"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?

Jainism is the correct answer because it adheres to the doctrine of animism, asserting that every element of nature—including rocks, wind, and water—possesses a soul (*jiva*). While Buddhism is a common alternative, it is incorrect because it upholds the doctrine of *Anatta* (non-self), which denies the existence of a permanent, unchanging soul in any entity. This question tests the core concept of Jain ontology and its unique, expansive definition of life, which forms the philosophical basis for its rigorous practice of *Ahimsa* (non-violence).