Elena Jessup has been teaching Sanskrit to adults and children since 1996, so she has clocked up thousands of hours of experience. Her approach is systematic, open, and fun, and she feels it is very important to learn in a safe space where students can happily make mistakes.
She has co-authored the St James series of Sanskrit textbooks which reflects my step-by-step approach.
How did your interest in Sanskrit start?
I've always been interested in languages, even from a young age. What can be more mysterious than speech? I grew up in New York City. My parents had a guru who encouraged them to study Sanskrit, so they had a beautifully calligraphised version of the Sanskrit alphabet on their bedroom wall. I learned to read the Devanāgarī letters and used to stare at the Sanskrit alphabet for hours, marvelling at its linguistic precision. I understood a lot about that, even at the age of five or six.
What according to you are the benefits of learning Sanskrit at a young age?
Anyone who studies Sanskrit, whether old or young, will receive benefits. The first is elevated mental and linguistic abilities. I noticed that after taking a Sanskrit degree and studying all the time that my ability to think through issues in a logical way was enhanced and so was my ability to speak and write English! The second benefit is to be able to escape from a narrow and conditioned way of thinking that we have here in Europe and the USA. Concepts such as mokṣa, dharma, ātman, etc are not really present in modern European languages and culture, so I've really benefitted spiritually because they have become part of my world view. The last benefit I would like to mention is purification of personal sound through Vedic chanting. I have a Vedic chanting teacher and I have noticed that after an hour or so of Vedic chanting, with careful attention to pronunciation, accent and listening, I emerge in a much better mental state. It's like my mind has taken a bath!
To answer your original question ... every day I teach Sanskrit to children at St James School in London, so I definitely see how they derive the benefits that I have mentioned above. However, young people have a better capacity to retain information, so learning grammar is easier when the student is young. Also, the exposure to the culture presented in Sanskrit literature is beneficial for young people with respect to character development.
When I work with young people, I start each lesson with Vedic chanting. This clears the mental atmosphere in the classroom and allows positivity to flow. I would say this is a huge benefit.
What according to you are the benefits of learning Sanskrit at a young age?
Anyone who studies Sanskrit, whether old or young, will receive benefits. The first is elevated mental and linguistic abilities. I noticed that after taking a Sanskrit degree and studying all the time that my ability to think through issues in a logical way was enhanced and so was my ability to speak and write English! The second benefit is to be able to escape from a narrow and conditioned way of thinking that we have here in Europe and the USA. Concepts such as mokṣa, dharma, ātman, etc are not really present in modern European languages and culture, so I've really benefitted spiritually because they have become part of my world view. The last benefit I would like to mention is purification of personal sound through Vedic chanting. I have a Vedic chanting teacher and I have noticed that after an hour or so of Vedic chanting, with careful attention to pronunciation, accent and listening, I emerge in a much better mental state. It's like my mind has taken a bath!
To answer your original question ... every day I teach Sanskrit to children at St James School in London, so I definitely see how they derive the benefits that I have mentioned above. However, young people have a better capacity to retain information, so learning grammar is easier when the student is young. Also, the exposure to the culture presented in Sanskrit literature is beneficial for young people with respect to character development.
When I work with young people, I start each lesson with Vedic chanting. This clears the mental atmosphere in the classroom and allows positivity to flow. I would say this is a huge benefit.
Is there an interest to learn Sanskrit in your State/ country?
Yes and no.
My sphere of influence is the UK, USA and Europe. During the last five years that I have been running my Sanskrit teaching business, 3rd Eye Sanskrit (www.thirdeyesanskrit.com), I have noticed that there has been a growing interest in Sanskrit among those interested in Indian systems of knowledge, such as yoga and Āyurveda practitioners. Such spiritual seekers have learned that they need Sanskrit in order to really understand and mastertheir disciplines and relevant texts.
