"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 posits that every atom possesses a soul, though these souls lack sense organs and are thus distinct from Jiva.

According to Jainism, the soul is both permanent and subject to change. It categorizes substances based on their extension in space, distinguishing between those that are spatially extended and those that are not.

While Jainism acknowledges the existence of individual souls, it does not subscribe to the concept of an ultimate, universal soul.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.