Jain Veganism: Ancient Wisdom, New Opportunities

This article seeks to elevate contemporary Jain voices calling for the adoption of a vegan lifestyle as sign solidarity with transnational movement and its animal rights, environmental protection, health aspirations. Just important, however, this also present some unique features veganism, including, most specifically, veganism an ascetic practice aimed at embodiment non-violence (ahim?s?), eradication (nirjar?) karma, liberation (moks?a) Self (j?va). These are distinctive often overlooked yet worthy our attention. We begin brief discussion veganism’s place within global movement. is followed by overview karma theory it appears in Tattv?rtha S?tra, authoritative diasporic text. Next, we two case studies expressions veganism: (1) The UK-based organization known “Jain Vegans” (2) US-based “Vegan Jains”. Both organizations have found new opportunities embody virtue ahim?s? well theory. As will show, though both share animal, human, protection aspirations Vegans Vegan Jains simultaneously promote varying degrees service path liberation. conclude reconsideration Marcus Banks’s “three tendencies” model demonstrate how manifestations compel us revisit understanding religious belief praxis.