Great idea to start with Jain sources. Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly path, with notes on differences between Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions. If you’d like, I can look up specific JainKnowledge.com pages for any of these.

Beginner-friendly Jain texts to start with

• Acharanga Sutra (Śvetāmbara): A practical guide to conduct and ethics for lay followers and monks; introduces core Jain values and disciplines.
• Mulachara (Śvetāmbara): Basic code of conduct for Jain monks; lays groundwork for how to live a Jain lifestyle. (Śvetāmbara tradition)
• Sutrakritanga (Śvetāmbara): A foundational dialogue that explains Jain doctrine, practice, and epistemology through questions and answers.
• Sthananga Sutra (Śvetāmbara): A systematic catalog of Jain philosophy, cosmology, and ethics presented in a structured way.
• Dasavaikalika (Śvetāmbara): Short text dealing with classical Jain ethics and the obstacles to spiritual progress.
• Kalpa Sūtra (Digambara and Śvetāmbara differences): Biographies of the Tirthankaras and key events in their lives. Digambaras hold a particular emphasis on Mahavira’s life; Śvetāmbaras include broader biographical material. This work is highly revered in both traditions, but the accepted editions and details differ.

Getting the most out of your reading

• Start with ethics and daily practice: Acharanga Sutra or Mulachara (for Śvetāmbara) to ground yourself in right conduct.
• Then explore philosophy and cosmology at a high level: Sutrakritanga or Sthananga Sutra.
• If you’re interested in biographies of the Tirthankaras and historical context, Kalpa Sūtra is a natural next step (mindful of the Digambara/Śvetāmbara framing).
• After you have the basics, you can branch into more specialized texts or modern introductory books by Jain scholars.

Notes on tradition and interpretation

• Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras sometimes differ in which texts are accessible, their order of study, and some doctrinal emphases. If you tell me which tradition you’re following, I can tailor the reading list more precisely.
• For a gentle modern introduction, you might also consider contemporary Jain authors who present these topics in accessible language, while staying faithful to Jain doctrinal principles.

Would you like me to find and share specific JainKnowledge.com pages for any of the above texts (with brief summaries in Jain terms)?