Jainism, Yoga, and Ecology: A Course in Contemplative Practice for a World in Pain
Religions March 28, 2019 C. Miller 3 citations
This article outlines a proposed upper-division undergraduate theology course that introduces Jainism through the lenses of yoga and ecology. The course covers Jain history and philosophy while also incorporating basic Jain contemplative practices. These practices are framed not as self-care techniques but, following Jain textual sources, as methods for cultivating ethical relationships and empathy with the world. The author positions this pedagogy as a form of high-impact learning and suggests that completing the course will better equip students to respond to shared social and environmental crises. The article serves as both an introduction of the course to the academic community and an invitation to scholars of South Asian religions to adopt this approach.