Podcast Summary:

New Books Network
Episode: Luke Gibson, "Reading Sanskrit: A Complete Step-By-Step Introduction with Texts from the Buddhist Tradition" (Columbia UP, 2025)
Host: Dr. Raj Balkara
Guest: Luke Gibson
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation between Dr. Raj Balkara and author Luke Gibson about his new book, Reading Sanskrit: A Complete Step-By-Step Introduction with Texts from the Buddhist Tradition (Columbia University Press, 2025). The discussion focuses on Gibson's motivation for creating a new, accessible Sanskrit textbook foregrounding Buddhist sources, its pedagogical innovations, and the broader significance for students of South Asian religions and languages.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Luke Gibson's Journey to Sanskrit

• Bilingual upbringing in France (French/American), interest in languages (Mandarin), and Buddhism led him to Taiwan.

• First encounter with Sanskrit was through Buddhist studies at the Dharmadram Buddhist College in Taiwan.

• Initially motivated by a desire to read Buddhist texts, his interest broadened to South Asian culture as a whole.

  "My original interest was with Buddhism, but through Buddhism, I encountered Sanskrit... It really broadened my interest to encompass not just Buddhist Sanskrit texts, but the whole South Asian tradition." — Luke Gibson, 02:20

2. Why Focus on Buddhist Texts for Sanskrit Instruction?

• In East Asia (Taiwan, China, Japan), Sanskrit is linked primarily to Buddhist studies, contrasting with its association with Hinduism in the West.

• Most textbooks are Hindu-oriented, which leaves Buddhist learners underserved.

• The book intentionally provides a complete Sanskrit introduction via Buddhist texts, aiming for both Buddhist-oriented learners and anyone interested in religious/philosophical Sanskrit.

  "All of the textbooks, well, almost all of the textbooks, there's a few exceptions, but almost all the textbooks focus on Hinduism. And so one of the reasons for writing this textbook was... a need for a textbook... that uses Sanskrit texts based in the Buddhist traditions for this particular audience." — Luke Gibson, 04:15

3. The Historical Relationship Between Buddhism and Sanskrit (07:51–11:27)

• Early Buddhism eschewed Sanskrit for vernaculars; over time, Buddhists adopted Sanskrit, significantly impacting the literature.

• Noteworthy examples: Ashvaghosha's Buddhacharita (the first known court poetry in Sanskrit, predating Kalidasa).

• Major lexicons (like the Amara Kosha) probably had Buddhist authors.

• The book brings this overlooked aspect of Sanskrit history to the fore, widening students' literary exposure.

  "The very first [extant] work of Sanskrit belles lettre ... is written by Ashvaghosha, who is a Buddhist author." — Luke Gibson, 08:29

4. Pedagogical Innovations: Syntax, Style, and Buddhist Materials

Emphasis on Syntax and Usage (12:10–18:11)

• Traditional Sanskrit instruction overfocuses on morphology (forms, sandhi), underemphasizing syntax (how the language is actually used in sentences).

• Gibson’s book balances both:

  • Covers key syntactical patterns absent from most textbooks.
  • Gives numerous examples of authentic Sanskrit phraseology:
    • Predicate-first constructions (e.g., “impermanent sound” instead of “sound is impermanent”)
    • Broader, idiomatic case usages (e.g., locative case meaning “regarding” or “emotion towards”)

• Draws on insights from Speyer’s Sanskrit Syntax (22:52), especially helpful for learners without a Latin/Greek background.

  "These are just a couple of examples of what I mean by kind of giving more of a focus on syntax." — Luke Gibson, 17:13

Early Engagement with Authentic Texts (25:44–29:11)

• Lessons introduce original Buddhist prose early, not just author-generated sentences.

• Sources like Avadanas and Jataka tales provide accessible prose, suitable for beginners—easier than material from classical Sanskrit drama.

• Reflects real Sanskrit usage, not artificial learning sentences.

  "...as early as possible in the textbook, I've made sure that [reading exercises]...also come from authentic texts...the use of kind of simpler Buddhist prose writings was really kind of a real...pedagogical advantage..." — Luke Gibson, 28:14

5. Accessibility for Self-Learners & Course Integration (29:35–37:15)

• Book designed for both classroom and independent study.

• Includes supplementary digital resources:

  • Companion website with audio recordings, flashcards, worksheets.
  • Materials for reinforcing learning.

• Each paragraph is numbered for easy reference and classroom use.

  "One of the things that I've done for this book is created a companion website that provides a number of kind of supplementary material, so including audio recordings of all the exercises and all the readings, also including some flashcards, some worksheets..." — Luke Gibson, 36:27

• While autodidacts may find Sanskrit challenging, the design aims to support those without teachers as much as possible.

6. Comprehensive Grammar: Morphology & Syntax (31:22–34:26)

• The book is designed to cover all essentials of Sanskrit grammar—both how words change (morphology, sandhi) and how sentences are formed (syntax, style).
• 26 lessons, intended to be completed in a typical academic year (though the final four lessons are more advanced and optional for an introductory course).
• Dense but systematically organized (640 pages) to offload heavy explanation from the classroom to the textbook itself.
• Structure supports both teacher-guided and self-paced study.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Syntax vs. Morphology:
  • “I felt like these textbooks...didn't give enough information about what I call...syntax, or more broadly, Sanskrit usage or style.” — Luke Gibson, 12:31
• On Accessibility:
  • “I've tried to improve on accessibility... also to allow...independent students to use it to study Sanskrit. And so...I've done for this book is created a companion website...” — Luke Gibson, 36:08
• Big-Picture Goals:
  • "This really is not a textbook just for people interested in Buddhism. I think someone interested in Hinduism will gain a lot from understanding ... how the Hindu tradition was also shaped by this kind of non-Brahmanical Buddhist context." — Luke Gibson, 39:35
• Pedagogical Vision:
  • “My idea with this book was to give a different approach, which was to from the outset, try to cover both... morphology and syntax. So that once you've read the book, you're equipped with the basics ... and... have all that information with you.” — Luke Gibson, 33:09

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gibson’s Personal Journey Into Sanskrit: 02:10–03:52
• Focus on Buddhist Texts and Audience: 04:15–06:08
• Historical Role of Buddhism in Sanskrit Literature: 07:51–11:27
• Pedagogical Approach: Syntax & Usage: 12:10–18:11
• Addressing Spoken Sanskrit and Classical Usage: 19:36–22:19
• Emphasizing Authentic, Early-Stage Readings: 25:44–29:11
• Suitability for Self-Learners/Classroom Learners: 29:35–34:26
• Digital/Audio Companions, Accessibility Innovations: 36:08–37:15
• Final Takeaways on Book’s Broader Relevance: 38:58–40:42

Closing Thoughts

Gibson’s Reading Sanskrit stands out for its dual focus:

• Buddhist-authored source material, providing much-needed diversity in Sanskrit pedagogy.
• A strong emphasis on syntax and authentic usage, not just morphology—especially valuable for modern language learners and autodidacts.

The book is suited to a wide range of students:

• Buddhist studies students, especially in East Asia.
• Anyone seeking a more comprehensive, contemporary, and accessible way to learn Sanskrit, whether for Hindu, Buddhist, or philosophical texts.
• Learners looking for digital and multimodal support to accompany traditional study.

For more information, listeners are encouraged to consult the companion website linked in the episode notes, which provides additional resources for both teachers and students.