Jainism or Jain Dharma is an ancient dharmic religion preaching no harm to any living being. The homeland of this doctrine is in India, where the majority of its followers are located. Today, there are a growing number of communities in various countries whose members support the philosophy of Jainism. Jainism is based, first of all, on the continuous self-improvement of the soul to achieve all-power, all-out and eternal bliss. The soul that got rid of the body shell and reached nirvana becomes a jiva. Much can be found in this religion in common with Buddhism. Both religions view suffering as an integral part of samsara – being.
The central concept of religion is the belief that the soul is immortal, yet dependent. Such dependence refers to the individual’s exposure to birth and all the resulting suffering. Proper behavior helps to free the soul from karma, which causes dependence and suffering. When the soul is freed from karma, it acquires divine (pure) consciousness, infinite knowledge, perception, and happiness. To clean karma, among other things, it is necessary to win by the power of spirit all suffering and deprivation resulting from hunger, thirst, heat, cold.
Unlike Buddhism, where it is necessary not to give up all desires to avoid suffering, in Jainism, it is vital not to harm living beings. This principle is called Ahimsa – no harm to the living. If a person does not fulfill this vow, it is pointless to obey the other rules. This principle includes not only a ban on physical harm but on words and actions, as those can also hurt. That is why people need to be careful about what and how they say. Besides, this principle includes non-absolutism – respect for the opinion and view of the world of another being. Ignoring this rule, albeit indirectly, can cause harm and makes karma worse that causes human suffering.