Each living being carries an individual, eternal soul—or jīva—ensnared by layers of karmic particles. Imagine the soul as a clear drop of water muddied by dust; every action, word or thought sticks tiny grains of karma to its surface. Jain philosophy insists that without intervention, this accumulation keeps the soul trapped in the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Liberation, or mokṣa, happens when the soul is polished completely clean. That shining moment unfolds at the topmost realm, Siddha-loka, where liberated souls dwell forever in blissful awareness. No more attachments, no more suffering—just pure, unbounded consciousness. It’s as if the waterdrop has been set free, evaporating into a vast, sunlit sky.

The path to mokṣa threads through three pillars: right faith (samyak darśana), right knowledge (samyak jñāna) and right conduct (samyak cāritra). Fasting during Paryushan, the annual festival now observed by millions worldwide, exemplifies disciplined self-purification. Modern Jains might adopt vegan diets or give up single-use plastics—echoing their age-old vow of ahimsa (nonviolence) and aligning neatly with today’s sustainability movements.

Ascetic monks, roaming with a broom to sweep away insects before each step, embody the extreme of this commitment. Lay followers, however, weave gentle self-restraint into daily life: mindful speech, honest business practices and limited possessions. The ultimate aim? Starving the soul of new karmic dust until the old karma naturally dissolves.

In an era kicking off climate accords and spotlighting mindfulness apps, this ancient pursuit of inner freedom still feels surprisingly of the moment. Liberation isn’t a distant dream but the promise of shedding every burden—so that the soul, finally unshackled, can soar free as a bird.