Online Courses

The Jain Vegan Initiative brings this course designed to introduce the connection between Jain Philosophy and Environmentalism. It introduces a unique lens for looking at the environment by understanding how various communities are affected differently, and how measurements of environmental impact that take into global average impacts dilute a sense of urgency. The stress-free transition from being part of the problem to being a part of the solution in a busy and rapidly urbanizing life will be discussed. The course will entail action oriented self-assessment and discussion regarding effective ways of spreading environmental awareness.  Learning Objectives:Looking at the environment and environmental action from the Jain lens.Learning about how using global averages to assess environmental impact dilutes the sense of urgency and the disproportionate impact on different communities.Understanding how ignoring the effects of day to day individual choices may imply participation in propagating injustice.Learning how our individual actions are tied to systemic problems of capitalism and consumerism.Obtaining a practical, stress-free, and planned approach to lifestyle transition in a busy, rapidly urbanizing life, and some ways of creating increased environmental awareness

Non-human animals are routinely used for profit or product, and as a result, suffer greatly in our society. Animal sanctuaries provide a glimpse of a different world; one in which animals are provided with protected spaces and treated as equals. A new initiative is taking shape that can aid sanctuaries, and individuals, in their goal of bettering animals' lives: Animal-Centered Design (ACD). In this course you will learn the basic principles of ACD, study examples of it in action within sanctuary settings, and consider how ACD can be applied to companion animals and beyond. This course will also touch on passive solar design, focusing on how proper orientation to the natural elements can benefit both animals and our environment. Readings and assignments are provided throughout the course to engage you directly in the animal sanctuary design process and to inspire you to make a positive change for animals.A portion of the proceeds for this course support Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge.Learning Objectives: Class 1: Introduction to Farmed Animal SanctuariesClass 2: Principles of Animal-Centered DesignClass 3: Precedents in Animal-Centered DesignClass 4: Case Study I-Designing Spaces for GoatsClass 5: Case Study II-Designing Spaces for DucksClass 6: Animal-Centered Design for Companion AnimalsClass 7: Passive Solar Design Strategies for Animal Spaces

This course offers an introduction to Jain Studies. Begin with an exploration of key Jain teachings and practices, focusing on the principles of non-harming (ahiṃsā) and non-possession (aparigraha), both central to the tradition. Delve, then, into the Three Jewels of Jainism—right worldview, right knowledge, and right conduct—and examine how these principles shape the foundation of the Jain tradition. Next, investigate the profound connection between Jainism and animal advocacy, exploring the teachings of Mahavira on animals as well as contemporary Jain practices of animal care. Afterwards, explore the Jain perspective on the human body, including the importance of health, the role of karmas in shaping one’s embodiment, and the fine line between bodily renunciation and the need to have good health. Finally, observe how Jainism’s commitment to compassion and social justice is expressed through transformative social initiatives, focusing on the work of Acharya Chandanaji and the global reach of her charitable organization, Veerayatan.  Learning Objectives:Understand the core principles of Jainism, including the practices of non-harming (ahiṃsā) and non-possession (aparigraha).Analyze the Three Jewels of Jainism (right worldview, right knowledge, and right conduct).Evaluate the relationship between Jainism and animal advocacy.Learn the Jain perspective on the human body and its role in spiritual practice.Assess the role of compassion and social justice in Jainism.

According to Jain dharma, we live in an interconnected web of life in which no creature, human or non-human, wants to be harmed. For this reason, the Jain tradition has taught ahiṃsā, or non-violence, to all forms of life for thousands of years. Learn why the Jain tradition places particular emphasis on non-violence toward non-human animals, and how these Jain perspectives can be brought into conversation with contemporary animal advocacy concerns. Leave the course inspired to advocate for the well-being of all forms of life.

