In this enlightening episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Arihanta Institute professor Christopher Jain Miller, PhD, engages in a profound conversation with Dr. Devinder Pal Singh, an expert in Sikh studies. Their discussion explores the central role of compassion in the Sikh dharmic tradition, from its theological underpinnings to its real-world applications.

Dr. Singh introduces listeners to the foundational principles of Sikhi that shape compassionate living, such as seva (selfless service) and the ethic of oneness that honors the divine presence in all beings. He highlights how Sikh teachings inspire not only inner transformation but also active forms of service, including the institution of langar (free community kitchens), ecological care, and the defense of social justice.

The conversation also emphasizes how acts of forgiveness, service, and balancing of temporal and spiritual responsibilities invite practitioners to live in ways that uplift humanity and protect the natural world. Together, Professor Miller and Dr. Singh illuminate how the Sikh tradition envisions compassion as both an inward disposition and an outward call to action—encouraging all to serve others and stand against injustice.

Course Spotlight — 2023 | Sikh Teachings and Practices of Compassion — available for self-study on Monday, November 3, 2025.

This course, offered by the Compassion Studies Initiative (CSI@AI) at Arihanta Institute and made possible through the generous support of the Uberoi Foundation, explores how the Sikh tradition fosters both personal transformation and social responsibility through compassion.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• Course 2023 | Sikh Teachings and Practices of Compassion
• The Compassion Studies Initiative is supported by a grant from the Uberoi Foundation.
• Arihanta Institute | Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living
• Subscribe to the Arihanta Institute Newsletter

ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Dr. Devinder Pal Singh is a teacher-researcher with over 35 years of experience in education and advocacy on scientific, environmental and religious issues. He, a Founder-Director of the Center for Understanding Sikhism in Ontario, Canada, specializes in writing on scientific and theological topics. He has authored 24 books and published over 1000 articles in the fields of Science, Environment and Sikhism. He is the Editorial Advisory Board Member for prominent journals like The Sikh Review, Kolkata, India, and Studies in Sikhism and Comparative Religion, New Delhi, India.

With over two dozen invited talks and more than 100 TV and YouTube presentations to his credit, he is a prominent voice on social, technological, and environmental issues within the Punjabi and Sikh communities. His advocacy work is grounded in a sound scientific background, given his PhD and decades of experience teaching physics at the college and university levels. He has published over 100 research papers and presented them at 60 national and international conferences on Physics and allied topics.

Dr. Singh has published 30 articles on various aspects of AI, depicting its impact on the Sikh community and culture. He has raised concerns about AI at three Global Punjabi Conferences, two invited talks, 5 Science fiction stories and one TV interview. His articles on AI have also been included in books published by other authors.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Christopher Jain Miller is the co-founder, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute. He completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis and is also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology where he co-developed and co-runs a remotely available Masters Degree Program focusing on Engaged Jain Studies. His current research focuses on Engaged Jainism and Modern Yoga, and he is the author of a number of articles and book chapters concerned with Jainism and the practice of modern yoga. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024), as well as co-editor of the volumes Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to the Study of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).

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