In Jain Dharma, every living being is a soul (jiva) that travels through many lives due to karma. Ghosts, in this context, are not supernatural creatures created by magic, but beings whose karmic bondage has led them to stay in a lower or unsettled state after death. They are considered real, but they are still just jivas like us—they have no ultimate power over us; their condition comes from accumulated karma.

Key points:

• All beings are jivas. Their present condition (human, animal, celestial, or lower realms) is determined by karma.
• Some jivas may remain in lower realms or unsettled states after death. People might encounter or fear such beings, but Jain teaching emphasizes understanding karma and practicing right conduct to avoid creating more bondage.
• The aim of Jain path is liberation (moksha) from all karma, so beliefs about ghosts are secondary to the larger goal of freeing the jiva from karmic bonds.
• There are differences in details between Digambar and Śvetambar traditions on various topics, including how they describe certain subtle beings. The core idea, however, remains that all beings are souls affected by karma.

If you’d like, I can explain how Jain scriptures describe rebirth, karma, and the path to liberation in simple terms.