The latter group is really different. Their kings regularly sent out missionaries to the world. Sometimes they were mistaken for Buddhists (I think some recent discoveries in Greece were about Jains and not Buddhists BTW).
One of their doctrines is AHEMSA, which is also believed by some Hindus.
Here's what it is about ~ a man with authority over you makes you walk a mile. Instead, you walk two miles. He demands your cloak. You also give him your tunic and your sandels.
He kills your brother. You bless him and forgive him.
Remember the Ghandi movie when the people walked up to the colonial police and allowed themselves to be beaten by clubs? First of all, that was very brave and effective. On the other hand, that is not Ahemsa because it is considered wrong also to precipitate violence through a provocative move like walking up and challenging authority.
Ghandi didn't really believe in Ahemsa. William Penn did. I know some people who do. The Old Order Amish do.
The Jains have some other doctrines. like Americans they are strong believers in veterinary medicine and humane treatment of animals ~ even wild birds that fall from the sky.
Again, Jains are like Americans in regard to dealing with the very same sparrows mentioned in the Bible ~ and they are the source of 1/2 the charity given in India. Christians are the source of the other 1/2 of the charity given in India.
Every day I spend a bit of time ~ a very small part ~ trying to come to an understanding of why the first shall be last, and the last first ~ and why I should forgive my enemies, and why a naked Dagambra in India, walking down the road naked as a jay believes, for all practical purposes, pretty much the same things I have been taught to believe regarding human interaction with other humans and with the animals over which we rule.
Like I said, I do that briefly every day. Put myself in the other guy's shoes and look at my beliefs from his perspective. Just briefly.
You are on a path that will yield excellent results. To the extent you understand the path by observing other’s experiences and learning from them, your path will have fewer bumps and bruises.
Search for the meaning and you will find it. When we think we have it we are usually the furthest from the truth. LOL... I speak of that from my own “School of Hard Knocks!” That’s why our class colors are “Black & Blue!”
Ahimsa has many levels of understanding. Often we view others like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum views their parents. We ask, why do you hate me and treat me this way. However our parent with greater understanding is creating an obstacle in our path because they Love us and want to do what is best in teaching us to grow up as healthy adults.
When you realize that an injury inflicted upon someone’s soul is worse than harming the flesh, you will understand ahimsa.