Animal rights in Indian religions
The respect for animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism derives from the doctrine of ahimsa.
In Hinduism, animals contain a soul just like humans; when sentient beings die, they can either be reincarnated as a human or as an animal.
These beliefs have resulted in many Hindus practicing vegetarianism, while Jain doctrine mandates vegetarianism based on its strict interpretation of the doctrine of ahimsa. Mahayana Buddhists similarly practice vegetarianism and Mahayana Buddhism prohibits the killing of animals.