However, things are not so great when we look at Sanskrit at school and university degree level. In the UK, you used to be able to take a BA in Sanskrit in four universities -- now this has been cut down to two. Cambridge Examinations cut Sanskrit A level in 2019, which means that students cannot use it as one of their subjects to get into university. And worst of all, recently Cambridge Examinations has cut our Sanskrit GCSE from 2027, which means that soon pupils cannot work towards it as a secondary school qualification. We cannot use the Indian CBSE exams, as they are not accepted in the UK. So we are really in a difficult situation regarding Sanskrit education at secondary and tertiary level and it doesn't look like it is getting better.
Why has this happened? There is a perception that learning Sanskrit will not provide a student with skills that will make them money. People have forgotten that good schooling is not about financial gain -- it's about providing people with an opportunity to come into contact with the best educational material. Sanskrit provides the best academic, linguistic and character developing educational material that I have ever encountered. If people are well educated in this way, if they can think through difficult issues using a strong moral compass, then there is a possibility for real prosperity in society.
If anyone would like to sign a petition asking for the Sanskrit GCSE to be reinstated, please go here: https://www.change.org/p/save-sanskrit-igcse-cambridge-should-not-discontinue-igcse-sanskrit-june-seriesHow does one create interest to learn a language which is not used to communicate widely in the world?
There are two ways. First, it needs to be made accessible and fun. Accessible means that there is a well structured course that takes people through the learning process in a systematic way so that they are never making mental jumps that are too large. Sanskrit is a challenging study, and people need all the support they can get. Our series of Sanskrit textbooks at St James does just that. However, it also needs to be playful. With children, I play a lot of games, and have developed online resources with the help of great platforms such as Kahoot and Blooket. I have found these to help my students learn challenging topics such as declensions and conjugations.
The second way is to encourage spirituality as an important aspect of life. Here in the West people generally only attend to the first three puruṣārthas - sensual desire, economic gain, and rightful living / ethics. What has been forgotten is the last and most important aim of human life -- freedom. Sanskrit is the perfect vehicle for people to discover and explore mokṣa. So I would say that an emphasis on pursuit of a deep spiritual life in society would create interest.5. What were your main resources in learning the language
My main resource was Walter Harding Mauer's 'The Sanskrit Language.' Then I studied for a Masters' Degree at London University and had material given to me by my teachers there.
What attracts you more grammar or literature? Or other aspects
I love the literature, especially the Upaniṣads. As a body of texts they have been transformative in my life, shaping my spirituality and leading to greater happiness. For example, a long time ago, our landlord billed us for something very unfair but legal. He was basically trying to squeeze as much money as he could out of his tenants. We had very little money but had to pay this bill. I was furious and my anger was eating me up. But then Īśā Upaniṣad 1 came into my head: "kasya svid dhanam? Who does wealth belong to?" This allowed me to detach from my ideas of money and survival and righteous anger and just allow the event to pass. I was very grateful as these words of wisdom restored my mental balance.
I do love the epics as well, especially the Mahābhārata because of its stories and unpredictability. However, I don't want to discount grammar as it is very important. I don't mind learning case endings, declensions etc. I have studied some Panini, which I very much respect. If I had more time I would study that a bit more.
One other aspect I mentioned earlier is Vedic chanting. When I chant the Upaniṣads and I have the meaning there and the poetry, the whole combination is sublime.
What are your favorite mantras in Sanskrit
This is a very hard question as I am a big fan of mantras, especially when chanted in a traditional fashion. I experience the mantras as a soundscape which can be explored by participation. I'm of the firm belief that they were constructed as 'places' for us to visit through sound and meaning. For my favourite, I would probably say the Durgā Sūktam as Durgā is my personal deity.
How has Sanskrit given you access to other Indian Knowledge Systems.
My main interest is Advaita Vedanta. Reading the Upaniṣads with Śaṅkara's commentaries has given me access to Śaṅkara's thoughts and ideas. Reading Śaṅkara is like being with him, and I regard him as my guru despite the fact that we are separated by time and space.
