Core Principle: Non-violence (Ahimsa) and self-discipline over external power. • Evidence: • Jain communities are traditionally non-hierarchical, with monks and nuns adhering to strict asceticism as equals, regardless of their prior social status. • Lay Jains organise themselves around collective ethical practices, without centralised authority dictating adherence. • Key texts like the Acharanga Sutra stress personal spiritual effort rather than reliance on institutional structures. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Digital index]]