• Core idea: In Jain Dharma, ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest duty. Every living being has a pure soul, and harming another creates negative karma. When dealing with adharmis (those who oppose or propagate unrighteous conduct), the emphasis remains on practicing and upholding right conduct through peaceful, truthful, and non-harmful means.

• How to respond to adharmis, non-violently:

- Follow dhamma (dharma) with personal restraint: cultivate self-control, compassion, and erudite speech. - Teach and explain Jain principles calmly, using truthful discussion and non-coercive persuasion. - Protect others and the weak through righteous actions that avoid causing harm to any living being. - Practice detachment (uparigraha) and ethical conduct (satya, asteya, brahmacharya, anuvrata) so your own karma stays pure while you oppose wrongdoing.

• About self-defense or stopping adharm: Jain sources generally prioritize non-violence and minimizing harm. In extreme, unavoidable situations, any defensive action should aim to stop harm with the least possible injury, and violence is treated as a last resort. The guiding idea is to de-escalate and preserve life, not to wage violence.

• Differences between Digambar and Śvetāmbara:

- Both traditions uphold ahimsa as supreme and urge non-violent methods to counteradharma. - There can be nuanced discussions in specific texts about edge cases and the exact ethics of self-defense, but the overarching principle—non-violence as the highest virtue—remains central in both.

If you’d like, I can share a concise Jain interpretation of a particular sutra or stotra that speaks to non-violence and defense, or provide guidance in simple terms for practical daily practice.