Engaged Jain Studies Podcast

Maneesha Deckha | Animal Law in Global Perspective

Join Professor Jonathan Dickstein in conversation with Professor Maneesha Deckha, Lansdowne Chair in Law at the University of Victoria and director of the Animals & Society Research Initiative, for a thought-provoking discussion on animal law, justice, and advocacy in global perspective. Together, they explore how legal systems construct and regulate the status of animals, why animal issues are deeply intertwined with race, gender, caste, class, and ability, and what some of today’s most urgent legal struggles for animals reveal about broader systems of power and exclusion. Professor Deckha also shares insights into her Arihanta Institute course, Animal Law in Global Perspective, introducing students to critical animal law, postcolonial theory, vegan ecofeminism, and the evolving legal debates shaping the future of animal advocacy. Don’t miss this engaging discussion on law, ethics, and the pursuit of justice for both humans and nonhumans alike. 📚 Course Spotlight — 1024 | Animal Law in Global Perspective 1. Starts: Monday, June 1, 2026 (materials available) 2. Live Zoom Q&As: Fridays June 5, 12, 19, 26 at 9:15-10:15 a.m. PDT 3. Format: Live online + self-study • ~4 hours recorded video • Weekly readings 4. Registration: $25 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS * Course 1024 | Animal Law in Global Perspective - Arihanta Institute [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/course/1024-animal-law-in-global-perspective] * Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More! [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/vegan] ********** ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST Maneesha Deckha is Professor and Lansdowne Chair in Law at the University of Victoria in British Columbia where she directs the Animals & Society Research Initiative. Her research expertise includes critical animal law, vegan ecofeminist theory, and postcolonial theory. She is author of Animals as Legal Beings: Contesting Anthropocentric Legal Orders and has directed an open access documentary series designed for high school and undergraduate screening called A Deeper Kindness: Youth Activism in Animal Law. In 2023-2024, Professor Deckha was a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Zurich and a Senior Fellow at the Collegium Helveticum, ETH, Zurich. ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST Jonathan Dickstein, PhD specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike. ABOUT ARIHANTA INSTITUTE As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). Our mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion.

Jonathan Dickstein | An American Panjrapole

Join Professor Christopher Jain Miller as he sits down with Arihanta Institute Professor Dr. Jonathan Dickstein, Tīrthaṅkara Śreyāṃśanātha Endowed Assistant Professor of Jain and Vegan Studies, to discuss his chapter, “An American Panjrapole: Engaging Tradition and Innovation at Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary,” from the forthcoming edited volume, Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Studies of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025). Professor Dickstein shares insights from his fieldwork at Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary, exploring the dynamic intersection of Jain ethical traditions and contemporary animal sanctuary practices. Discover what it means to be a “scholar-practitioner,” how this perspective informs his research and advocacy, and how the concept of an “American Panjrapole” reframes connections between Jain models of animal care and modern sanctuary movements. You will also hear moving stories about the sanctuary’s residents, including Felix the pig. Don’t miss this thoughtful and engaging conversation! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS * Voices in Vegan Studies Speaker Series | May - Oct 2026 [https://voices.arihantainstitute.org/] * Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Studies of Jain Social Engagement [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/book/engaged-jainism-critical-and-constructive-studies-of-jain-social-engagement-6] * Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More! [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/vegan] ********** ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST Dr. Jonathan Dickstein specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike. ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST 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 and book chapters concerned with Jainism and the practice of modern yoga. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024), as well as co-editor of the volumes Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to the Study of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2026) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020). Copyright 2026 Arihanta Institute

