Influence and Integration: Tracing the Impact of Broader Yoga Traditions on Second Millennium Jain Yoga Texts

This presentation explores the rich landscape of Jain yoga texts from the 2nd millennium, unveiling the significant yet underexplored contributions of Jainism to the broader field of yoga studies. By examining texts such as the Yogapradīpa and newly discovered manuscripts, this research highlights the diversity of Jain yoga practices, their philosophical underpinnings, and their interactions with contemporaneous religious traditions. My presentation will demonstrate how specific concepts (i.e. the approach to physicality and the adaptation of certain meditation practices) were actively discussed and seamlessly traversed across different sectarian boundaries. This analysis not only broadens our understanding of yoga's historical development but also underscores the importance of inclusive studies that recognize the contributions of all traditions to the complex panorama of yoga's evolution.