃ tathāyur bahavaś ca vighnāḥ |
sāraṃ tato grāhyam apāsya phalgu haṃsair yathā kṣīram ivāmbumadhyāt ||
“The science of language, they say, is boundless, yet life is short and full of obstacles.
Thus, let us focus on what is essential and set aside what is useless,
just as the haṃsa (a mythical bird) separates milk from water.”
—Viṣṇuśarman, Pañcatantra, verse 6
This verse offers a valuable lesson for anyone learning Sanskrit—or any vast field of knowledge, for that matter. It’s easy to get lost in the dense jungle of traditional Sanskrit grammar or the labyrinth of Western historical linguistics. While exploring these depths can be fascinating, my approach to writing my textbook, Reading Sanskrit, and teaching is to prioritize what is most relevant to my students at their current stage of learning, rather than getting lost in the minutiae.
The Buddhist tradition’s inclusion of śabda-vidyā—the study of language—alongside four other sciences (logic, medicine, crafts, and inner or spiritual knowledge) as just one, albeit important, part of a practitioner’s program of self-cultivation also serves as an important reminder: language learning isn’t an isolated pursuit. In South Asian traditions, it has always been deeply connected to the larger quest for wisdom and a meaningful life—what one might, in the West, call the good life.
—Luke Gibson
Banner image:
Bodhisattvas, Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā manuscript, 12th century, Bengal