<P> Ahimsā ( Ahiṃsā ) in Jainism is a fundamental principle forming the cornerstone of its ethics and doctrine . The term ahimsa means nonviolence , non-injury or absence of desire to harm any life forms . Vegetarianism and other nonviolent practices and rituals of Jains flow from the principle of ahimsa . The Jain concept of ahimsa is very different from the concept of nonviolence found in other philosophies . Violence is usually associated with causing harm to others . But according to the Jain philosophy , violence refers primarily to injuring one 's own self -- behaviour which inhibits the soul 's own ability to attain moksha ( liberation from the cycle of births and deaths ) . At the same time it also means violence to others because it is this tendency to harm others that ultimately harms one 's own soul . Furthermore , the Jains extend the concept of ahimsa not only to humans but to all animals , plants , micro-organisms and all beings having life or life potential . All life is sacred and everything has a right to live fearlessly to its maximum potential . Living beings need not fear those who have taken the vow of ahimsa . According to Jainism , protection of life , also known as abhayadānam , is the supreme charity that a person can make . </P>
<P> Ahimsā ( Ahiṃsā ) in Jainism is a fundamental principle forming the cornerstone of its ethics and doctrine . The term ahimsa means nonviolence , non-injury or absence of desire to harm any life forms . Vegetarianism and other nonviolent practices and rituals of Jains flow from the principle of ahimsa . The Jain concept of ahimsa is very different from the concept of nonviolence found in other philosophies . Violence is usually associated with causing harm to others . But according to the Jain philosophy , violence refers primarily to injuring one 's own self -- behaviour which inhibits the soul 's own ability to attain moksha ( liberation from the cycle of births and deaths ) . At the same time it also means violence to others because it is this tendency to harm others that ultimately harms one 's own soul . Furthermore , the Jains extend the concept of ahimsa not only to humans but to all animals , plants , micro-organisms and all beings having life or life potential . All life is sacred and everything has a right to live fearlessly to its maximum potential . Living beings need not fear those who have taken the vow of ahimsa . According to Jainism , protection of life , also known as abhayadānam , is the supreme charity that a person can make . </P>
the most important concept in jainism is non-violence called
the most important concept in jainism is non-violence called
Ahimsā
Ahimsā