Arihanta Institute proudly announces the launch of the Compassion Studies Initiative (CSI@AI), an innovative educational program designed to explore and cultivate compassion in our everyday lives. In a time marked by division and uncertainty, CSI@AI seeks to inspire individuals to embrace compassion as a transformative force for personal growth and the betterment of society.

At the heart of this initiative lies a commitment to addressing crucial questions: 

• How can we live more compassionately in today’s complex world? 
• How can we inspire those around us to adopt a compassionate mindset? 
• And how can we integrate compassion into our daily actions while ensuring self-compassion? 

These inquiries serve as the foundation for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and action among participants.

“The Compassion Studies Initiative is about more than just understanding compassion; it’s about exploring the complexity of compassion and the complexity of putting it into action,” says Christopher Jain Miller, VP of Academic Affairs at Arihanta Institute. “By drawing on both spiritual and secular traditions of compassion, we aim to create a holistic educational experience that empowers individuals to make a difference—one compassionate act at a time, while also investigating the structural injustices that sometimes make compassion seem impossible.”

Key Components of CSI@AI

CSI@AI is comprised of five main initiatives designed to engage participants at various levels:

Online Self-Paced Certificate Courses: A range of self-paced courses will explore different dimensions of compassion. These courses, as well as more to come, will be offered over the course of 2025:

• “Jain Teachings and Practices of Compassion” by Jeffery D. Long, PhD 
• “Forgiveness as Compassion” by Venu Mehta, PhD
• “Spiritual Approaches to Cultivating Compassion” by Frank Rogers, PhD
• “Compassion to Self and Others in Jain Householder Life” by Shivani Bothra, PhD
• “Human Security as Compassion: Jain Perspectives on Global Challenges” by Melanie Barbato, PhD
• “Interreligious Approaches to Compassion in Action” by Nitin Shah, MD

Voices in Compassion Studies (ViCS): The ViCS monthly interactive webinar series will showcase the work of leading scholars, educators, and practitioners in compassion studies. Each session invites participants to engage in dynamic discussions with speakers, allowing for deeper exploration of compassion's role in daily life. Watch the Replay of our kick-off event “Compassion in Action: Acharya Shri Chandanaji,” here. Sign up for future ViCS events here.

Engaged Jain Studies Podcast: Featuring interviews with CSI@AI scholars and practitioners, the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast will delve into their unique perspectives on compassion and its intersection with various aspects of life and society. Listen now!

Earth Day Conference 2025: The Third Annual Engaged Jain Studies Conference, themed “Compassion-in-Action,” will take place on April 19-20, 2025. This online event will unite scholars, educators, practitioners, and members of the Jain community to discuss how compassion can be incorporated into our everyday lives and broader social contexts through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions. Sign-up for our newsletter for updates and registration to come!

Graduate-Level Training: The initiative will offer graduate-level programs that explore the applications of compassion across self, fellow human beings, animals, and the environment through the interdisciplinary lens of Engaged Jain Studies. Learn more!

Join the Movement

The Compassion Studies Initiative invites individuals from all backgrounds and traditions to become part of a community committed to fostering compassion in their lives and the lives of others. Whether you are a scholar, educator, practitioner, or simply someone looking to make a positive impact, CSI@AI offers numerous opportunities for education, engagement, and growth.

By creating a supportive environment for exploration and collaboration, CSI@AI aims to empower participants to cultivate a more compassionate world. Through shared knowledge, personal reflection, and collective action, the initiative seeks to highlight the profound impact that compassion can have on society, particularly in our current times of social crisis.

Arihanta Institute encourages anyone interested in joining the Compassion Studies Initiative to visit the CSI@AI homepage for more information on courses, upcoming events, and how to become involved.