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yogic vocabulary - book review : "The Language of the Gods"
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: yogic vocabulary - book review : "The Language of the Gods"
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From: hal_computer@earthlink.net (Debashish Banerji)
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Date: 16 Dec 1994 09:37:33 GMT
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From news@earthlink.net Fri Dec 16 04: 31:33 1994
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: HAL Computer Systems
Most people intrerested in the subject of Indian studies have found
themselves confronted very early with the problem of Sanskrit vocabulary.
Specially, when one is approaching the subject through the English
language, the liberal peppering of Sanskrit terms (as often in works of
any significance) is usually a source of much bewilderment. It may
take one some time to realize that like the Eskimo with his 99 different
words for snow, the early users of the Sanskrit language
developed a highly specialized vocabulary to describe the "inner life"
of man - a granularity to which the English language is entirely
inadequate. However, being a constantly evolving and highly adaptable
language, English assimilates quickly into itself from foreign cultures
and Indian ideas and terms are becoming native to its universe of
expression. It is for this reason that it becomes all the more
necessary to have a correct understanding of significant Sanskrit
vocabulary.
Inaccuracy of understanding and usage apart, the more complex problem
presented by Sanskrit vocabulary, even to the person familiar with the
language, arises from historical and philosophical variations of usage.
For instance, the word Maya means something quite different to the
Buddhist, the Advaitin, the Vaishnav and the Tantrik; Shiva takes on
different names and varying functions through the Vedas, the Upanishads,
the Puranas, the Tantras and the Shaiva Agamas. A clear understanding
of context is absolutely necessary to the correct interpretation of text.
Fortunately, there is an excellent and comprehensive aid to introduce
the gamut of important Sanskrit terms, presenting them against the
backdrop of the historical, social, cultural, and philosophic atmosphere
of their usage. This is the book, "The Language of the Gods", written
by Dr. Judith M. Tyberg and published by the East-West Cultural Center
in Los Angeles. Judith (now deceased) was a direct disciple of
Sri Aurobindo, who gave her the spiritual name Jyotipriya, and her book
is definitely informed by the spiritual clarity and all-inclusive
comprehensiveness that characterises her master.
Starting with an introduction to the mantric power of Sanskrit, this
book takes us through the message and terms of the Vedas, the Upanishads
and the Bhagavad Gita, the Philosophical Schools, their exponents and
Literature, the Systems of Yoga, an outline of Sanatana Dharma, the
different Indian religions, their practices and essential terms and
Buddhism with Buddhist terms in Sanskrit and Pali. A number of indexes
at the end of the book enlarge upon the material of the text, adding
extensive terminology with meaningful interpretations.
This book is a must for all interested in Indian studies, both for the
sheer pleasure of its reading, and as an invaluable handbook for Sanskrit
vocabulary. Handsomely hardbound in a light blue jacket, the book costs
$16/- plus postage and may be obtained by writing to the East-West
Cultural Center, 12329 Marshall Street, Culver City, CA 90230 or calling
(310) 390-9083 or you may send e-mail to Debashish Banerji at
hal_computer@earthlink.net
