Jainism, Yoga, and Ecology: A Course in Contemplative Practice for a World in Pain

Summary

This article presents a syllabus for an upper-division undergraduate course on Jainism, yoga, and ecology. The course teaches Jain history and philosophy alongside contemplative practices, not as self-care but as a method to cultivate ethical relationship and empathy with the world. The author argues this pedagogical approach, a form of high-impact learning, equips students to respond to social and environmental crises. The article serves as both an introduction and an invitation for scholars of South Asian religions to adopt this approach.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article proposes an introductory course to Jainism vis-à-vis the categories of yoga and ecology. Following a short introduction, the main section of this paper introduces the contents of the syllabus for this upper division undergraduate theological studies course. Students will learn not only the history and philosophy of Jainism, but will also undertake basic Jain contemplative practices. Contemplative practice is used not merely as a technique of self-care, but rather, following some of Jainism’s foundational textual sources, first and foremost as a method for helping students to form a sense of ethical relationship and empathy with the world around them. Using such a pedagogical approach, which I situate as a specific form of “high-impact” learning, I suggest that at the completion of the course students will be better equipped to respond to our shared social and environmental crises. This article serves as both an introduction of this course to the academic community, as well as an invitation to scholars and professors of South Asian religious traditions to adopt the pedagogical approach proposed herein.

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