Vision & mission of ISJS .

ISSJ seeks to be the most complete and comprehensive resource available to facilitate the establishment and promotion of Jain academic studies at universities and research institutions within India and around the world so that Jain academic studies occupy a respectable position within academia.

Preamble

• Jain academic studies in India and in universities around the world have significantly lagged behind those of other religions.
• Many Jain academic institutions in India need an invigorated mission, renewed dynamism and a sense of purpose for their existence.
• There are very few younger Jain scholars being trained to take the place of the increasingly aging group of established Jain scholars.
• Jainism is the least known and most misunderstood spiritual tradition in academia and in the general public.
• Before the establishment of ISJS, there was not any concerted effort on the part of the Jain community to promote Jain academic studies.
• It is, therefore, important to make ISJS a permanent and preeminent entity as there is nothing like it in the Jain community and the need for ISJS is clear.
• ISJS is built upon collaboration, cooperation, and support of a large number of institutions and individuals in India as well as abroad.
• ISJS is not a university or a college. It has no teaching faculty of its own. It does not award any degrees. Rather, ISJS seeks to use the resources and infrastructure of all its supporting organizations. It does not compete with any institution or organization.
• By making India a classroom, ISJS provides an experiential introduction to Jainism and its culture. ISJS supplements textual knowledge but also provides a unique cultural context in which further textual knowledge may be acquired.
• Since its inception, ISJS has been and will continue to strive for improvements and excellence in offering quality education to scholars and students in India and around the world about Jainism.
• ISJS is non-denominational, non-sectarian and secular in its approach. It does not preach or proselytize.
• The main emphasis of ISJS is on increasing the awareness, knowledge, and interest about Jainism among scholars, teachers and students.

Why Should Foreign Universities Be Interested in the Study of Jainism?..

Given instant connectivity in communication, commerce, travel, etc., the world has, indeed, become a global village. But our global village confronts many important issues involving pluralism, democracy, ecology, terrorism and violence, nationalism, human rights, disease and other health matters, etc. We are confronted with enormous challenges and we have a shared responsibility to address these issues.

Jainism provides an important way to think about these challenges. Three important principles of Jainism are: (1) ahimsa, or the principle of nonviolence; (2) anekantavada, or the principle that truth is complex and we must try to understand truth in all its dimensions as well as to tolerate differences in a peaceful manner; and (3) aparigraha, or the principle that our attachment to material wealth must be moderated so as to avoid conflict with others.

Jainism, along with Hinduism and Buddhism, originated in India. Although Hinduism and Buddhism are studied extensively in academic institutions in India and abroad, Jainism is not. One unfortunate result of this is that scholars have not focused on Jain principles as a way of addressing the challenges we face. Given the emerging importance of India on the world scene, and the increased interest in Indian spiritual, religious, moral, cultural traditions, ISJS provides an opportunity for scholars to have a cultural encounter with Jainism that will enrich their understanding of this ancient tradition and assist them in their efforts to think seriously about the role that Jain principles can play in bringing peace, harmony, and prosperity to all in our global village.

What does ISJS offer in India to foreign scholars?..

• A network of at least ten Indian and foreign universities, many Jain institutions and organizations, Jain professionals in different fields and disciplines, monks and nuns of all sects of Jainism, and top Indian scholars, both Jain and non-Jain.
• Facilities and resources to learn every aspect of the Jain spiritual tradition, as well as allied areas such as yoga and meditation, and to learn or to further study in the Hindi, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Prakrit languages.
• A residential center available year round for scholars from abroad.
• n opportunity for faculty and graduate and undergraduate students to do field work and research.
• An opportunity to collaborate with Indian Jain and non-Jain scholars for joint research, teaching, seminars and publications.
• An opportunity for qualified undergraduate and graduate students to do some or all of their graduate program in an Indian university.
• An environment that provides and facilitates free and open interaction, exchange, and dialog among scholars from many backgrounds, interests, countries, universities of the world in a truly international setting..
• Attractive financial assistance and complete hospitality in India to foreign students and scholars to travel to India to pursue their study and research interests and to attend ISJS organized programs during each summer
• Assistance in facilitating collaboration with Indian scholars in order to prepare proposals to secure funding for research.
• A resource for the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS), Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI), and colleges and universities from North America to become familiar with Jain culture as well as in ISJS programs that last one to six weeks or more.

What does ISJS offer to foreign scholars outside India?..

• Financial resources to organize and attend seminars and conferences on Jainism at universities throughout the world.
• Financial resources to organize and attend seminars and conferences on Jainism at universities throughout the world.
• Donation or assistance with the purchase or acquisition of book on Jainism by foreign scholars and institutions.
• Assistance to foreign teaching faculty so that they can start offering and teaching introductory level courses in Jainism at their universities.
• A group of Jain scholars from India, North America, and the United Kingdom who are available to visit other universities and colleges.
• A connection with the Jain community and Jain institutions, their temples and gatherings in North America, Europe and Asia.
• Access to a large pool of resources of the Jain community such as e-library, JAINA library, many Jain portals, data banks of Jain academics, and various Jain publications.
• Assistance to create Jain study/teaching centers and academic positions in Jainology at universities outside India
• Assistance so that scholars and students can attend Jain community functions, conventions (JAINA, YJA), seminars, festivals and religious events.
• Organization and funding of a gathering, business meeting, and dinner of Jain academics in conjunction with the annual AAR conference.
• Access to several Indian publishers, magazines and institutions to publish or present their materials in India.

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