Jain Studies at UNT is under the directorship of Leah Kalmanson, the Bhagwan Adinath Professor of Jain Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religion. Our program offers a Certificate in Jain Studies, publishes Samyak: An Undergraduate Journal of Jain Studies, and maintains a calendar of special events.


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According to its own teachings, Jainism is neither a philosophical theory nor a religious doctrine but rather the expression of direct insight into the true nature of the cosmos. The teachings or Jaina dharma describe a cyclical cosmogony in which whole universes arise and pass in eternal succession. In these cycles, various beings attain enlightenment and articulate and transmit the true teachings to others. Twenty-four of these tīrthaṅkaras or ford-makers—those who forge the path and cross the river—have appeared within our own time cycle, the last of which was Mahāvīra in approximately the 6th century BCE.

statuesMahāvīra's central message is profound but simple: Practice generosity, not possessiveness; value diverse perspectives while humbly recognizing the limitations of your own; and, above all else, do not cause harm or contribute to the suffering of any sentient beings. These three tenets are known as aparigraha (non-possessiveness), anekāntavāda (non-onesidedness) and ahiṃsā (non-violence).

In 2017, with an endowment of $500,000.00 from the Jain Education and Research Foundation (JERF), the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at UNT established the second Professorship in Jain Studies in the United States. These efforts were led by Drs. George James and Pankaj Jain in the Department of Philosophy and Religion. Today, our program continues to support research and scholarly activities that promote Jainism's key values of generosity, pluralism, and compassion for the welfare of all sentient beings. Our activities are made possible thanks to the ongoing generosity of JERF, the Jain Society of North Texas (JSNT), CLASS, and the Department of Philosophy and Religion. Please contact Dr. Leah Kalmanson with queries.