International Summer School for Jain Studies

1. International Summer School for Jain Studies Sponsored by MAHAVIR VISION, INC. (USA) & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR JAIN STUDIES (ISJS), India.

2. INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR JAIN STUDIESISSJS IN INDIA

3. Jainism as part of South Asian Studies in North America • Expansion of South Asian Studies • Increasing interest in pluralism and global affairs • Immigrants from Asia: Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh • Visible presence of India faculty in universities and professions like medicine, finance etc. • Jainism currently has only a miniscule presence • Only 17 researchers among thousands of South Asian experts • Very few programs include instruction on Jainism • Jainism least known and most misunderstood • ISSJS to remedy this • Wider impact than a Jain Chair • Train and motivate current and future researchers and faculty/teachers

4. Motivation: Jainism in the Modern World • Jainism has survived and flourished in India in the past • Several Jain Centers of learning and practice • Institutions of Acharyas, Temples, Bhattarakas, Yatis, lay scholars • Jains, even in India, are no longer connected to physical Jain Centers/Institutes • Jain students have more exposure to other faiths, and less to Jainism • Traditional methods of passing the heritage may no longer be effective • Jainism overseas faces serious challenges • They are a minority within a minority • Difficulty of preserving Jain identity • Modern and creative approaches are needed

5. Why Jains Must Use New Approaches • Other religions have reached the humanity. • Hinduism is now known around the world, due to ISCON etc. Gita is now widely quoted by non-Hindus. • Within 50 years, Christianity has become the most popular faith in Korea, leaving Buddhism behind. • Jain principles like Ahimsa, Compassion, Vegetarianism, tolerance have been hijacked by others. • Jains must use modern methods to reach people around the world. • New generation of Jains must acknowledge their identity proudly. They should be able to discuss Jains with non-Jains.

6. Building Temples is Not Enough • Essential components for survival of Jainism • Scriptures (Jin-Vani) for guidance, Temples for worship, Monks for leadership, Devoted Shravakas for support. • Extensive Temple building in recent years • Temples alone will not preserve Jainism • It is essential to preserve Jain Learning and prepare competent scholars who will teach Jainism.

7. Objectives of ISSJS • Comprehensive scholarly and experiential introduction to Jainism • Applicable to academic studies in international universities, North America in particular • Intensive one month and two month academic program: philosophy, social aspects, rituals, pilgrimage • Interaction with scholars, monks, lay people and practitioners • On return ISSJS, supports scholars to carry out further research.

8. ISSJS Approach: Scholarship & Practical Introduction • Chaired Professor approach: • Prohibitive cost for a small community • Benefits localized • Takes very long to implement • Paucity of qualified scholars to fill the chaired position • ISSJS Approach: • Scholars from multiple institutions • Trains potential teachers and researchers • Encourages graduate students to study Jainism • Student earns credit from the home university • ISSJS trained faculty to offer regular courses in Jainism • Fast track and cost effective

9. How ISSJS Scholars will spread Jainism • Development of courses for Jains & non-Jains • Research and publications by scholars • Scholars will give lectures and seminars at • Jain institutions in North America and India • International Conferences • They will collaborate with Jain scholars in India and in other countries. • Modernization of Jain Studies in India

10. Benefits to Jainism in India • Scholars in India will interact with international scholars • Quality of Jain institutions will improve • Jain scholars will be invited to visit overseas institutions for talks, collaboration, even faculty positions. • Jain youth will no longer see Jainism as an old-fashioned, impractical and isolated system.

11. 2005 Summer School Glimpses It has been one of the most rewarding studies undertaken.that I have HF

12. 2006 Program Glimpses I am deeply committed to furthering Jain studies. It is both a personal and academic commitment AV

13. ISSJS 2007 Glimpses

14. Comments by Attendees • The exposure that the professors and graduate students have had to so many aspects of Jainism have been such that our understanding and appreciation of Jain studies has been deepened and broadened beyond what I thought was possible. Prof. Hope Fitz ( Class of 2006) • We all marvel at your skills in “managing” situations and people. Prof. Anne Vallely ( Class of 2006) • The scholarship & traveling have been incredible. My work is forever changed. Adrea Jain, Rice Universit contd…

15. I am writing to send you a belated thank you for the experiences I received at the International Summer School for Jain Studies in 2007. I can’t begin to explain my gratitude for all the knowledge I gained about the Jain community. The education your school provided is incomparable to any school found in the U.S. Holly Parmarthi( ISSJS 2007) • Everyday I grow more and more thankful for my experiences with ISJS. I am so grateful to all who helped in opening doors to the Jain values for me as I increasingly find that they are not only Jain values, but also my own. I feel that I am a Jain at heart in many ways. This realization may not have been nurtured if it had not been for the ISJS and all of the beautiful jivas, such as many of you whose hard work created this program. I am excited to send students to ISJS, trusting that their experiences will also be positive and that they will become beacon for both Jain awareness and Jain research upon return. Sarah Hadmack , University of Hawaii and Class of 2005 & 2007

16. Recent Curriculum • Lectures by Jain scholars and Monks • History, culture, literature, arts and festivals. (12-14 lectures) • Ontology and metaphysics (10-12) • Karma theory (10-12) • Epistemology (10-12) • Ethics (10-12) • Mahāvīra, his time and contributions (4-6) • Special  topics  (15-20) • Interactions • Lay Jains and Jain families, elites and ordinary • Monks. Nuns, scholars • Visits to major Jain pilgrimage sites • One week special project under the guidance of a Jain Scholar • Revisions and refinements in the program each year

