From a Jain perspective, the “proof” that harming living beings binds karma is both doctrinal (scriptural) and experiential (logical from observed moral consequences). Here is the core idea in simple terms:

• The karma theory: Every action, especially those done with intention to harm, causes subtle karmic particles to attach to the soul. These particles shape future experiences—birth, circumstances, happiness or suffering—until the karma is shed or purified. Violence or harm is a primary source of negative karmas (añcha or papa karmas) because it directly disrupts living beings.
• Intent matters: It’s not just the outward act, but the intention and emotion behind it. Deliberate harm or cruelty binds more karmic matter than inadvertent harm, because the mind’s violence strengthens the binding force.
• The law of natural law: When one harms others, one sows seeds that ripen as suffering or loss in one’s own life (or in future lives). This is not a punitive deity’s act, but a natural consequence of karmic bondage.
• Alignment with ahimsa (non-harm): Jain practice centers on ahimsa as the path to purify the soul. By practicing non-violence, one reduces the inflow of new karmas and gradually burns away accumulated karmas, supporting liberation (moksha).
• Observational consistency: In the Jain tradition, many lives are described where beings experience the results of their past harms (or their restraint from harming). The coherence of this framework—how actions, mental states, and consequences align—functions as the “proof” within Jain ethics and metaphysics.

Key takeaway you can rely on:

• Harming living beings leads to negative karmic bondage, which binds the soul to cycles of birth and suffering.
• Abiding by non-violence and compassion reduces karmic inflow and helps the soul progress toward liberation.

If you’d like, I can provide short, direct quotes from Jain scriptures that outline karma and ahimsa, or explain how specific Jain practices (like careful speech, diet, and mindful action) help minimize karmic bondage.