Nathan Loewen | Method, Ethics, and Engaged Philosophy of Religion

In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies podcast, Arihanta Institute professor Cogen Bohanec, MA, PhD speaks with Dr. Nathan Loewen, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, whose work bridges philosophy of religion, critical theory, and global-critical pedagogy. Their conversation begins by examining higher education as a form of global soft power and the ethical responsibilities scholars carry when navigating the political dimensions of knowledge production. Together, they explore how scholars of religion can cultivate methodological self-awareness while resisting intellectual imperialism, Eurocentrism, and the lingering structures of Orientalism. Dr. Loewen then reflects on his methodological approach shaped by Derrida’s deconstructive ethics and his leadership in the Global-Critical Philosophy of Religion project. The discussion explores his major works—including Beyond the Problem of Evil (2018), Diversifying Philosophy of Religion (2024), and the forthcoming Engaging Philosophies of Religion (2025)—and considers how the emerging field of Engaged Philosophy of Religion expands the discipline toward more pluralistic, dialogical, and ethically grounded frameworks. The episode concludes with reflections on the value of the humanities, the promise of digital pedagogy for intercultural dialogue, and the challenge of balancing critical rigor with compassion and ethical awareness. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS * Nathan R. B. Loewen – Department of Religious Studies at The University of Alabama [https://religion.ua.edu/people/nathan-r-b-loewen/] * Subscribe to the Arihanta Institute Newsletter [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/subscribe] ********** ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST Nathan Loewen is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama. He earned his PhD in Modern Philosophy of Religion at McGill University’s School of Religious Studies. His work focuses on philosophy of religion, critical theory, and global-critical approaches to religious studies. In 2018, Dr. Loewen published Beyond the Problem of Evil: Derrida and Anglophone Philosophy of Religion, where he read Derrida’s oeuvre to rethink the topic of evil within the philosophy of religion. In 2024, Loewen published Diversifying Philosophy of Religion with Agnieszka Rostalska. Engaging Philosophies of Religion was published in 2025 with Gereon Kopf and Purushottama Bilimoria. Forthcoming projects include: Artificial Intelligence in 5 Minutes (Equinox, 2025), Philosophies of Self: a Cross-Cultural Introduction (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025)) and Theodicies of Empire: Legitimations of Political Economies and Regimes (Springer, 2029). ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST Cogen Bohanec [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/faculty/276-cogen-bohanec-ma-phd] currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in Sanskrit and Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute where he teaches various courses on Jain philosophy and its applications. In addition, he is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Claremont School of Theology (CST) where he teaches Sanskrit and Gujarati, and he has taught numerous classes on South Asian Culture & Religions and Sanskrit language at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley. Dr. Bohanec specializes in the Jain and Hindu traditions, comparative dharma traditions, philosophy of religion, theo-ethics (virtue ethics, and environmental and animal ethics in particular), and Sanskrit language and literature, and has numerous publications in those areas, particularly in the fields of Jain and Hindu Studies amongst other disciplines. He has a PhD in “Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion” with an emphasis in Hindu Studies from GTU, where his research emphasized ancient Indian languages, literature, and philosophical systems. He also holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies at GTU where his research primarily involved translations of Pāli Buddhist scriptures in conversation with the philology of the Hindu Upaniṣads. He is the author of Bhakti Ethics, Emotions and Love in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Metaethics [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/books] (Lexington, 2024), an interdisciplinary study that frames traditional Hindu themes of ecotheology, ecofeminist theology, feminist care ethics, within a framework of virtue ethics in conversation with a bhakti-based psychology of emotions. Currently he is largely engaged in publication and research on various aspects of the Jain tradition, emphasizing translations and analyses of Jain Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gujarati texts, but is also publishing academic works on various topics within the Hindu tradition. Copyright 2026 Arihanta Institute

