"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?

1. The statement describes the belief that souls (jiva) are present not only in animal and plant life but also in seemingly inanimate natural objects like rocks and running water. 2. This concept is a fundamental and distinctive core belief of Jainism. Jainism posits that souls (jiva) exist in all kinds of matter, including earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied, air-bodied, and plant-bodied beings, in addition to mobile beings (animals and humans). 3. This belief underpins the rigorous practice of ahimsa (non-violence) in Jainism, extending care and consideration even to elements traditionally considered non-living by other religious sects. 4. Buddhism emphasizes concepts like anatman (no-self) and does not attribute individual souls to inanimate objects in this manner. 5. Shaivism and Vaishnavism, while acknowledging the divine presence in nature, do not typically ascribe individual souls to rocks and water as a central doctrine. 6. Therefore, the statement most accurately reflects a core belief of Jainism.