“Simple linear logic, in which principles come first and deductions follow, is not very useful when it comes to comprehending a vidya, because the sages who developed these vidyas employed an entirely different mode of thinking. 'They thought rather in terms of what we might call a fugue, in which all the notes cannot be constrained into a single melodic scale, in which one is plunged directly into the midst of things and must follow the temporal order created by their thoughts' (de Santillana, p. xi). Probably the most essential condition for becoming a capable jyotishi, which happens to be the most difficult one for the average Westerner to fulfill, is to learn how to think in this holistic, non-linear way. Because it is also very difficult to write or teach non-linearly - it is simply impossible to 'square the circle' - imperfections in books on Jyotish that are written in modern languages are inevitable. One reason why Jyotish's texts are written in Sanskrit is that Sanskrit helps facilitate holistic thought. The Seers taught that Sanskrit's very sounds are sacred, and they held that Sanskrit (when properly intoned) speaks directly to the soul of living creatures, transmitting, as does music, a universal meaning which does not depend on its composition or lyrics. Because the essence of the Vedas is believed to be transferred to the listener when Vedic hymns are recited correctly, the Vedas must be studied vocally in their original Sanskrit if they are to be truly understood. This also applies to the Vedas' satellite vidyas such as Jyotish and Ayweda (India's traditional medical system). Other languages may convey the vidyas' theoretical meaning, but only Sanskrit captures and conveys their quintessence. Anyone who wishes to become a master jyotishi must eventually possess and be posscsscd by Sanskrit, and although theoretical or book learning can be helpful, Sanskrit, like Jyotish, can only be truly learned orally from a competent teacher.” SanskritFugueAstrology Signs Book:Light on Life Source: Light on Life