Forgiveness or ‘Kṣamāpanā’ is arguably the most important virtue and practice, known to be synonymous to and vital for the practice of non-violence, compassion, and peace for individuals and the global community. As one of the most ancient religious traditions, Jainism is not only rich with the philosophical sources on the concept of forgiveness, but the Jain tradition also offers lived ways to practice forgiveness in our daily life. Learn the Jain way of forgiveness in conversation with non-violence, compassion, and peace.All suggested course readings are provided as links and pdfs throughout the course.Learning Objectives:Understand the foundational philosophy of forgiveness in the Jain tradition.Learn how the Jain tradition provides rich philosophical resources and practices that encourage us “to forgive” and “seek forgiveness.”Incorporate Jain virtues and practices into your own life and significantly contribute to creating a compassionate, non-violent, and peaceful world.

Embark on an immersive journey into the vibrant world of Gujarati language and literature. This first-semester course, part of a two-semester sequence (Modern Gujarati 1 & 2), focuses on developing Gujarati language skills as a research tool for translating the vast and diverse tapestry of Gujarati literature.  Through a structured approach based on the Pedagogical Ladder framework (incremental skill development), we will explore the fundamentals of modern Gujarati grammar, vocabulary, and language structure. This foundational knowledge will enable students to develop research skills for translating modern Gujarati texts and lay the groundwork for future studies in spoken Gujarati and pre-modern Gujarati texts. This class, over the course of two semesters, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Gujarati language, focusing on both script and grammar. Students will delve into the Gujarati script, learning proper reading and writing techniques. The curriculum will cover essential grammatical concepts such as pronouns, cases, and nominal inflections, with an emphasis on understanding grammatical gender and plural forms. Students will also be introduced to various verbal tenses, along with negation and politeness in communication and other idiomatic forms. The course will build on these foundational topics by exploring increasingly complex grammatical structures and syntaxes. In addition to learning language skills, our course will informally cover various cultural, religious, and philosophical points regarding Gujrati culture, history, and traditions. We will discuss the rich cultural history of Gujarati literature, spanning from its origins in 12th-century religious and epic poetry to its modern forms. We will study the language's adaptation through influences from Jain scholars, the Bhakti movement, and Western education. By the end of this course, students will have acquired: Comprehensive understanding of half of the necessary Gujarati grammarStrategies for fostering deeper understanding and mastery of skills required to translate Gujarati sourcesFamiliarity with the Pedagogical Ladder framework and its application to language acquisition Insight into the cultural and historical context of Gujarati literature This course is ideal for: Students of South Asian traditions and dharma religions (Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist)Researchers interested in Gujarati language and literatureStudents of South Asian language and linguisticsAnyone fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat 

This course will continue our immersive journey into the vibrant world of Gujarati language and literature with this second-semester course in the two-semester sequence (Modern Gujarati 1 & 2). This course builds upon the foundation laid in the first semester, focusing on advancing your Gujarati language skills as a research tool for translating the vast and diverse tapestry of Gujarati literature. Through a structured approach based on the Pedagogical Ladder framework (incremental skill development), we will delve deeper into the intricacies of modern Gujarati grammar, vocabulary, and language structure. This advanced knowledge will enable students to further develop research skills for translating modern Gujarati texts and prepare for future studies in spoken Gujarati and pre-modern Gujarati texts.   This second semester course offers an in-depth exploration of Gujarati language structures and grammatical features, focusing on advanced pronouns, negation forms, adjectives, adverbs, participles, gerunds, and complex verbs. The curriculum is designed to enhance linguistic proficiency by examining passive voice, causatives, relative and correlative constructions, and expressions of necessity. Students will also delve into special grammatical cases and conversational techniques, with an emphasis on cultural contexts and idiomatic expressions. The semester concludes with a comprehensive review and assessment, ensuring students are well-equipped with advanced conversational skills and a deep understanding of Gujarati language nuances. In addition to enhancing language skills, our course will continue to cover various cultural, religious, and philosophical aspects of Gujarati culture, history, and traditions. We will further explore the rich cultural history of Gujarati literature, examining its progression from its origins in 12th-century religious and epic poetry to its modern forms. We will study the language's adaptation through influences from Jain scholars, the Bhakti movement, and Western education. By the end of this course, students will have acquired:Comprehensive understanding of advanced Gujarati grammarStrategies for mastering skills required to translate Gujarati sources with greater accuracyEnhanced familiarity with the Pedagogical Ladder framework and its application to advanced language acquisitionDeeper insight into the cultural and historical context of Gujarati literature This course is ideal for:Students of South Asian traditions and dharma religions (Jain, Hindu, and Buddhist)Researchers interested in advanced studies of Gujarati language and literatureStudents of South Asian language and linguisticsAnyone passionate about the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat