ahimsa

ahimsa, in the Indian religions of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, the ethical principle of not causing harm to other living things. In Jainism, ahimsa is the standard by which all actions are judged. For a householder observing the small vows (anuvrata), the practice of ahimsa requires that one not kill any animal life. However, for an ascetic observing the great vows (mahavrata), ahimsa entails the greatest care to prevent the ascetic from knowingly or unknowingly...