Jain teachings have inspired renowned social and political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. Furthermore, the tradition has always been at the forefront of promoting integrated and interdependent living, as expressed in the precept “parasparopagraho jīvānām,” meaning that all life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence, for better or for worse. This precept and the broader Jain way of life have directly and indirectly served as thematic motivation for movements like veganism, animal rights, social justice, and sustainability both within and outside the Jain tradition worldwide.

As an institution we seek to demonstrate how Jain principles such as non-violence, non-possession, charity, compassion, and many more can be put into practice within the context of globalized society’s complex, manifold challenges including climate change, environmental degradation, social injustice, speciesism, and much more.

In order to bring this vision to reality, our course offerings present Jain philosophical and ethical principles in the context of these everyday concerns, in both introductory and advanced formats. Our instructors introduce students to allied fields of inquiry such as animal studies, environmental studies, social justice studies, food studies, psychology, and professional ethics. All of these fields contain, to varying degrees, science and data-backed insights that show how Jain principles can be most effectively lived and expressed in contemporary life and society.