In Jainism, the core idea is that every living being has a jiva (soul) and deserves respect and non-violence. Here are the Jain views that relate to the idea that plants are living beings and extend to other areas often thought of as “scientific” or biological:

• All life is sacred: Whether a plant, an insect, or a human, a jiva is present. Violence against any living being adds karmic bondage for the doer.
• Plants are living beings: Jain texts explicitly recognize plants as having jiva. They are part of the web of life and are to be treated with care, though the scale of suffering caused by harming plants is viewed differently from harming sentient beings with more evolved senses.
• Senses and gradation of life: Jivas are categorized by the number and sophistication of their senses (from basic life force without conventional senses up to human beings with five senses). This framework helps explain why different beings experience pain or injury differently, but all life is still worthy of compassion.
• Micro-organisms and subtle life: Jain philosophy acknowledges life at very small scales, including microorganisms. The principle of ahimsa (non-violence) extends to minimizing harm to all forms of life as much as possible.
• Karma and violence: Every act of violence—big or small—binds karma. The aim is to minimize harm to living beings, which includes careful consideration in daily actions (e.g., food choices, agriculture, and handling of living beings).
• Right conduct and environment: Jain practice encourages reverence for life in everyday activities and, where possible, to reduce injury to living beings (e.g., careful eating, cleanliness, and non-harmful farming or harvesting practices).
• Digambar vs. Shwetambar nuance: Both traditions affirm that jiva resides in all living beings, including plants and micro-life. There can be stylistic or interpretive differences in textual emphasis, but the fundamental teaching about non-violence toward all life remains central in both.

If you’d like, I can share concise verses (arth) from Jain scriptures that state these ideas, or point you to specific Jain texts that discuss ahimsa toward plant and micro-life in more detail.