Short answer: in Jainism, milk is allowed (with caveats about cruelty), while eggs are not, because of the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) toward all living beings, including potential life.

• Why milk is considered okay by many Jains:

- It is a product obtained without killing the animal. As long as cows are treated without cruelty and milk collection does not harm or stress the animal, milk is seen as a permissible part of a vegetarian, non-harmful diet. - Milk is valued as a sattvik (pure) food in many Jain traditions when sourced humanely.

• Why eggs are not allowed:

- An egg is a potential life. From the Jain viewpoint, consuming an egg involves harm to a living, developing being, which violates ahimsa. - Therefore, both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions generally discourage or forbid eggs.

• About differences between Digambar and Shwetambar:

- Both traditions emphasize non-violence toward all life and typically exclude eggs from a Jain diet. - Differences between these sects are more about practices, monastic rules, and certain rituals, not about the core stance on eggs versus milk. The core teaching—avoid harming life—applies equally to both.

• Practical note:

- If you are concerned about animal welfare, you can seek milk from sources that follow humane, ethical dairy practices, or consider plant-based alternatives that align with ahimsa while still supporting a Jain lifestyle.

If you’d like, I can explain how Jain dietary rules connect to ahimsa in more detail or compare how different Jain texts discuss consumer choices.