Arihanta Institute is offering this open access course in collaboration with Museum Rietberg, coinciding with their Exhibition “Being Jain: Art and Culture of an Indian Religion” in Zurich, Switzerland.Climate change is arguably the biggest collective challenge human society has ever encountered. But there is hope. Among many of the innovative solutions that have and continue to be proposed, the Jain tradition encourages an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, which, if incorporated into our daily lives worldwide, could have a significant impact in reducing the worst of the climate disaster that is yet to come. Learn the Jain way of life in conversation with some of climate change’s most pressing issues. Leave transformed and empowered to reduce your climate footprint.Class 1Jainism and Ecology: Recognizing the Interconnected Web of LifeLearn how the Jain tradition views the world as an interconnected web of life in which nothing wants to experience pain. Understand how the Jain principle of ahiṃsā, or non-violence, arises from this worldview and some of the fundamental ways you can reduce your carbon footprint by following the Jain way of life and in accordance with climate science.Class 2Jain Approaches to Food: Climate Change & Animal AgricultureThe IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) recently advised that in light of the effects of animal agriculture on the climate, the entire planet must be “veganised.” Learn, in light of climate science, why animal agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to climate change and environmental degradation. Also study Jain approaches to an ethical and environmentally friendly diet that call into question our unnecessary reliance on animals for food.Class 3Jain Views on Consumption and Waste: A Changing Climate requires Changing HabitsHumans consume food, electronics, fuel and other commodities at rates far beyond what our planet can sustain in the long run and which amount to significant amounts of environmental degradation. Discover what the acceptable limits of consumption are, and also consider Jain ethical approaches to the human behavior of consumption. Be inspired to reconsider your own consumptive habits.Class 4Jain Professional Ethics: Making a Climate-Friendly LivingWe all need to make a living, but what would it mean to make a “climate-friendly” living? Learn Jain ethical approaches to career and professional life, and understand the important connections between the work that you do and its potential effects on the climate. Be inspired to make a righteous living that is good for both you and our climate future.

For millennia, it has been widely recognized that the Jain tradition has been distinctive in its central focus on nonviolence (ahiṃsā) towards all beings (jīva-s). Because of this, Jain theology is uniquely oriented towards healing humanity’s strained relationship with the natural world. For several decades, the field of ecotheology had been developed by various thinkers from multiple world religious traditions, Christian in particular.In this course, we will articulate a clear understanding of the methodology of ecotheology that can provide a framework where religious traditions might effectively advocate and empower ecological healing based on the unique paradigmatic resources of each tradition. This course will then examine what the Jain tradition might contribute to the bourgeoning academic discipline of ecotheology, and how the Jain tradition can play an important, necessary, and unique role in a pluralistic approach to environmental healing.

Jainism’s foundational ethical principle of non-harming assumes that living beings can be harmed by the acts of others. The ability to be harmed by others is not shared by all entities, as neither Jainism or mainstream science maintains that brute objects such as tables or bricks can be, technically speaking, “harmed.” Learn Jain and non-Jain perspectives on the differences between sentient and insentient entities; Jain categorizations of plant and animal life; modern philosophical and scientific approaches to sentience; the relationship of sentience to ethics; and the theoretical and ethical challenges posed by entities such as plants, insects, bivalves, and other beings. All suggested course readings are provided as links and pdfs throughout the course.Learning Objectives:* Answer the question “What is Sentience?” and learn western scientific approaches to sentience* Learn Jain approaches to sentience which consider sense faculties and minds* Understand the connections between sentience, pain, and ethics* Look at sentience “on the fringes” including questions around plants, bivalves, and other beings