Nirva Kapasi Patel | Animal Law in the United States

In this episode, Professor Jonathan Dickstein interviews animal law scholar, advocate, and filmmaker Nirva Kapasi Patel to discuss her groundbreaking work at the intersection of law, justice, and animal liberation. From her early moments of “radicalization” to her leadership roles at Harvard and Boston University, Professor Patel reflects on what it means to see animal rights as a social justice movement—and how legal systems both uphold and challenge speciesist hierarchies. They explore the field of animal law in academia, opportunities for young people entering the space, and the critical role that legal strategy plays in transforming dominant narratives about animals. Professor Patel also shares how her Jain background and community continue to inform her advocacy—from federal petitions to local victories like banning fur sales in her hometown. The conversation includes a preview of her upcoming course at Arihanta Institute, Animal Law in the United States, launching February 2, 2026. Designed for students, activists, and those who care about animal advocacy, law, ethics, and social justice, this course unpacks the ways U.S. law governs—and often fails—nonhuman life, while highlighting legal strategies for change. With 4 hours of lecture content and live Q&A sessions throughout February, all sessions are recorded and available for flexible study. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS * Course 1022 | Animal Law in the United States - Launching February 2, 2026 [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/course/1022-animal-law-in-the-united-states] * Voices in Vegan Studies Speaker Series | May - Oct 2026 [https://voices.arihantainstitute.org/] * Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More! [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/vegan] ********** ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST Professor Nirva Kapasi Patel teaches animal law at Boston University School of Law. Nirva previously served several roles at Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Program including Executive Director, Clinical Instructor and Global Research Fellow. She most recently worked with students to file a groundbreaking federal petition on behalf of the Jain community to urge the USDA to accommodate for religious diet accommodations for all faiths that adhere to a diet free of animal products. Professor Patel served on several animal protection boards, including as Farm Sanctuary Board Chair. She received her B.S in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, her J.D. in law from New England School of Law and her Masters in Animals and Policy from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Professor Patel is the Executive Producer of several award-winning documentaries including The Game Changers, 2019’s best-selling documentary on iTunes. Professor Patel lives in Weston (suburb of Boston where she banned the sale of fur via a citizens petition) with her husband, four teenagers, father-in-law, and pet rabbit who was rescued from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In her free time Professor Patel enjoys yoga, gardening and cooking vegan recipes. ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST Dr. Jonathan Dickstein specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike. ABOUT ARIHANTA INSTITUTE As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). Our mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion.

Victoria Moran | Vegan Then & Now

In this live episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor and lead organizer of the Vegan Studies Initiative, Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, sits down with acclaimed author, educator, and longtime vegan advocate Victoria Moran for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on the evolution of veganism. Vegetarian since the late 1960s and vegan since the early 1980s, Moran offers a rare, firsthand account of the movement’s countercultural beginnings and its transformation into a more visible—though still contested—mainstream presence. Drawing on more than five decades of compassionate living, Moran reflects on what first awakened her to the injustices faced by animals, the cultural and gendered dynamics of early animal advocacy, and the shifting focus of her prolific writing career, including works such as Compassion: The Ultimate Ethic and Main Street Vegan. Throughout the conversation, she explores veganism not only as a lifestyle choice but as a spiritual and ethical path—one that continues to deepen over time. Together, Dickstein and Moran invite listeners to consider what compassionate living demands today and how veganism can remain both grounded and visionary in the years ahead. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS * Learn More About Victoria Moran [https://victoriamoran.com/] * Vegan Studies Initiative @ Arihanta Institute | Courses, Speaker Series, Research & More! [https://www.arihantainstitute.org/vegan] ********** ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST Vegetarian since the late 1960s and vegan since the early '80s, Victoria Moran she earned a BA in comparative religions and in 1985 wrote her first book, Compassion the Ultimate Ethic: An Exploration of Veganism. She followed up with a dozen more titles including the international bestseller Creating a Charmed Life, the iconic Main Street Vegan, and her new book, Age Like a Yogi. She appeared on Oprah! twice and is included by VegNews on their list of "Top 10 Living Vegetarian Authors." A certified life coach, certified holistic health counselor, and RYT-200 registered yoga teacher, Moran is founder and director of Main Street Vegan Academy, certifying Vegan lifestyle coaches and educators. She hosts of the award-winning Main Street Vegan Podcast and is a founder of the Compassion Consortium, an online spiritual center for people who celebrate all living beings. Moran led the production team for the 2019 documentary A Prayer for Compassion, looking at spirituality and food choices. In 2024, she was inducted into the Vegan Hall of Fame, and along with her husband, Interfaith minister William Melton, was awarded the 2025 Homo Ahimsa award. ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST Dr. Jonathan Dickstein specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike. ABOUT ARIHANTA INSTITUTE As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). Our mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion.