Reading list

Jainism

The path of the Jinas: non-harming, many-sidedness and the soul’s omniscience.

Beginning. 5 steps

Orientation

Tradition
Jainism
The Jain picture of the soul, karma and liberation, and its history.

Concept
Ahiṃsā
Non-harming, the first vow, and how far Jains extend it.
Text
Gaina Sûtras
Mahāvīra, tr. Hermann Jacobi, 1884
The Ācārāṅga Sūtra on the conduct of monks and the life of Mahāvīra.

Concept
Anekāntavāda
The many-sidedness of reality, and the humility it asks of every view.
Text
Samayasara
Kundakunda, tr. J. L. Jaini, 1930
Kundakunda on the soul’s pure nature, seen from the ultimate standpoint.

Cite this entry

Chicago (bibliography): “Jainism.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/jainism-reading-list.
Chicago (note): “Jainism,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/jainism-reading-list.
MLA: “Jainism.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/jainism-reading-list.
BibTeX: @misc{reading-lists-jainism-reading-list, title = {{Jainism}}, howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society}, note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/jainism-reading-list} }