Committed to nonviolence (ahiṃsā) since its ancient beginnings, the Jain tradition has admonished the mistreatment, slaughter, sacrifice, and consumption of animals for thousands of years. In light of these commitments, Jains have traditionally lived a lacto-vegetarian lifestyle, advocated for the legal protection of animals, and have created sanctuaries for animals for centuries. In ancient and medieval scriptural sources, we even find restrictions on the consumption of dairy itself, suggesting potential pre-modern Jain commitments to what would now be referred to as a vegan lifestyle. And today, many Jains have been advocating for veganism in light of the devastating and irreparable harms involved in the production of dairy in contemporary society.  This course carefully considers the philosophical and historical underpinnings of Jain Veganism, presenting an opportunity for non-Jain vegans to discover a rich philosophical system aligned with their values, as well as an opportunity for Jains to appreciate the philosophical resources within their own tradition which naturally lead to living an ethical vegan lifestyle.  Course Details6 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professors Dickstein and Miller Student Reviews"Arihanta Institute's course, Jainism, Veganism, and Engaged Religion, is a remarkable example of the transformative power of aligning nonviolence, or ahimsa, with daily living. Professors Miller and Dickstein expertly highlight the Jain tradition, sparking essential conversations about animal agriculture, spiritual practice, and ethically navigating climate collapse. If you're seeking a compassionate path forward, I highly recommend this course. Every week brought a welcoming dialogue with our cohort of students and additional insights from our professors. Thank you, Arihanta Institute!"— Diana H., United States, 2024 “This course exceeded my already-high expectations. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”— Agni H., United States, 2024 "I have enjoyed this class, the readings and videos, our discussions, and the meetings with all of you. Thank you all and thank you for this offering Christopher and Jonathan." — Mike A., United States, 2024

In this course, we will focus on the “greenwashing” and “humanewashing” by animal agriculture. “Greenwashing” is based on the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it is sustainable when it is not; “humanewashing” refers to the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it treats animals well, when it does not. In reality, animal agriculture is one of the single largest drivers of climate change and one of the most cruel industries imaginable; however, much like the tobacco industry and the fossil fuel industries before it, animal agriculture has responded to this reality not by enacting any substantive changes, but by relying on “tricks” of communication, including public relations, media relations, marketing, and even attempts to influence scholarship on the topic to confuse the public and hide their destructive practices. In this course, we will debunk these rhetorical tricks and expose the reality of the harms animal agriculture is causing to both animals and our planet. This course should be of benefit to any activist, policy maker, or person concerned about climate change, environmental destruction, or animal suffering. Course Details6 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Stanescu

The global food system is a paradox: it is at once incredibly productive and terribly destructive. Perhaps nowhere is this paradox more evident than in animal agriculture, which feeds billions of people but causes widespread environmental, public health, and ethical problems. This course asks what the food system would look like without large-scale animal agriculture and what the benefits and challenges would be to feeding the global population on a plant-based diet. This course will introduce students to the concept of food systems and food system analysis, delve into the impacts of animal agriculture, and sketch out the possibilities for building a plant-based food system.  Course Details6 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Dutkiewicz

While the study of certain aspects of the ancient world may derive from mere intellectual curiosity, the study of other aspects is absolutely essential for our understanding of current social, political, and environmental circumstances. The latter dynamic is certainly the case with the history of ancient ideas about “the human” and “the animal.” These ideas, taken up and developed over centuries by Christian theologians and humanist philosophers, have shaped the radically anthropocentric worldview of Western nations. Most Europeans and North Americans are simply unconcerned with how we torture and kill billions of animals each year. They live, without knowing it, in a mental universe constructed by a handful of Greek and Roman philosophers. To escape this universe, it is useful and perhaps even necessary to know what Chrysippus, Epicurus, Cicero, or Saint Augustine said about animals and humans’ interactions with them. The objective of this course is to study—alongside the many pleas of the vegetarian philosophers of antiquity—the incomplete but triumphant responses of their carnist adversaries.  Course Details6 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Larue

Animals farmed for food and resources are among the most exploited, abused, and suffering beings on the planet. There have long been groups of humans trying to rescue them and advocate for their rights, possibly for as long as they have been enslaved and commodified—around 10-12,000 years. For the last 40 years or so, this movement includes organizations called a “Farm Sanctuary”—a place where farmed animals who have been neglected, surrendered, found, or liberated are cared for and supported in living out their natural lives. This course will look at the history, philosophy, ethics, practices, and cultural/ecological implications of farm animal sanctuaries as an approach to ahimsa. Leave with a deeper and broader kinship to the community with whom we share the planet. Course Details4 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Turzi 

