“Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself ” -Confucius Confucianism Life’s Purpose: To fulfill one's role in society with propriety, honor, and loyalty.

Principles of Confucianism include: Personal and governmental morality Correctness of social relationships Justice and sincerity Respect for elders, parents, and rulers

Hinduism The purpose of life is to gain release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth.

Hinduism: The Vedas Where did it originate? The Indus River Valley What is it? Hindu holy texts

The Caste System

Dharma: One’s role in life “It’s better to be a bad warrior if you’re a Kshatriya than to be the world’s best baker.” What does this mean? It’s better to do your role than someone else’s.

Simsara, moksha, and karma What’s the social reason for doing your dharma? So that society can function  Simsara is: Rebirth/reincarnation How does fulfilling dharma impact samsara? If you fulfill your role in life (dharma), if will impact your next life. The ultimate goal is not to be reborn as a Brahmin but to be released from the cycle of rebirth; this is called moksha. What is karma?

Buddhism In Buddhism, the purpose of life is to end suffering.

Views Buddhists do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God. Instead, Buddha urged his followers to focus instead on the Four Noble Truths by which they can free themselves from suffering.

The Four Noble Truths All life if suffering The source of suffering is desire. To stop suffering, you must rid yourself of desire. Freedom from suffering is possible by following the Eightfold path.

The Eightfold Path - Morality 1. Right Speech – Speaking in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way; avoid lies and gossip. 2. Right Action – Avoiding harmful actions; don’t steal from or harm others. 3. Right Livelihood - Not harming in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly; reject work that hurts others.

The Eightfold Path - Meditation 4. Right Effort – Making constant effort to improve oneself; prevent evil and do good. 5. Right Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness; control your feelings and thoughts. 6. Right Contemplation - Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion; practice meditation.

The Eightfold Path - Wisdom 7. Right View - Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be; incline towards goodness and kindness. 8. Right Thought - Change in the pattern of thinking; believe in the nature of existence as suffering and in the Four Noble Truths.

Shintoism “The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form”. - A Shinto Saying

Life’s Purpose Humans are pure by nature and can keep away evil through purification rituals and attain good things by calling on the kami.

Origins Shinto ("the way of the gods") is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and is as old as Japan itself.

Views Shintoism is a polytheistic religion based on the kami, ancient gods or spirits. Kami are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and stones. Humans become kami after they die In Shinto, there is no absolute right and wrong, and no one is perfect.

Torii: One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine.