About the Vegan Studies Initiative

The Vegan Studies Initiative at Arihanta Institute is a groundbreaking online program focused on promoting and enacting veganism as an expression of multispecies nonviolence. The initiative is multipronged, interweaving: (1) Graduate-level academic training; (2) Live and Self-paced online learning courses; (3) Public conferences and guest speaker events; (4) Global partnerships with aligned organizations. Our mission is to educate, empower, and connect everyone—Jain and non-Jain—passionate about reimagining and co-creating a world in which our values and actions converge. Please join us in pursuing a future dedicated to compassion and consideration for all!

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Featured Events

Upcoming Event
Arihanta Event Webinar
"Transfarming Switzerland” — Online Film Screening & VSI Panel Discussion
December 10, 2024
Featuring the award-winning short film "Transfarming Switzerland," followed by a VSI panel discussion with the film's director.
Upcoming Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: Teaching Veganism from an Animal Sanctuary
December 16, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies online speaker series highlights Vegan Studies educators like Shaleen Shah, Founder of Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary.
Upcoming Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
DEJS: Jainism and Animals
April 14, 2025
Dialogues in European Jain Studies on Jainism and Animals with Tine Vekemans, Jonathan Dickstein, and Joey Tuminello. Join us!
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: Jain Principles, Animal Law, and Veganism - Living an Engaged Jain Life
November 18, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies welcomes Nirva Patel, Global Policy Fellow in the Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: The Philosophical Bases of Veganism in the Ancient Western World
October 21, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies online series features Renan Larue, French literary scholar and historian of vegetarianism at UC Santa Barbara.
Past Event
Arihanta Event MA Program
Master of Arts - Engaged Jain Studies Information Session
October 18, 2024
Please join us for an information session to learn more about our Master of Arts in Engaged Jain Studies graduate program.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Webinar
Animal Futures: A Roundtable on Movement Building
October 11, 2024
Four thought leaders in the animal movement share their perspectives on shifting social norms and effecting tangible changes.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: Dairy-free Jain Diet: A Health Perspective
September 16, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies features Pritesh Mutha, Physician & Professor at UT Health Houston in our online speaker series.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: Culture, Race, Veganism - Navigating the Tensions to Keep Animals in View
August 19, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies features Professor Maneesha Deckha in our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Partner Event
VCOP18: Vegan Convergence of the Peoples
July 28, 2024
Professor Christopher Jain Miller, PhD presents: “Jain Yoga and Nonviolence: The Vegan Studies Initiative” at VCOP#18.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Partner Event
Animal Justice Academy Lunchtime Live
July 24, 2024
Dr. Vasile Stanescu previews his upcoming course and Dr. Jonathan Dickstein shares info on the Vegan Studies Initiative at AI.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Partner Event
Earth on Edge: Two Years to Save Our Planet
July 20, 2024
Hosted by Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder of Climate Healers, this event will feature over 10 leading scientists and experts.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: New Ethical Issues in Contemporary Veganism
July 15, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies ft. UNLV professor Cheryl Abbate, PhD in our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: How to Talk about Dairy
July 1, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Ed Winters, public speaker & educator in an online speaker series with leaders in the field of Vegan Studies.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: Toward a Plant-Based Food System
June 17, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Jan Dutkiewicz, PhD of Pratt Institute in an online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
ViVS: A Unifying Vegan Horizon
May 20, 2024
Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Jonathan Dickstein, PhD in the first of our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
DEJS: The Future of Jain Studies
May 13, 2024
Dialogues in European Jain Studies: an online speaker series that focuses on Jain Studies research taking place in Europe.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Speaker Series
DEJS: Eating & Fasting - A Contemporary Perspective
March 4, 2024
Dialogues in European Jain Studies: an online speaker series that focuses on Jain Studies research taking place in Europe.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Partner Event
"Embodying Transnational Yoga" Virtual Book Launch
November 13, 2023
SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies hosts this online event with author Dr. Christopher Jain Miller in discussion with Dr. Laura von Ostrowski.
Past Event
Arihanta Event Conference
Ahimsa Vegan Conference: Jain Voices in Animal Advocacy
August 26-27, 2023
Sponsored by Arihanta Institute, the Jain Vegan Initiative, JAINA's Ahimsak Eco-Vegan Committee, and Compassionate Living.
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