Dr. Jasvant Modi has built a successful career as a gastroenterologist. Born in Godhra, India, he received his medical degree from B.J. Medical College and completed his residency in Chicago, Illinois. Together with his wife, Dr. Meera Modi, Dr. Modi is committed to philanthropy and supporting initiatives within the Jainism faith. Dr. Modi actively supports healthcare and education initiatives throughout India and the United States.
Where did your passion for helping others through your profession and philanthropy originate?
Since my early childhood, I have received help from numerous sources—governmental, societal, religious, and familial. I am naturally drawn to philanthropy and motivated to help others contribute to societal good. As a physician, I am passionate about lending my resources and talents to supporting the healthcare field. I want to help people who have food insecurities and go hungry. I want to bring education and resources to children. Though I was born into Jainism, I remain devoted to its philosophy, and the way this way of looking at the world teaches others to be tolerant accepting, and humane. I have established more than 20 Jain professorships at various universities, and I believe that this education is a path to a better world for us to live in.
What is your approach to your passions, both personal and professional?
I approach my philanthropy as I do my profession, through the lens of my philosophic beliefs. I follow the teachings of Jainism and apply them to each aspect of my life. I have seen my struggles and am committed to living the life of a humanitarian, lifting others, and providing necessary resources. In 1975, I moved to the USA, and while my geography and the scope of my work changed, I have remained true to the tenets of non-violence, non-absolutism, and non-attachment. My primary goal is to help others and maintain respect for all living beings. I believe in spreading holistic peace, open-mindedness, and generosity. My goal is to help students become global citizens while focusing on tolerance, pluralism, compassion, and non-violence.
Looking back on the last five years of your career and philanthropic endeavors, what has been a major highlight?
Through our work, my wife and I have endowed Jain philosophy studies and religious courses at institutions on an international scale. Universities across the globe have accepted the importance of Jain Dharma education and established religious studies. Through this work, I endeavor to share many of the lessons that have brought me to where I am in life. I wish for others to understand the importance of tolerance to others. It is life-changing to see a problem through another’s perspective, and if I can help others learn that lesson, then I am helping them find a better way to live. Most problems in this world start with a thought and reaction—anger, lust, greed, deceit, the list goes on. These feelings and reactions to them lead to most problems faced by humanity today.
When did you face a failure that became an important lesson for you?
I ran for president of an organization and conducted a principled, honest campaign. I was very vocal in abstaining from saying anything derogatory about my opponent, and it may have cost me that election. It was a very important lesson and even a test of character that made me pause and consider, and I said to myself, “If I cannot win an election with an honest campaign, then I do not want to win.” The alternative was not worth it. Achieving good results is only as valuable as the honesty with which we achieve the win.
What is one of your greatest achievements, and how did it impact you?
I am a vegan, and while Jain Dharma does not mandate or even promote a vegan lifestyle, I firmly believe in the importance of reducing the footprint we leave on this earth. Climate change is very real, and a vegan lifestyle is shown to promote a reversal of the worst effects of global warming. With this in mind, I made it my mission to convert a Jain Center in Southern California into a vegan center, the first among all Jain centers throughout the USA, perhaps the world. Setting in motion a plan that has the potential to ripple out and affect others will be significant for generations to come.
What motivating factors have brought you to this place in your career and where do you see yourself in the future?
When a message of non-violence is instilled into a university and proliferates the education system, I am proud of the work we’ve done. I approach life with a commitment to Jain Dharma and a passion for helping others achieve an enlightened higher self that embodies the key tenets of Jainism. I am motivated to continue creating Jain Centers that are Vegan, matching the philosophy with key strategies to preserve our world and enhance the lives of those who suffer. I am currently working on an initiative to establish more religious education chairs throughout Africa and continue spreading Jainism.
Key Takeaways
Focus on your goal and pursue it with passion. Enjoy the road you have traveled and the results will be beautiful.
Follow your inner soul and be kind to others. Work hard.
Your dreams are only as powerful as the intent you put behind them and the practice you put in place to reach them.
