Podcast 13

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Christopher Jain Miller, PhD, interviews Dr. Venu Mehta, Assistant Professor of Jainism and Comparative Spiritualities at Claremont School of Theology (CST), and a key collaborator and professor in the MA Engaged Jain Studies track at CST. Hear about how Professor Mehta came to study forgiveness as a form of compassion in Jain Studies, amidst her manifold other research and teaching interests. Also understand how the Jain tradition offers many approaches to forgiveness and compassion in texts as well as in everyday cultural practices. Learn how you too can incorporate Jain practices of forgiveness into your everyday world to live a more compassionate and peaceful life.

Course Announcement

📖 This EJS podcast episode offers a preview of Dr. Mehta's upcoming course for the 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟻 | 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. Forgiveness or kṣamāpanā is arguably the most important virtue and practice, known to be synonymous to and vital for the practice of non-violence, compassion, and peace for individuals and the global community. As one of the most ancient religious traditions, Jainism is not only rich with the philosophical sources on the concept of forgiveness, but the Jain tradition also offers lived ways to practice forgiveness in our daily life. Learn the Jain way of forgiveness in conversation with non-violence, compassion, and peace.

👉🏽✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝟐𝟓% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐒𝐈𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓.

The 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 is supported by a grant from the Uberoi Foundation.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast for more insightful discussions on Jain philosophy, ethics, and engaged spirituality!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

**********

ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Venu Mehta, PhD, Professor at Claremont School of Theology

Venu Mehta is a scholar of Jainism. Her present research focuses on the devotional practices, literature, and iconography of the Jaina Goddess Padmāvatī, with special attention to vernacular and regional forms of devotion and goddesses in Jainism. Her areas of scholarship in Jain Studies include Jain religious diaspora and sectarian negotiations in the USA, Jainism and ecology, Jain bhakti literature and practices in Gujarat, Jaina theory of Anekāntavāda, and Jaina notion of forgiveness.

Her academic background, including research and training in education and literature, led to her first Ph.D. in multiculturalism and literature education. In her first Ph.D. project, she focused on developing theory, methods, and in-class materials to orient learners towards multiculturalism using literature at the higher secondary level.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Christopher Jain Miller is the co-founder, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute. He completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis and is also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology where he co-developed and co-runs a remotely available Masters Degree Program focusing on Engaged Jain Studies. His current research focuses on Engaged Jainism and Modern Yoga, and he is the author of a number of articles and book chapters concerned with Jainism and the practice of modern yoga. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024), as well as co-editor of the volumes Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to the Study of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).

Copyright 2025 Arihanta Institute