Buddhism regards all existence in the universe as life, recognising that everything, including trees and rocks and even the tiniest grain of sand, inherently possesses the life-state of Buddhahood, and as such, is infinitely noble and precious.
Daisaku Ikeda ‘The New Human Revolution’ vol.15 p22

Life is the foremost of all treasures. It is expounded that even the treasures of the entire major world system cannot equal the value of one’s body and life. Even the treasures that fill the major world system are no substitute for life.
Nichiren Daishonon. WND 1125