Erin Macdonald

Jainism in India: a Personal Account of Living with the Jain Community Erin Macdonald

This is a personal account of a summer program I attended in New Delhi during the summer of 2010. It describes the obstacles, preparations and lived experiences of the program I attended. It explains what I learned, hope to pass on to others who may be traveling to the area and most of all what were the most rewarding parts of my experience. Jainism is one of the world's smallest and oldest religious comunities. The Jain community has shown considerable tenacity, not necessarily in spreading their religion in the form of conversion but in spreading their message and doctrine of ahimsa (non- violence). This summer school of Jain studies is just one way that the Jain community have accomplished this. I also hope to spread some of the Jain values through this book, and also hope to offer valuable insights to any person thinking of traveling to India.