17. Teaching Methods • Preparation of lectures in advance by teachers • Comprehensive lecture notes available in advance to scholars. • Interactive and modern teaching • students encouraged to ask perceptive questions • Technology: power-point, projector, computers etc. • Evaluations & feedback by both teachers and scholars -Daily, weekly, monthly, end of course. • One week special project under supervision of a Jain Scholar in India. • Visits to Jain temples, homes, Sadhus and Sadhvis

18. Selection of Scholars • Potential participants reached through: • Dept Chairs, Past alumnus, American Acad. of Religions Convention, ISSJS Web-site, University of Ottawa , Indo -Canadian Shastri Institute & personal contacts & network. • Candidates apply along with 2-3 references from their peers and supervisors/professors. • The Academic Council reviews the application • Match between ISSJSmission & Candidates career goals • References checked • Interviews each candidate on the phone • The Chairman of the Academic Council makes the final decision.

19. Financial Outlay • On each candidate, ISSJS ( USA & India combined) spends about $4,000-8,000 depending on the stream. • Stipend & Travel grant: Cash stipends for Grad Students & for Professors in the two months program • Selected books (5+) and comprehensive notes provided at subsidized prices. • India hospitality • Full meals & quality lodging in India for all attending scholars • High quality faculty hired and paid • Charges US$ 300 per scholar for inland travel and other incidental expenses. • For complete financial package, see details in www.jainstudies.org

20. What happens after their return to North America? • ISSJS Office of Alumni Affairs shall maintain contacts and follow their progress. • The students write report/research papers to earn 6-9 credits from their respective university • University Professors • work to establish regular courses in Jainism • Authoring books, research papers • Arranging seminars and special lecture

21. Significant Acheivements: Samples • Prof Sarah Hadmack (taught Religious studies: Windward Comm College, University of Hawaii) • MS Thesis Jain asceticism • Writing article and chapter on Jain asceticism • Marcel Parent (PhD scholar Concordia University Montreal) • Started offering classes in Jainism • Andrea Jain (Rice University, Houston) • Teaching section on Jain Diaspora • Univ.of Houston course: Indian Religion with emphasis on Jainism • Dr Shugan Jain’s visits to University of Ottawa (host Prof Anne Valley), Eastern Connecticut State Univ. (host Prof. Hope Fritz) • Scholars from Singapore & Thailand in 2006. Russia, Cambodia and Thailand in 2007.

22. Significant achievements • Good awareness now of the need for Jain academic Studies at university campuses • Nearly 80 Scholars have graduated from this program so far. • Several ISSJS Alumnus have and are planning to enroll in PhD programs in Jainism • Before ISSJS , hardly any university had a regular course offerings in Jainism. Now, several universities have started offerings • At least 6 Alumni of ISSJS have started teaching courses in Jainism • More than 500 students are being exposed to Jainism regularly now Contd….

23. About 3-4 college level text books and Chapters on Jainism are in preparation • First time in the history of AAR and DANAM, Several papers were presented in Jainism in 3 stand alone sessions. • Jainism presence at AAR and DANAM conferences will be an annual event. • A permanent Jainism panel will be established at future DANAM conferences. • ISSJS affiliated with Harvard University’s Pluralism project • ISSJS Scholars from Thailand organized seminars in Jainism at a university in Bangkok. This was a first

24. Expansion of Activities in Future • Overseas Universities will start sending students to study Jainism & culture as part of their Study Abroad programs • Distance learning program on Jainism • Will take Jain learning to the whole world • Will use web as a distance learning medium • In cooperation with established professors/programs • Work on Mission and Code initiated

25. Growth: Long term • Creation of Jain Centers of Excellence or Jain Chair at universities • Establishment of Jain Libraries at various universities • May lead to a special Institute for systematic, broad, multidimensional, training of scholars and monks/nuns. • A University dedicated to Jain Studies in USA • Examples: Hindu Univ. of America, Maharishi Univ. of Management, Southern Methodist Univ. etc. will be an incremental long-term goal.

26. How to Participate • As a distinguished instructor or Jain representative • Past instructors: • As a participant • Professor in an academic/research institution • Graduate student exploring Jainism • Please visit the ISSJS web-site for • Further information www.jainstudies.org, www.isjs.in • Forms and deadlines

27. How you can support ISSJS • Participate in the program • Help promote the program • We need to raise funds for the ISSJS mission • Mahavir Vision Inc., is a tax-exempt non-profit organization in US • ISJS is a Tax Exempt non-profit organization in India • Donations of $5,000, $1,000, $500 or any other amount will help us achieve the aims of ISSJS

28. Annual Retreat for Supporters • Held annually after the ISSJS • In August or September • Hawaii 2005, Sedona AZ 2006, Boston/Ottawa 2007 • All supporters and some faculty plus alumnus are invited • Thorough review of the just completed ISSJS • Suggestions and action items for improvements • Implementation review

29. Boston/Ottawa Retreat • Locations • Harvard Pluralism Project • Jain Center of Boston • Eastern Connecticut State U • Jain Sangh of Ottawa • India's High Commissioner to Canada • University of Ottawa • Review and feedback of the program

30. THANK YOU & JAI JINENDRA