That is a thoughtful goal. In Jain Dharma, investments can align with principles of ahimsa (non-violence), aparigraha (non-attachment), satya (truth), and brahmacharya (self-control) by avoiding harm to living beings and not supporting industries that cause needless suffering. Here is a simple guide to choosing mutual funds that are more in line with Jain values.

Core Jain investment criteria

• Ahimsa (non-violence) in practice: Avoid funds that heavily invest in companies whose core business harms living beings (e.g., weapons, animal testing, meat production, gambling, tobacco, illegal exploitation, or industries causing severe environmental damage).
• Aparigraha (non-attachment / minimal harm): Prefer funds with a diversified, prudent approach that avoids excessive leverage, speculative bets, or destabilizing risks that can hurt many stakeholders.
• Satya (transparency): Look for funds with clear, honest disclosures about holdings, methodology, and screening criteria.
• Brahmacharya (self-control / ethical restraint): Favor funds that emphasize sustainable long-term value rather than short-term speculative gains, and that align with ethical standards you personally uphold.
• Welfare and sustainability: Consider how the fund’s actions affect workers, communities, and the environment, not just financial returns.

Practical steps to evaluate mutual funds 1) Set your ethical filters

• Create a list of industries you want to avoid (e.g., weapons, alcohol, meat/dairy processing, gambling, fossil fuels, pornography, human rights abuses).
• Decide how strict you want to be (e.g., exclude any fund with even a small stake in any restricted industry vs. a broader, less strict approach).

2) Screen for holdings and exclusions

• Review the fund’s top holdings and sector exposures.
• Check if the fund uses negative screening (exclusions) or positive screening (selecting companies with higher ESG scores) and see if those methods align with your Jain priorities.

3) Governance and accountability

• Look for evidence of transparent screening criteria and how often the fund rebalances or reviews holdings.
• Prefer funds that publish clear impact or ethics statements and have independent oversight.

4) Financial discipline with ethical purpose

• Consider risk management, diversification, and long-term performance consistency, so your values don’t come at the cost of undue risk.

5) Decide on your preferred vehicle

• Depending on your country, you might choose standard equity funds, ESG-focused funds, or thematic funds. Look for funds that explicitly state ethical or sustainability screens in their policy documents.

6) Start small and review regularly

• Begin with a modest allocation to test how well the fund’s holdings align with your values.
• Periodically recheck holdings and screening methods to ensure ongoing alignment.

Things to keep in mind

• Absolute purity vs. practical alignment: It may be hard to find a fund that perfectly matches every Jain preference. Prioritize the major concerns (e.g., harmful industries) and be comfortable with the fund’s overall ethical framework.
• Sourcing good information: Read the fund’s prospectus, annual reports, and any ethics or impact statements you can find. If there’s any doubt about how they screen investments, contact the fund company for clarification.

If you want, tell me your country or region and any non-negotiables (e.g., exclude weapons, exclude fossil fuels). I can help you assess what kind of mutual fund screens would best fit those Jain principles.