Learning & Listening to Sanskrit

Having been interested in linguistics, I’ve long known about the great significance of the Sanskrit language. I’ve wanted to learn it for a long time and finally decided to buy a book and start learning it on my own. From what I read the book Introduction to Sanskrit by Thomas Egenes is the most recommended for those doing self-study.

In addition, there is a lot of helpful information on the web including videos on Youtube with help in pronunciation. There is even a site with audio of the practice questions from Introduction to Sanskrit.

One provider of videos on YouTube is an organization called shaale.com which promotes itself as “… an initiative to document & promote ancient Indian wisdom & culture through traditional arts & literature.” This is the real stuff. Actual Sanskrit speakers from India. Check out this video which is part of their Fun with Subashitas collection:

As I learn this ancient language its great to watch videos like these and realize that its not just about learning letters and grammar, but about connecting with ancient traditions.

In this time that we are increasingly told that we have to earn money and be ever more efficient cogs in the machine I feel its more important than ever to dedicate ourselves to the spirit of pure and classical knowledge. As the education system increasingly fails and claims it has not the resources to properly educate, its more important for each of us to claim our right to be educated and to educate, regardless of broken systems.

And I have to say, since I started this self-study the time I now spend learning Sanskrit is some of the highest quality time of my day and I increasingly look forward to it each new day.

Another added benefit is that I don’t have to expend fossil fuels to go to some campus and sit in a dreary classroom under flourescent lights. This has brought up another issue however: It seems everywhere one goes these days there’s nothing but clamor and banter of music contantly blaring through loudspeakers. Whatever happened to a peaceful cafe where one could sit in quiet contemplation, or immerse in a game like chess? Its all blown away by the incessant clamor of so much drivel “music” that becomes noise. Its another indication of the morbid state of the soul of society that people just accept the abrogation of peaceful and serene environments by default because that’s just the way it is. I eagerly search out places that are able to stand above the abject, base level which has become the default.