You’re touching a real and very old confusion. Many thoughtful Jains have asked exactly this:

> “If there are jiv everywhere – in air, water, food, even dahi – then what’s the point? Why this rule, why that rule? Why do anything at all?”

Let’s go step by step, very simply.

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1. What is Ahimsa really?

In Jain Dharma, ahimsa does not mean “zero killing” (which is impossible in worldly life).

Ahimsa means:

> “Consciously reduce violence as much as you can – in thought, word, and action.”

Two key ideas:

1. Dravya‑hinsa – actual physical harm done.
2. Bhava‑hinsa – violent intention (anger, hatred, cruelty, greed, attachment).

Both matter, but intention and choice are central. You will unknowingly kill many micro‑jiv just by breathing and walking, but:

• That is unavoidable for a worldly person.
• Scriptures focus on avoidable and intense violence.

So Jain ethics is not “all or nothing”. It is:

> “From more violence → to less violence → to extremely minimal violence → finally to total non‑violence (only possible for a Kevali).”

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2. Vegetables vs Dahi (Curd) – why this “contradiction”?

(a) Why avoid some vegetables?

Jain rules usually say:

• Avoid root vegetables (like potato, onion, garlic, carrot, etc.)
• Because:

- They contain many more jiv in a dense form. - Uprooting the root kills the whole plant. - Soil around it is full of micro‑organisms, all disturbed.

So in the “scale of harm”, roots are heavier.

(b) Then what about dahi, full of bacteria?

You are right – curd has countless bacteria.

Jain thought accepts:

• There are jiv in milk.
• There are jiv in curd.
• There are jiv in air, water, on your skin, everywhere.

Why do many Jains still take curd?

1. Practical gradation of violence

Traditional household Jain life accepts that some micro‑violence is unavoidable in eating and living. So they avoid gross and obvious killing (meat, eggs, honey, roots, etc.) before they can tackle extremely subtle levels.

1. Difference between direct killing vs natural processes

- Making curd uses bacteria that naturally multiply in milk when kept warm. - Some view it as using a natural fermentation, not “I want to kill a specific living being”.

1. Differences in traditions & strictness

- Some very strict Jains avoid curd, fermented foods, and even old cooked food. - Others accept fresh, same‑day curd as a compromise while focusing on not doing bigger, more conscious violence.

So there is not one rigid answer; there is a ladder of practice.

A related discussion is here: You can read more here

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3. Why do Chauvihar at all?

Chauvihar = after a certain time (sunset), no food, sometimes no water, till next sunrise.

Why?

1. Ahimsa angle

- At night, there are more insects, small jiv active around lamps, food, water. - Cooking/eating in the dark or artificial light easily kills them. - So, not eating at night reduces that harm.

1. Self‑control (samyam)

- Hunger and thirst are powerful drives. - To say “I will not eat or drink after this time” is a training of the mind. - It weakens attachment to taste and habit.

1. Karma point of view

- Less activity → less chance of carelessness (pramād) → less new karma (saṃvara). - Fasting / restriction → one type of tapas (austerity) → helps in shedding old karma (nirjarā).

1. Support for spiritual focus

- Evening and night can then be used for pratikraman, samayik, svādhyāy, dhyān. - With a lighter body and no focus on food, mind can become calmer.

A clear summary of this is here: You can read more here

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4. “If there is always himsa, why even do anything?”

This is the core of your question.

(a) Jain answer in simple form

• Every act – even a small one – creates or reduces karma.
• Each karma affects:

- Your inner peace now. - Your future births and suffering/joy.

So:

• Even if you cannot reach zero today,
• Every little reduction in violence, anger, greed, pride, deceit, etc., matters.
• Like:

- Reducing smoking from 20 to 2 per day – still harmful, but much less. - Doctor will not say “since you can’t stop 100%, smoke as much as you like.”

Same way, Jain Dharma says:

> “You may not be perfect today, but don’t throw away progress because you can’t reach 100% now.”

(b) Two levels: monks vs householders

• Monks/nuns:

Try to reach maximally pure ahimsa – no vehicles, no cooking, no possessions, no intentional harm, extraordinary care for every step.

• Householders (like most of us):

Live in society, work, earn, eat. So: - We accept certain basic unavoidable himsa, - But we reduce, refine, and purify as much as possible.

So rules like:

• Vegetarian / vegan food.
• No roots.
• Chauvihar / upvas.
• Filtering water.
• Careful walking and speaking.

These are steps, not the final state.

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5. What to do with your frustration?

Your feelings are spiritually honest. Jain texts themselves say:

• In this world, perfect ahimsa is only for the fully liberated.
• For us, the path is:

1. Understand where violence is more. 2. Gradually reduce what is avoidable. 3. Purify intention – less anger, ego, greed, hatred. 4. Use vows and practices (like chauvihar, upvas, samayik) as training tools, not as empty rituals.

So:

• Don’t think: “Because I can’t save every micro‑organism, nothing matters.”
• Instead think:

“Because I can’t be perfect yet, I will at least avoid the worst, then the next worst, and so on.”

That is exactly how Jain Dharma is designed: a step‑by‑step path from heavy violence and ignorance → to lightness, awareness, and finally liberation.

For a broader, simple overview of Jain basics and ahimsa: You can read more here