Ahimsa Living Circle

The Ahiṃsā Living Circle is a virtual community for those curious about veganism, Jainism, the Dharma traditions, and living compassionately. Co-hosted by Cogen Bohanec, MA, PhD, Assistant Professor in Sanskrit and Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute, and Hope Bohanec, Executive Director of Compassionate Living and the host of the Hope for the Animals Podcast, our goal is to build a supportive network of leaders, teachers, scholars, and advocates who believe that extending compassion to animals and the Earth is central to any spiritual journey. While rooted in Jain teachings, our circle emphasizes shared values found across spiritual traditions, especially those centered on ahiṃsā (non-violence) in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The Ahiṃsā Living Circle will be held every second Saturday of the month. It is intended as a place of community building and support for those exploring veganism, non-violence, and ahiṃsā. These elements will be incorporated into each meeting, but most importantly, we encourage attendees to broaden the discussion, participate, ask questions, and offer reflections and support to others. Everyone is welcome. Together, let's discover how we can live a compassionate life aligned with our deepest ethic of non-violence. We are a community driven by the principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā), non-possession (aparigraha), and openness to dialogue with other religious traditions (anekāntavāda). We value honest and open dialogue, genuine sharing, inclusivity, and freedom of thought. We strive to create an accessible, equitable, and safer space for opening minds and hearts where all are welcome.