View source for Religion:Animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism

[[File:Ahinsa Parmo Dharm.jpg|thumb|This painting in a Jain temple features the religious teaching अहिंसा परमो धर्म "''ahimsā paramo dharma''", meaning non-injury is the highest virtue in religion.]]
The respect for '''animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism''' derives from the doctrine of [[Philosophy:Ahimsa|ahimsa]].<ref name="Grant">{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Catharine |title=The No-nonsense Guide to Animal Rights |url=https://archive.org/details/nononsenseguidet0000gran |url-access=registration |date=2006 |location=New Internationalist |isbn=9781904456407 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nononsenseguidet0000gran/page/24 24] |language=English|quote=These religions emphasize ''ahimsa'', which is the principle of non-violence towards all living things. The first precept is a prohibition against the killing of any creature. The Jain, Hindu and Buddhist injunctions against killing serve to teach that all creatures are spiritually equal.}}</ref><ref name="BBC2019">{{cite web |title=Animal rights |url=https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/z3ygjxs/revision/5 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=17 March 2019 |language=English |quote=The main reason for Hindu respect for animal rights is the principle of ahimsa. According to the principle of ahimsa, no living thing should be harmed. This applies to humans and animals.  The Jains’ belief system takes the principle of ahimsa regarding animals so seriously that as well as being strict vegetarians, some followers wear masks to prevent them breathing in insects. They may also sweep paths with a small broom to make sure they do not tread on any living creatures.}}</ref>

In Hinduism, animals contain a soul just like humans; when sentient beings die, they can either be [[Philosophy:Reincarnation|reincarnated]] as a human or as an animal.<ref name="Owen2009">{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Marna A. |title=Animal Rights: Noble Cause Or Needless Effort? |date=2009 |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=9780761340829 |page=[https://archive.org/details/animalrightsnobl0000owen/page/12 12] |language=English |url=https://archive.org/details/animalrightsnobl0000owen/page/12 }}</ref>

These beliefs have resulted in many Hindus practicing vegetarianism, while Jain doctrine mandates vegetarianism based on its strict interpretation of the doctrine of ahimsa.<ref name="Owen2009"/> Mahayana Buddhists similarly practice vegetarianism and Mahayana Buddhism prohibits the killing of animals.<ref name="Grant2006"/>

== Jainism ==
Almost every Jain community in India has established animal hospitals to care for injured and abandoned animals.<ref name="Grant2006">{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Catharine |title=The No-nonsense Guide to Animal Rights |url=https://archive.org/details/nononsenseguidet0000gran |url-access=registration |date=2006 |location=New Internationalist |isbn=9781904456407 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nononsenseguidet0000gran/page/22 22–26]|language=English}}</ref> Many Jains also rescue animals from slaughterhouses.<ref name="Grant2006"/>

== Hinduism ==
[[Religion:Hinduism|Hinduism]] teaches that a part of God resides in all living things, which forms the [[Philosophy:Ātman (Hinduism)|atman]].<ref name="Gibson2002">{{cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Lynne |title=Hinduism |date=2002 |publisher=Heinemann |isbn=9780435336196 |language=English}}</ref> As such, reverence and respect for animals is taught.<ref name="Gibson2002"/>

In Hinduism, many animals are venerated, including the tiger, the elephant, the mouse, and especially, the cow.<ref name="Grant2006"/>

[[Biography:Mahatma Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]] is noted for his compassion to all living things; he advocated against animal experimentation and animal cruelty.<ref name="Grant2006"/>

== Mahayana Buddhism ==
{{further|Religion:Animals in Buddhism}}
Mahayana Buddhism teaches that "we can only escape our own suffering if we avoid inflicting it on others."<ref name="Grant2006"/> Mahayana Buddhists practice vegetarianism to this end.<ref name="Grant2006"/>

== See also ==
*Animals in Islam
*Christian vegetarianism

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Buddhist belief and doctrine]]
[[Category:Hindu theology]]

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