Answer

Jainism can permit pasteurisation because the harm involved is small, unintended, and done for a necessary purpose like health and food safety.

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, ahimsa means avoiding हिंसा as much as possible, but Jain ethics also recognizes that complete avoidance of all harm is impossible for household life.

Pasteurisation:

• is not done with the intention of killing life,
• involves very limited harm compared with many other daily actions,
• is done to prevent disease and spoilage,
• helps reduce greater harm that could come from unsafe food.

Jain ethics usually looks at:

• intent
• necessity
• degree of harm
• whether harm can be reduced further

So, while microscopic life is still life from a Jain perspective, ordinary household practice allows unavoidable, minimal harm when it serves a serious need.

Spiritual Understanding

Jain Dharma does not ask a householder to become impossible or paralyzed by fear of all life forms. It asks for:

• awareness,
• restraint,
• compassion,
• and the least possible violence.

That is why a Jain may accept pasteurised milk as a practical compromise, even while still trying to live with maximum care and non-violence in daily life.

Takeaway

Pasteurisation is generally seen as acceptable in Jain life because it causes limited, unintended harm and serves a necessary protective purpose. The Jain principle is not “never cause any harm at all,” but “cause the least harm possible, with awareness and responsibility.”