What are some examples of work that avoids causing injury to living beings
In Jain Dharma, work that minimizes harm to living beings is preferred. Examples include:
- Teaching and learning
- Writing, reading, and copying scriptures
- Accountancy, bookkeeping, and office work
- Trading in non-living or low-harm goods such as books, cloth, dry grains, or paper
- Crafts that do not involve killing or violent processes
- Meditation, prayer, and spiritual service
- Simple farming only where harm is minimized as much as possible, though even this is considered high-injury compared with other work
Generally, Jain practice encourages work that is:
- non-violent
- clean
- honest
- low in harm to subtle and gross जीवs
Examples usually avoided are:
- slaughter-related work
- fishing
- leather trade
- alcohol or intoxicants
- weapons trade
- industries involving strong violence to living beings
The main principle is to choose a livelihood that follows ahimsa as closely as possible.