Jainism, Environment, and Nonviolence Conference
On April 21-23, 2024, the Institute for Ecological Civilization co-hosted the Jainism, Environment, and Nonviolence Conference in Long Beach, California with California State University – CSU, Long Beach. I traveled to California as the Project Manager for the Ecological Mindset Project, a project that aims to introduce the Dharma traditions to a wider audience and emphasize their link to environmental and social justice issues. The three days were met with enthusiasm, enriching discussions, and inspiring stories that led to relationship-building amongst scholars from the Dharma traditions, yogic traditions, and religious studies. Everyone—scholars, students, and staff—agree that we left feeling more motivated than ever before. What made this conference so particularly invigorating?
Important figures in Jain studies provided their own unique perspectives on the intersection of Jainism, nonviolence, and the environment. Speakers invited deliberate discussions on how society can incorporate these ideals into daily life. Suggestions ranged from embracing a vegan diet whenever possible, to reflecting on how one’s actions impact others, to considering how personal daily choices impact the environment. However, each suggestion had one thing in common: being deliberate. The main idea that I took away from this conference is that the first step toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all is to intentionally become more conscious of our own individual impact on the world and the lives around us.
Alongside the delicious, vegan meals served at the conference, the three days provided a rich opportunity for understanding the Dharma traditions, what they stand for, and how Jain Dharma in particular supports environmental ethics that can act as a foundation for transformative environmental activism. The conference kicked off at the Jain Center of Southern California, where we took a tour of a Jain temple, met with local Jain community members, and hosted the keynote address. The next two days were held at CSU, Long Beach, and were coordinated by Dr. Shivani Bothra. Here, I attended four discussions focusing on the link between ahimsa—also known as nonviolence—and the relationship that we have with the environment and each other. There were also three panel discussions that covered topics including animal rights, gender relations, environmental anxiety, and karmic cycles.
As EcoCiv is a remote organization, our team doesn’t always have the opportunity to see the impacts of our work in person, and actively participating and engaging with community members and scholars in the field was exciting for all staff members who attended. Witnessing a conference like this come to life, we became that much more motivated to continue actively engaging with the Jain community, and addressing how much Jain Dharma intrinsically ties to promoting the wellbeing of people and the planet.
Two personal highlights of my experience include the presentation of nonviolence that was led by Pathshala youth, and the final panel discussion. In the presentation on nonviolence, a handful of students, ages ranging 6-15, shared how they incorporate ahimsa into their daily lives. I found myself moved to tears by their passion, pure intentions, courage, and grace, and could not have been more honored to hear how they make the world a better place every day.
Some memorable quotes are included below:
“I listen to others, rather than yelling or making others feel bad. I have to think about how I would want to be treated, too.”
“As an internal practice, I give myself compassion. I am a child, so I do not know some rules, and I still have much to learn.”
“When I see a bug, instead of getting annoyed, I remind myself that it is also a living being like myself. It does not deserve to be hurt or killed.”
At the final discussion panel, students of religious studies from across California shared their research on a wide array of subjects, from cross-cultural comparisons of nonviolence to Western relationships with death. It was encouraging to learn that the next generation of scholars, even those who do not have a cultural connection to the Dharma traditions, find inspiration in the teachings of Jainism. Overall, this was a fitting end to the conference that left participants feeling particularly reflective and inspired.
So, what happens next? The Institute for Ecological Civilization is heartened by the success of the conference and eager to lean into the partnerships that were created there, including those with well-known scholars from the Dharma traditions. The potential for future podcast episodes—two of which have already been released—excites us as we move forward in this project. Meeting with the funders of our grant, experts in the field, and inspired students was overall a thrilling experience. We have the momentum. Now, we apply it to fuel our programs in the pursuit of an Ecological Civilization.
Written by: Juliana Arnold
Communications and Writing Assistant
Project Manager, Ecological Mindset Project
