Preface (from the book)
The first volume of Science of Light focused on teaching the primary components of Vedic astrology with the intent to have students able to read a chart, have access to traditional scriptures and know how to deepen their knowledge with experience. The second volume goes deeper into the philosophical foundations of Vedic astrology. Deepening our underlying understanding strengthens our foundations and creates a context for more advanced techniques.
Our individual reality is created by the thought structures and language we have. The more language we have, and the deeper we understand it, the broader we can approach the world and the deeper our astrology will go. The first volume shifted the individual reality into an interconnected whole and the second volume goes into the structure and functioning of that holistic framework. Proper understanding of this reference point allows one to unlimit themselves and their vision.
Chapter 1: Process of Creation
The first chapter of the second volume is a translation of the first chapter of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS) on creation. All important Vedic texts start with the creation for reasons explained in the chapter, but the level of this information was too much for the first volume where the student would have been confronted with very advanced Vedic philosophy too soon. Vedic astrology gives a holistic view of reality, but we must expand to that vantage point. So the first volume starts with introducing the Vedic arena and its organization, and after making it through that text, one is more prepared to learn this deeper level.
One’s interpretations are guaranteed to be biased according to one’s perspective; therefore the perspective must be purified. We must deepen our perception of the universe and perceive from a clear vantage point. Samkhya philosophy is ruled by the Moon as it relates to our perception of reality and its purification. Understanding the emanation of the universe opens the doorway to becoming a Seer of Reality (tattva-darshini). This first chapter is difficult for the average person, but I ask students to read it the best they can. There are certain concepts taught there that will be elaborated on later, such as the nature of Time, the gunas and the elements. This chapter lays the framework in which the other concepts will rest within.
Chapter 2: Time [Listen to a small lecture based on this material] Some aspects of this chapter are high philosophy, and may not be easy to read for that reason, but the student is encouraged to read it and at least let these chapters digest in the unconscious. To truly be a Vedic astrologer one needs to understand the Vedic paradigm, otherwise it is western astrology with Vedic techniques. The concepts in these chapters have greater implications for how we perceive creation and time, and therefore how we look at human existence.
The first chapter briefly talks about the creation. We now exist in time and this must be explained. If one can follow the philosophy of Time and its movement of the gunas from the creation chapter to this chapter, the profundity of Parashara is beautifully broadened. Everything in Vedic astrology is based upon time, as things happen in time, at the right time. The chapter is divided into two sections. The first section begins with looking at the Vedic perception of Time; through the Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas and Puranas which aims to give us a sense of how Parashara may have conceived of time. There is a certain stress on getting the astrologer to think in the traditional Vedic sense about Time- to realize the powerful force which Time is.
The second section focuses on the breakdown of the units of empirical time. These time units should be understood by a Vedic astrologer to deepen their understanding of the mathematics of Jyotisha and the mysticism which is based upon the numbers related to these units. The student of Vedic Astrology must be familiar with the basic workings of Vedic time keeping (the calendar), on a larger scale than just the days pancanga. This is just an introduction presenting the lunar and solar workings of the calendar with the calculation of months, intercalary months and relevant variations. Then we look at the larger time units to see how both the quantumly small and galacticly large units of time existed in the ancient world.
Chapter 3: Naisargika Dasha
After studying time in the external world, we take a look at time in the internal world; getting practical. The chapter starts with a brief look at the types of dasha that exist; the differences and the applications to give a general framework for the multitude of dashas. The intention is to help give a cognitive place to put all the multiple dashas that will be presented as we go along so they do not become overwhelming.
Then the chapter focuses on natural time (naisargika graha dasha), which is a dash that precedes all others, and is therefore foundational to interpreting other dasha successfully. It is a very basic dasha that is so simple, you really should have learned it first, but it is almost too simple to learn first, so we learn something that has a wide utility, then we refine our understanding with something that runs underneath.
This dasha is ‘time’ according to the internal biological clock of the human being, a clock that ticks basically the same for everyone. Since this dasha was used in all places from India to Greece, I have added some additional cross cultural references. The mind is ripe from mediating on time and is ready to see it even more deeply. From the perspective of dasha, I show how we can utilize more than one and use this to compliment what we already know. My guru, Pandit Sanjay Rath thinks in about ten dasha a minute, like a watch that you can see the parts inside moving. As our astrological knowledge grows we must become aware of the multiple cogs of time always at work.
Then the chapter looks at two methods of progressing through the houses. We briefly look at naisargika bhava dasha which is taught by Rishi Jaimini, just to give an understanding of a natural house progression. Then we have a basic introduction to the Sudarshana Cakra according to the Sudarshana-cakra-phala-adhyaya of Parashara.
Chapter 1- Creation
Chapter 2- Time
Chapter 3- Naisargika Dasha (Natural Timing)
Chapter 4- Gunas
Chapter 5- Five Elements
Chapter 6- Birth Circumstances
Chapter 7- Special Ascendants
Chapter 8- Narayana Dasha (Rashi Timing)
Chapter 9- Ayurjyotisha (Ayurvedic Astrology)
Chapter 10- Maraka and Badhaka
Chapter 11- Curses
Chapter 12- Remedial Measures
Appendix I: Names for an Astrologer
About the Author
See more about Course 2