Ahimsa and Beyond: Animal Ethics in Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu Thought

The paper examines the philosophical underpinnings and animal ethics in the three leading Indian religions, namely, Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The core of this question is ahimsa (nonviolence), which can be seen as a connecting moral principle across these traditions, despite varying perceived and practiced variations. Jainism has made ahimsa the highest ideal of ethical conduct, requiring the strict avoidance of harm to all living organisms, even the smallest ones. Buddhism situates animal ethics within its broader ethics of compassion (karunā) and interdependence, and emphasizes the relational character of moral responsibility. Hindu ethics, both varied and stratified, incorporates animal ethics through dharma, karma, and respect for sacred animals, with a balance among ritual, symbolic, and ecological aspects. Comparing these traditions, the paper identifies the similarities and differences in their attitude to animal ethics. It shows that, according to Indian philosophies, there is a vision of ethical responsibility that goes beyond anthropocentric models, placing animals as entities within the moral world. Moreover, these views are echoed in modern discussions of environmental justice, environmental sustainability, and animal rights, which provide a counter-story to industrial exploitation and ecological disaster. The paper concludes that a reinterpretation and reexamination of Indian traditions of ahimsa and compassion can help shape global discourses on animal ethics to create a more humane, earth-conscious, and ethically inclusive future.