There are moments when I genuinely question my own choices.
Years have gone into studying and understanding classical
Jyotiṣa—not casually, but through sustained effort. I’ve written commentaries of
texts like Laghu Prashari, Uttara Kalamrita, Jatak Saradeep, and Bhavarth
Ratnakar. I’ve written commentaries on Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and
Phaladeepika, though they are not yet in print. I’ve also written books on
medical astrology and professional indications.
And yet, when I look at the current landscape of seekers and
teachers, the gap is hard to ignore.
Most seekers today lack foundational clarity. There is
curiosity, but very little discipline. There is interest, but not enough effort
to engage with primary texts or test principles rigorously. Even those coming
from reputed institutions often carry a rigid, syllabus-bound understanding,
shaped more by authority than inquiry.
At the same time, the space is crowded with self-proclaimed
“gurus” who simplify, distort, and package astrology for easy consumption. They
don’t build understanding—they build dependency. They don’t encourage
questioning—they sell certainty. And it works, because it aligns with what most
people are looking for: quick answers, not deep study.
This creates a strange situation.
Serious work remains unseen or unpublished, while
superficial narratives spread rapidly. Those who take the time to go deeper
often end up isolated, watching from the sidelines as misinformation gains
ground.
But the issue is not just with teachers. It’s also with the
demand. When people are unwilling to invest time in understanding, they
naturally gravitate toward those who offer shortcuts.
So, the question is not whether the system is flawed—it
clearly is. The real question is: what do we do about it?
Do we withdraw and keep the knowledge to ourselves?
Do we engage and try to correct the course, knowing the resistance?
Or do we focus only on a handful of serious students and ignore the noise?
There may not be a perfect answer. But one thing is clear—if
those who have done the work remain silent, the space will continue to be
shaped by those who haven’t.
And that would be a far greater loss than the frustration we
feel today.
