Eastern Religions

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The study of religions originating in Eastern cultures, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism.

History of Eastern religions: A brief history of the rise of Eastern religions, their origins and spread across the world.
Buddhism: A religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha.
Hinduism: A religion or way of life evolved in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times and regarded as the oldest living religion in the world.
Taoism: A philosophical and religious tradition that originated in China and emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, the ultimate reality or way of existence.
Confucianism: A system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by his followers, emphasizing social morality, justice, and sincerity.
Zen Buddhism: A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of direct insight in the Buddhist teachings.
Yoga: A set of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India and is aimed at transforming body and mind.
Meditation: A practice where individuals use techniques to focus their attention and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
Karma: A term used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, that refers to the cycle of cause and effect in one's life.
Reincarnation: A belief that after biological death, the soul or spirit of an individual transmigrates into a new body.
Enlightenment: A state of mental and spiritual awakening, characterized by a profound understanding of reality and liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
Vedas: The most ancient religious texts of Hinduism, composed in Sanskrit and containing hymns, philosophy, and guidance for rituals and ceremonies.
Dao De Jing: A philosophical text that originated in China, attributed to Lao Tzu and containing teachings on Taoism.
The Four Noble Truths: A central teaching of Buddhism, which includes the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering.
The Eightfold Path: A set of guidelines for achieving spiritual awakening in Buddhism, including right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Bhagavad Gita: A Hindu scripture that comprises chapters from the epic Mahabharata and contains teachings on self-realization and the ideal of devotion to God.
The Upanishads: A collection of philosophical texts that form the basis for Hinduism and contain teachings on metaphysics, ethics, and meditation.
Hinduism: One of the oldest religions, originated in India, with a focus on divinity, reincarnation, karma, and following the Dharma (duty or moral obligations).
Buddhism: Founded by Gautama Buddha in India, with a focus on enlightenment, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the cessation of suffering.
Jainism: Originated in India, emphasizing non-violence, karma, and the pursuit of ultimate liberation.
Taoism: A Chinese philosophy emphasizing harmony with nature, wu-wei (effortless action), the Tao (universal flow), and the Ying-Yang balance.
Confucianism: A Chinese ethical and philosophical system, emphasizing moral values, social order, filial piety, and humaneness.
Shintoism: The Indigenous religion of Japan, emphasizing the veneration of divinities and spirits in nature.
Sikhism: Originated in the Punjab region of India, emphasizing one divine spirit (Ik Onkar), living a virtuous life, and no discrimination.
Zoroastrianism: One of the oldest religions of ancient Persia, with a focus on good vs. evil, the worship of the God Ahura Mazda, and the importance of ethical behavior.
Vedic Religion: Originated in ancient India, with a focus on gods, rituals, and myths from the ancient Vedas.
Falun Gong: A new Chinese spiritual movement, emphasizing Buddha's teachings and physical exercises.
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