Vegan Studies Initiative

Course 1017 | Beasts & Beliefs: Animals and the Origins of Vegetarianism in the Ancient West

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Panjrapole: The Jain Animal Sanctuary

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The Vegan Studies Initiative at Arihanta Institute

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First Global Graduate Studies Concentration Focusing on Veganism

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Course 1018 | Animal Sanctuary: Solutions in Nonviolence

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 Courses

Live & Self-paced Vegan Studies courses.

Upcoming

4-week Live Course: Jan. 31 - Feb. 21, 2025

Course 1016 | Feeding the World: Toward a Plant-Based Food System

Course 1017 | Beasts & Beliefs: Animals and the Origins of Vegetarianism in the Ancient West

Course 1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture

Course 1014 | Jainism, Veganism, and Engaged Religion

Course 111 | Animal-Centered Design

Course 106 | Reimagining Sustainability: Jain Environmental Advocacy

Course 1006 | Jain Dharma and Animal Advocacy

Course 101 | Ahimsa, Animal Advocacy, and Veganism

Course 102 | Beyond Vegetarianism: Jain Veganism and the Promotion of Ahiṃsā

Course 1011 | Jain Approaches to Animal Sentience

Course 1008 | Jain Responses to Climate Change

Course 1010 | Towards a Jain Ecotheology

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Latest News & Info

Luvin Arms: A Panjrapole in Colorado

By Jonathan Dickstein, PhD

Founded in 2015 by Shaleen and Shilpi Shah, the sanctuary’s evolution from a modest family project to a dynamic, community-driven institution underscores its interweaving of influences old and new, traditional and progressive, and religious and secular.

Panjrapole: The Jain Animal Sanctuary

By Jonathan Dickstein, PhD

A panjrapole refers to a place where elderly, infirm, or needy animals are cared for and allowed to live out the rest of their natural lives. Panjrapoles are widely known within contemporary Jain communities, where their operation is viewed as an actualization of compassion through active caregiving for animals.

EJS Podcast Ep. 9 Renan Larue | Veganism & Speciesism in Antiquity

By Taina Rodriguez-Berardi

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor Jonathan Dickstein, PhD interviews professor, French literary scholar, and historian of vegetarianism, Renan Larue, PhD about his academic journey and his insights into ancient Western philosophy’s perspectives on meat consumption and anthropocentrism.

Meet Our MA Students: An Interview with Agni Hogaboom

"When I found Arihanta Institute, I found a depth of academic rigor and engaged spirituality that was simply astonishing. It feels like I’ve plugged my tattered spiritual cord into an outlet of power - not personal power so much as: the education I need to make a more effective difference in the world."

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Featured Events

Upcoming Event

Webinar

Ahiṃsā Living Circle

January 11, 2025

A virtual community for those curious about veganism, Jainism, the Dharma traditions, and living compassionately.

Upcoming Event

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!

ViVS: Teaching Veganism from an Animal Sanctuary

December 16, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies online speaker series highlights Vegan Studies educators like Shaleen Shah, Founder of Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary.

Webinar

"Transfarming Switzerland” — Online Film Screening & VSI Panel Discussion

December 10, 2024

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Featuring the award-winning short film "Transfarming Switzerland," followed by a VSI panel discussion with the film's director.

ViVS: Jain Principles, Animal Law, and Veganism - Living an Engaged Jain Life

November 18, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies welcomes Nirva Patel, Global Policy Fellow in the Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School.

ViVS: The Philosophical Bases of Veganism in the Ancient Western World

October 21, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies online series features Renan Larue, French literary scholar and historian of vegetarianism at UC Santa Barbara.

MA Program

Master of Arts - Engaged Jain Studies Information Session

October 18, 2024

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Please join us for an information session to learn more about our Master of Arts in Engaged Jain Studies graduate program.

Webinar

Animal Futures: A Roundtable on Movement Building

October 11, 2024

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Four thought leaders in the animal movement share their perspectives on shifting social norms and effecting tangible changes.

ViVS: Dairy-free Jain Diet: A Health Perspective

September 16, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies features Pritesh Mutha, Physician & Professor at UT Health Houston in our online speaker series.

ViVS: Culture, Race, Veganism - Navigating the Tensions to Keep Animals in View

August 19, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies features Professor Maneesha Deckha in our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.

VCOP18: Vegan Convergence of the Peoples

July 28, 2024

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Professor Christopher Jain Miller, PhD presents: “Jain Yoga and Nonviolence: The Vegan Studies Initiative” at VCOP#18.

Animal Justice Academy Lunchtime Live

July 24, 2024

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Dr. Vasile Stanescu previews his upcoming course and Dr. Jonathan Dickstein shares info on the Vegan Studies Initiative at AI.

Earth on Edge: Two Years to Save Our Planet

July 20, 2024

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Hosted by Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder of Climate Healers, this event will feature over 10 leading scientists and experts.

ViVS: New Ethical Issues in Contemporary Veganism

July 15, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies ft. UNLV professor Cheryl Abbate, PhD in our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.

ViVS: How to Talk about Dairy

July 1, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Ed Winters, public speaker & educator in an online speaker series with leaders in the field of Vegan Studies.

ViVS: Toward a Plant-Based Food System

June 17, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Jan Dutkiewicz, PhD of Pratt Institute in an online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.

ViVS: A Unifying Vegan Horizon

May 20, 2024

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Voices in Vegan Studies ft. Jonathan Dickstein, PhD in the first of our online speaker series with scholars in the field of Vegan Studies.

DEJS: The Future of Jain Studies

May 13, 2024

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Dialogues in European Jain Studies: an online speaker series that focuses on Jain Studies research taking place in Europe.

DEJS: Eating & Fasting - A Contemporary Perspective

March 4, 2024

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Dialogues in European Jain Studies: an online speaker series that focuses on Jain Studies research taking place in Europe.

"Embodying Transnational Yoga" Virtual Book Launch

November 13, 2023

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SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies hosts this online event with author Dr. Christopher Jain Miller in discussion with Dr. Laura von Ostrowski.