Introduction to Jain Yoga

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Center for the Study of Jain Yoga

Program Instances

On demand

Dates: TBD

20 hours • TBD

Video

Led by

Christopher Jain Miller, PhD

CYT-L3

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Purpose

Unpack the ancient and venerable textual tradition of Jain yoga. Explore the theory behind the psychology and contemplative states of Jain yoga. Study the vocabulary and conceptual frameworks of the Jain yoga tradition.

What to expect

Course Length

20 hours

Course Details

• 20-hour self-study course.• Additional readings offered as support material.• Professor available by appointment.

Style/Lineage

Jain Yoga

Core competencies

By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…

Yoga History & Theory	Describe a historically grounded, critically evaluated account of Jain yoga's origins and development that accurately situates the tradition within the broader classical Indian philosophical landscape; progressing from recall of foundational facts through contextual application, comparative analysis, and scholarly evaluation. Construct a philologically and ethically informed command of Jain yoga's primary textual sources, spanning Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gujarati canonical works, progressing from source identification through sectarian/organizational understanding, close reading, translation-shaping analysis, and critical evaluation of translation practice. Construct a philosophically rigorous and comparative understanding of the Jain metaphysical-karmic framework, moving from recall of its core categories through explanation of its distinctive ontology, personal/reflective application, structural analysis of the liberation path, and cross-traditional evaluation of its soul-doctrine. Develop a philosophically grounded and practically applied understanding of ahiṃsā as the foundational principle of Jain ethics, moving from recall of its distinctive scope through explanation of its multidimensional function, personal/behavioral application, structural analysis of its relationship to the other mahāvratas, and evaluation of its contemporary relevance. Assemble a comparative and psychologically grounded understanding of the Jain contemplative-psychological framework, moving from recall of its core structures through explanation of the passions' karmic mechanics, personal self-inquiry, structural analysis of the fourteen guṇasthānas, and evaluation against Patañjali's psychological model. Characterize the structure and soteriological function of Jain dhyāna (meditation), moving from recall of its four types through explanation of its role within the broader liberation path, to analysis of śukla dhyāna as its culminating form in comparison with Patañjalian samādhi. Characterize anekāntavāda as one of Jainism's most distinctive philosophical contributions, moving from recall of its core logical methods through explanation of its dual function as an epistemological principle and an ethical commitment. Articulate the structure, function, and contemporary relevance of the Jain mahāvrata tradition, moving from recall of its five core vows through explanation of its two-tier ethical system, comparative application to Patañjali's Yamas, structural analysis of its contemplative function, and evaluation of its relevance to modern yoga teaching. Assess the shared vocabulary and distinctive meanings across Jain, Buddhist, and Brahmanical contemplative traditions, moving from recall of major points of contact and divergence through explanation of terminological divergence, to evaluation of the risks and responsibilities involved in teaching across these traditions.
Teaching Skills	Identify the key challenges of introducing Jain yoga philosophy in a contemporary yoga class or training, including the risk of conflation with Hinduism, the need for accurate representation of a living tradition, and the absence of Jain yoga content in most standard teacher trainings. Produce an original, textually grounded reflection on a specific Jain yoga teaching, moving from recall of the core skills for serious textual engagement through self-evaluation of growth as a reader and critical thinker, culminating in a piece of writing that connects accurate use of the tradition's vocabulary to personal or professional practice. Apply knowledge of key Jain technical vocabulary, moving from recall of the Sanskrit and Prakrit terms and their Jain-specific meanings through explanation of why shared vocabulary misleads cross-traditional readers, to close-reading application that tracks how terms shift across texts and sub-traditions. Characterize the relationship between contemplative practice and scholarly teaching of Jain yoga philosophy, moving from recall of contemplative dimensions applicable to personal practice through explanation of how embodied engagement differs from purely intellectual instruction, to analysis of how scholarly rigor and contemplative depth reinforce one another. Analyze the ethical responsibilities of teaching Jain philosophy as a minority tradition within majority-dominated frameworks, moving from recall of those responsibilities through explanation of the specific risks of misrepresentation, applied use of a care-based teaching ethic, and analysis of how institutional identification shifts the meaning of shared philosophical content.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Explain the full scope of ahiṃsā as a comprehensive moral orientation in Jain philosophy, moving from recall of its total scope across thought, speech, and action to explanation of how it differs from its common contemporary usage as a simple exhortation to "be kind." Analyze aparigraha as a Jain mahāvrata whose scope extends beyond material renunciation, moving from recall of its full scope, including the soul's attachment to its own self-concept, to analysis of how grasping generates the karmic influx that perpetuates suffering. Evaluate how Jain compassion (karuṇā) connects contemplative practice to social and ecological commitment, moving from recall of its place within the fourfold ethical framework through explanation of its philosophical grounding in universal soul-equality, to analysis of its expression in engaged Jain ethics as embodied by Arihanta Institute's mission. Identify satya (truthfulness) as the second mahāvrata of Jain ethics and describe how its scope in the tradition extends beyond factual accuracy to include the truthfulness of intention, representation, and self-knowledge. Explain brahmacharya as a comprehensive discipline of sensory and energetic restraint in Jain ethics, moving from recall of its meaning as the fourth mahāvrata, particularly in monastic practice, to explanation of how this restraint reduces karmic influx and supports the deepening of dhyāna. Discuss how serious engagement with Jain yoga philosophy embodies and cultivates Arihanta Institute's core values, moving from recall of those values and their expression in Course 3001 to explanation of how rigorous textual and comparative study develops a more honest, humble, and well-informed yoga teaching practice.

AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.

Program Emphasis

Evaluation methods

Program evaluations

Written Exam
Written Submission
Oral Exam

Assessment

All students will complete quizzes (< 10 questions per quiz) to demonstrate their acquired knowledge of the course material. Required writing assignments will also be given, though they only need to be turned in and will not be graded.

Grade Breakdown

Weekly Quizzes (less than 10 questions): 100%

Students must score 80% on the combined quizzes and complete the reflections to receive a final course completion certificate. Quiz re-take opportunities are given until the quiz is passed.