In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Christopher Jain Miller, PhD interviews Professor Venu Mehta, PhD from Claremont School of Theology. Dr. Mehta discusses her background as a Jain from Gujarat, where she earned her first PhD in literature and humanities before completing a second PhD at the University of Florida.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Academic Journey: Insights into Professor Mehta's academic path and her dual expertise in literature and Jain studies.
• Research on Padmavati: An exploration of her exciting research on the Jain goddess Padmavati.
• Teaching and Impact: A look into the courses she teaches in the MA - Engaged Jain Studies program, the transformative experiences of her students, and her perspective on what "engaged" Jainism means.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• About: Venu Mehta - Claremont School of Theology
• Learn More: Master of Arts - Engaged Jain Studies - Now accepting applications! Scholarships available.
• Arihanta Institute | Ancient Wisdom Modern Living

Gain a valuable perspective from a rising scholar in Engaged Jain Studies, an emerging sub-discipline developed through collaboration between CST and Arihanta Institute.

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Venu Mehta, PhD, Professor at Claremont School of Theology

Venu Mehta is a scholar of Jainism. Her present research focuses on the devotional practices, literature, and iconography of the Jaina Goddess Padmāvatī, with special attention to vernacular and regional forms of devotion and goddesses in Jainism. Her areas of scholarship in Jain Studies include Jain religious diaspora and sectarian negotiations in the USA, Jainism and ecology, Jain bhakti literature and practices in Gujarat, Jaina theory of Anekāntavāda, and Jaina notion of forgiveness.

Her academic background, including research and training in education and literature, led to her first Ph.D. in multiculturalism and literature education. In her first Ph.D. project, she focused on developing theory, methods, and in-class materials to orient learners towards multiculturalism using literature at the higher secondary level.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Christopher Miller, PhD, Professor at Arihanta Institute

Christopher Jain Miller is the co-founder, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute. He completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis and is also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology where he co-developed and co-runs a remotely available Masters Degree Program focusing on Engaged Jain Studies. His current research focuses on Engaged Jainism and Modern Yoga, and he is the author of a number of articles...

"Veganism is not a diet. Veganism is not a lifestyle. Veganism is, and must be, a social justice movement, in solidarity with other social justice movements. There is no more time for nonsense." -- WinforAnimals.org

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor Jonathan Dickstein, PhD interviews Mercer University professor Vasile Stanescu, PhD about his research and work on effective animal liberation and his new online course for Arihanta Institute's Vegan Studies Initiative: "Debunking the Myth of Sustainable & Humane Animal Agriculture."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Path to Veganism: Dr. Stanescu shares his journey to veganism and his dedication to animal studies.
• Exposing Myths: A critical examination of the false claims of "humane" and "sustainable" animal agriculture, including marketing terms like "free-range," "pasture-raised," "local," and "family-owned."
• Empowering Resistance: Strategies for recognizing and resisting misleading narratives in animal agriculture.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• Course 1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture
• WinForAnimals.org | Vasile Stanescu Website
• Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More!
• Arihanta Institute | Ancient Wisdom Modern Living

Join us for an enlightening discussion on the realities of animal agriculture and how to advocate for true sustainability.

Listen, subscribe, and stay tuned for more insightful episodes!

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Vasile Stanescu, PhD, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Mercer University

Dr. Vasile Stanescu received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in the program of Modern Thought and Literature. He is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Mercer University. Dr. Stanescu is the co-founder and former co-Senior Editor of the Critical Animal Studies Book Series published by Brill/Rodopi Press, and a co-founder of the North American Association for Critical Animal Studies (NAACAS). He has also served on the editorial collective for the Journal for Critical Animal Studies and co-organized the Stanford Environmental Humanities Project. He is currently a member of the Climate Social Science Network (CSSN) based out of Brown University.

A pioneer in the field of Critical Animal Studies, Dr. Stanescu has over 25 peer-reviewed publications on the study of animals and the environment. His work has been featured in journals such as the American Behavioral Scientist, The Journal of American Culture, Animal Studies Journal, and the Journal for Critical Animal Studies. His research has been recognized by numerous institutions, including The Woods Institute for the Environment, Minding Animals International, The Andrew Mellon Foundation, the Culture and Animals Foundation, the Institute for Critical Animal Studies,...

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Professor Christopher Jain Miller interviews Dr. Pratik Bhansali and Vinita Dugad from the Jain Vegan Initiative. They discuss their backgrounds as Jains advocating for veganism and sustainable lifestyles within the Jain community.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Backgrounds in Advocacy: Vinita and Pratik share their journey as Jains promoting veganism and sustainability.
• New Course Overview: Insights into their new course, "Reimagining Sustainability: Jain Environmental Advocacy," which focuses on sustainable living principles.
• Practical Sustainability: Practical advice on how Jains and non-Jains can adopt more environmentally sustainable lifestyles, emphasizing the urgency for both individual and collective action to ensure a better future for all life forms.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• The Jain Vegan Initiative | Facebook
• The Jain Vegan Initiative | Instagram
• Beyond Vegetarianism: Jain Veganism and the Promotion of Ahiṃsā | Course: 102 - Arihanta Institute
• Reimagining Sustainability: Jain Environmental Advocacy | Course: 106 - Arihanta Institute
• 40+ Self-paced Online Courses | Jainism, Veganism, Animal Advocacy, Climate Change, Yoga, Professional Ethics, Social Justice
• Subscribe to the Arihanta Institute Newsletter
• Arihanta Institute | Ancient Wisdom Modern Living

Join us for an inspiring discussion on integrating Jain principles with contemporary environmental challenges.

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUESTS

Pratik Bhansali is a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He thinks taking a stand against any form of discrimination is something that forms basic decency. This stand should encompass all animals – humans and non-humans, and being a vegan is a mere logical consequence of this stand. He also sees the interconnections between all forms of oppression and their links with animals and their rights.

Vinita Dugad embarked on her sustainable lifestyle journey at a young age when she recognized that the excessive and long-lasting impact of our consumption patterns is convenience driven. Through her observation of human behaviour in relation to the environment, she realized that societal pressures to conform are a major hurdle in making sustainable choices. She emphasizes that previous generations hold plenty of valuable solutions and innovation is not always necessary. As she noticed that many solutions being promoted prioritize profits, making them unaffordable for the majority, Vinita founded Ecomo, a startup dedicated to addressing this, while also raising awareness about greenwashing practices. She also has a keen interest in exploring how the hospitality and tourism sectors can step in to foster environmental responsibility.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Christopher Miller, PhD, Professor at Arihanta...