Non-violence has been at the core of who I am for a long time—well before I found my way to Yoga and discovered the concept of ahimsa.  It started nearly twenty years ago when I became vegan and progressively expanded from animals to the planet, all human beings, and eventually to myself.  Last year, I brought this even further when I ended a fifteen-year career in international affairs.  More than a career shift, this marked a conscious step toward integrating my values into every aspect of my life.

 

As part of this change, I also began deepening my personal studies in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Buddhism. These studies eventually brought me to India, where I reencountered Jain philosophy. I had first heard of Jainism when I became vegan but, at the time, my understanding of non-violence was still developing. This time, however, I sensed the far-reaching implications of a tradition so deeply centered on ahimsa.  Eventually, I understood that I was no longer seeking further training in Yoga, but rather longing for rigorous intellectual studies—especially in ahimsa as the basis of the other yamas and, ultimately, of the entire eight-limbed yogic path as presented by Patanjali.

 

This explains my particular interest in Jainism, given its comprehensive approach to ahimsa as a continuous, preventive vigilance that extends far beyond a mere refrain from intentional harm. I wish to explore the role that ahimsa can play in transforming individuals; reshaping how they relate to others, their environment, and the planet; and contributing to the transformation of communities. In this context, I was drawn to the MA in Engaged Jain Studies as it connects academic learning with lived experience and community engagement.

 

The program represents a natural progression, the next obvious step—one that allows me to examine more rigorously how ahimsa and the other yogic ethical restraints have reshaped my own life, and how such disciplined commitments might become a force for positive, collective change and transformation.

 

What I bring to my studies is a distinctive combination of long-term personal commitment to ahimsa and embodied practice, academic training in Political Science, and professional experience in shaping public narratives. Moreover, I am not passionate about studying ahimsa and compassion for their own sake. Rather, I am committed to exploring, demonstrating, and sharing how they can lead to individual and collective change, in line with Arihanta Institute’s Mission. My background in Political Science and professional experience in advocacy, communications, and narrative change have equipped me with valuable analytical and narrative skills.  They will allow me to contribute meaningfully to the program and effectively translate complex ethical discussions into language accessible to diverse audiences.

 

In other words, I will contribute not only as a dedicated student, but as someone committed to bringing Jain ethical insights into real-life contexts, and to sharing them in forms that can meaningfully shape individual lives as well as collective conversations about responsible living.

 

 

Wanting to make a difference in people’s lives is the one certainty that has guided me since childhood and through all of my academic and professional choices. It is what led me to spend almost fifteen years working at the intersection of communications and human rights. It is also what leads me today to study contemplative traditions and religions. While these paths may appear different at the surface, the underlying motivation and commitment remain unchanged.

 

I will explore the transformative power of ethical living with the clear intent to share my findings beyond academic circles and contribute to positive change, individually as much as collectively. I will find ways to make it relevant to contemporary life, and accessible to broader audiences—without undue simplification or naivety. My professional skills in communications, public advocacy, and narrative change constitute invaluable assets in this endeavor.

 

I will explore how Jainism’s rigorous approach to ahimsa is lived and embodied in contemporary contexts—how lay practitioners manage the demands of a strong ethical discipline while participating in social and political life, how they navigate the tensions within individualist and consumerist societies, and how they internally justify potential compromises. I also intend to compare how practitioners from different traditions respond to this challenge, aiming to identify universal principles and specific strategies for living ahimsa in modern societies.

 

This academic exploration will immediately inform my work as a Yoga and Ayurveda Counselor and Educator. The program will help me refine core concepts and how I can effectively introduce them to students and clients. I will also integrate Jain principles into my holistic teaching and counseling—offering clients and students a deeper understanding of the transformative power of ethical living.  I will do so through one-on-one counseling sessions, educative workshops, and public writing.

 

In the longer term, I will want to support initiatives that promote ethical living, sustainable practices, and compassionate treatment of all beings.
 

 What is your background in Jain education and Jain tradition?

 

I do not come from a Jain educational or personal background. My knowledge of the tradition comes from books, online resources, and discussions with practitioners.

 

However, I have built my adult life around principles dear to the tradition, using non-violence (ahimsa) and compassion (karuna) as a reflective and decision-making framework in all aspects of my life—from consumption to relating to others to self-care. Nearly twenty years ago, I became vegan to stop harming animals and the planet. I have also been a serious student of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Buddhism for, respectively, twelve, six, and two years. These studies have enabled me to conceptualize my commitment to non-violence, compassion, and disciplined living. They will provide a helpful comparative lens to explore Jainism during the program. My commitment to these principles is ever-growing, but their daily application remains a work in progress. My path has been one of transformation, yes, but also one of compromises and prioritization. I know first-hand the benefits as well as the challenges.

 

Jainism offers one of the most comprehensive ways to conceptualize, live, and embody ahimsa. I believe that its wisdom is relevant to our contemporary, secular societies; and I am convinced of its possible contributions to non-violent activism, animal rights, environmental issues, and ethical consumption. I look forward to deepening my knowledge and understanding of its philosophy through the program, and to engaging further with its texts, practices, and practical applications.
 

 As described earlier, my studies will immediately inform my teaching and counseling, as a Yoga and Ayurveda Counselor and Educator.

 

I am also considering postgraduate research in applied ethics, interreligious studies, or embodied practice, and I would be interested in pursuing a career in engaged education. In the longer term, I will want to engage in broader public work to advocate for a more responsible way of living. I therefore approach my Master’s studies as a foundational step and a testing ground for such doctoral or engaged work.

 

The program will enhance and expand my work as a Yoga and Ayurveda Counselor and Educator. By refining my understanding and skills, it will allow me to have a deeper impact on students and clients. It will also allow me to develop a sustainable practice and diversify income streams through a combination of private counseling, workshops, writing, teaching, and public speaking.