Jainism originated more than 2,800 years ago in northeast India. This certificate program explores its ethical practices, cosmological worldview, and teachings on yoga and meditation through direct engagement with primary texts. Rather than a broad survey, students participate in a sustained encounter with one of the world's oldest living philosophical traditions.
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
- Study foundational Jain texts on ethics, cosmology, and yoga, including the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Tattvārthasūtra, Yogabindu, Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, and Yogaśāstra.
- Learn directly from scholars of the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), Pune, in a program team-taught with LMU faculty.
- Integrate textual study with embodied practice through an onsite immersion at Kaivalyadham Yoga Research Institute, Abhaya Prabhavana, and the Karla Caves in India.
Certificate Requirements
Students complete all five parts of the program (50 instructional hours, 5 semester units). Each part awards 10 hours of LMU Continuing Education credit. Completion of all five parts earns the Jain Text and Philosophy Certificate from Loyola Marymount University.
Core Classes
Part One: Jaina Ethics in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra and the Jñānārṇava of Śubhacandra (10 hours)
Dates: September 20 – October 18, 2026
Part Two: Cosmology of the Tattvārthasūtra (10 hours)
Dates: October 25 – November 22, 2026
Part Three: Onsite India Immersion – Abhaya Prabhavana, Kaivalyadham, and the Karla Caves (10 hours)
Dates: December 13–20, 2026
Part Four: Yogabindu of Haribhadra Virahaṅka (10 hours)
Dates: January 17 – February 14, 2027
Part Five: Meditation and Yoga (10 hours)
Dates: February 21 – March 21, 2027
Completion of all five parts is required to earn the Jain Text and Philosophy Certificate.
The Jaina Experience-India Journey
LMU Yoga Studies India Immersion Program
Lonavala & Pune, Maharashtra, India | December 13–20, 2026
Program Overview
The Jaina Experience invites students into eight days of study across the Western Ghats of Maharashtra — from lectures and wellness therapeutics at Kaivalyadhama, to a guided visit to the 2,000-year-old Karla Caves, to immersive study at Abhay Prabhavana, the world's largest museum dedicated to Jain philosophy, culture, and heritage. Led by LMU Yoga Studies faculty in partnership with the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), the program combines academic seminars with hands-on cultural and contemplative experience.
Brief Itinerary
Dec 13 — Arrival and orientation at Kaivalyadhama
Dec 14–15 — Lectures and wellness programming at Kaivalyadhama
Dec 16 — Excursion to the Karla Caves
Dec 17–19 — Academic study at Abhay Prabhavana
Dec 20 — Check-out and departure from Mumbai
Accommodations
Students are based at Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala for the duration of the program — a research and wellness institution set against the Western Ghats, with lecture halls, therapy suites, and quiet grounds for study and reflection. Daily meals are included throughout the stay.
Program Fee/Registration Links:
Shared Double Occupancy: $1,500
Private Room (Limited Availability): $2,000
Both options include accommodations, daily meals, ground transportation for program activities, course instruction, and program materials. International airfare, visa fees, and optional treatments are not included.
Eligibility
Open to LMU Yoga Studies MA and Continuing Education students, members of the Jain studies community, and friends of yoga. Space is limited; early registration is recommended.
Email erin.rusler@lmu.edu for questions.