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Yogic traditions often highlight non-harming (ahiṃsā), but to what extent is harm an inevitable part of worldly life? Is it more realistic to try to reduce it, or is anything short of removing it part of the problem? There are few easy answers…

Christopher Miller is a scholar and practitioner. He’s co-founder of the Arihanta Institute, which offers courses on Jain studies, and he’s the author of a book entitled Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation, which investigates practices other than postures.

Among other topics, our conversation explores:

* How Jains perfect the precept of non-harming, and influence yoga

* If it’s better to promote being vegan, or to eat fewer animal products

* Where harmoniums come from, and if the ukulele can raise kuṇḍalinī

* Whether teaching prāṇāyāma in polluted environments is unhelpful

* Ways in which critical thinking can complement yoga practice

Chris is on Instagram @theyogaprofessor, and he’s based in Switzerland, where I’ll be teaching a retreat in July.

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