The concept of ahimsa, or non-violence, is a central principle in Jainism that influences many aspects of Jain religious practices, including:
Diet: Jains often regulate their diet to avoid harming living beings, such as by not eating or drinking after dark.
Clothing: Jain monks wear cloth mouth covers, called mukhavastrika, to avoid harming microorganisms.
Career choices: Jains often avoid professions that directly or indirectly harm living beings, such as farming or the leather industry.
Environmental conservation: Jains work to protect forests, water bodies, and natural habitats.
Public policy: Jains participate in debates on issues such as international conflict, economic fairness, abortion, and civil rights.
Personal conduct: Jains think consciously about ethical choices and challenges.
Temple cleanliness: Jain temples are kept clean to avoid harming microorganisms.
Water filtering: Jains filter water before use to avoid harming microscopic organisms.
Ahimsa is more than just not doing violence. It’s a way of life that includes:
Abandoning all violent activity
Renouncing all killing of living beings, whether tiny or large, movable or immovable
Not causing another to kill, nor consenting to any killing directly or indirectly
Preventing the ascetic from knowingly or unknowingly being the cause of injury to any living soul