ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism

Well kiddo, you know how we love animals and want them to be happy? Some people in different religions also believe in animal rights and want to treat them kindly.

In Jainism, they believe that all living things have souls and that they should be treated with respect and care. They believe in ahimsa, which means not harming any living being. Some Jains even wear masks over their mouths to avoid accidentally swallowing insects while breathing.

In Hinduism, animals are considered sacred and are even worshipped as gods or goddesses. They believe in karma, which means that the actions we take in this life affect our future lives. So if we harm animals, it may come back to harm us in a future life. Many Hindus are vegetarians because they believe in not harming any living being.

Buddhism also emphasizes the importance of not harming animals and treating them with kindness. They believe in the principle of nonviolence and encourage compassion towards all beings. Some Buddhists even practice animal release, where they release animals that would otherwise be killed, such as fish or birds, back into the wild as a way of showing compassion and saving lives.

Overall, these religions all teach the importance of treating animals with kindness and respect, and not harming them unnecessarily. It's important to remember that animals are living beings just like us and deserve to be treated with love and care.