This course will look at fictional representations of animal advocacy; vegan practices and values like recognition and compassion; and farmed, free living, and companion animals in popular Anglophone, Western popular media, and participants will learn how these have shaped our relationships to animals and animal ethics in modern history.bell hooks discusses her book Outlaw Culture in relation to her concerns with problematic patterns appearing in popular culture. She tells how sometimes she found the best way to teach students or individuals about "otherness" was by relating it to a medium they were familiar with, the media and popular culture. Unlike critical theory that may be hard for a lot of people to access or understand, popular culture is for the masses and is easily understood. Thus, the masses are far more likely to be educated by popular culture rather than theory-based essays. Course Details4 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Sebastian

Many sense that something is very wrong in the way that humans treat animals, but also may struggle to articulate why that is the case. This course offers a survey of some significant ways that scholars and activists have articulated systematic accounts for why we ought to seriously value animal life. We will do so not solely for academic interest, but because understanding the “why” of animal ethics is crucial to shaping the “how” of individual and political action to reduce animal suffering and domination. We will examine: the contemporary state of animal suffering, foundational theories for ethically considering animal life, and the academic cutting edge of animal issues. Course Details4 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Guha-Majumdar

In the West, despite considerable evidence to the contrary, veganism continues to be viewed as the purview of a white, upper-middle class left-leaning subculture. It is often depicted as an elitist endeavor. It is gendered as a female undertaking and, therefore, often dismissed as naively emotionally motivated—or characterized as disordered consumption.In this course, we will examine the role that gender plays in vegan identity and the ways that vegan studies offers a lens through which to read and understand a variety of texts —both fictional and nonfictional—that engage with the oppression of animals and of humans. In all of the texts we will discuss how the female protagonists’ veganism renders them vulnerable to interpretations not of their own making, a striking pattern that we will analyze in detail. Course Details4 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute recorded Q&A sessions with Professor Wright

In the United States, the law has long treated animals as property and objects to be owned, used, and discarded within human-centered systems. While legal protections against animal cruelty exist, they are often fragmented, riddled with exemptions, and inconsistently enforced. The result is a legal framework that permits immense suffering, particularly for animals used in industrial agriculture, research, and entertainment, while extending comparatively greater protections to companion animals or endangered species.  Over the past several decades, the field of animal law has emerged to interrogate this system, asking not only how animals are treated under the law, but why...and what must change. Animal law challenges the assumption that legal systems are neutral, revealing how they reflect and reinforce hierarchies that privilege human interests, corporate power, and economic efficiency over animal life and well-being. In this course, we will examine key legal frameworks in the U.S. governing the treatment of animals and explore how the law functions both as a tool of oppression and a site for advocacy. Each class focuses on a major theme in contemporary animal law: the foundational classification of animals as property; the regulation (and deregulation) of their use in various industries; the legal distinctions between species and contexts; and the growing efforts to transform legal systems through strategic litigation, rights-based arguments, and cross-movement coalition building. Through this lens, students will be invited to think critically about the role of law in shaping societal values and the possibilities for building a more just, multispecies future. Course Details4 hours of recorded lecture contentAdditional readings for self-studyPlus+ 4 x 60-minute live Q&A Zoom sessions (previously recorded) with Professor Nirva Patel

Legal systems around the world facilitate the exploitation of animals. The results are devastating not only to the animals involved but to people and planetary ecosystems. How can we transform legal systems to reverse this devastation and instead facilitate animal well-being, flourishing, and rights? In this course, Professor Deckha introduces the ideas animal law scholars have advanced to dramatically re-shape legal systems, including her own proposal, advanced in her book Animals as Legal Beings: Contesting Anthropocentric Legal Systems. The course considers the strengths of each proposal as well as their limits. The course uses an intersectional analytic that draws from the feminist animal care tradition, as well as feminist theories of embodiment and relationality, postcolonial theory, and critical animal studies, to compare and contrast proposals inviting learners to consider how the law can move forward for animals in an impactful and non-reductive way despite its anthropocentric foundations. At the end of the course, learners will have a solid understanding of why the law does not protect animals even though it claims to, how this failure is connected to human rights struggles, what legal momentum is currently building for animals around the world, and various contemporary leading proposals as to how to continue to build momentum and transform the law.