Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest extant religions, "combining a
cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique among the major religions of
the world". Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), it exalts
a deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), as its Supreme Being. Major features of Zoroastrianism,
such as messianism, judgment after death, heaven and hell, and free will have influenced other religious
systems, including Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Islam. Following the Iranian
Revolution and the arrival of the Islamic theocracy in Iran, Zoroastrianism/ Mazdayasna is having a strong
revival amongst many Iranians who want to express discontent towards the dictatorial theocratic regime.

With possible roots dating back to the second millennium BCE, Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in
the 5th-century BCE. Along with a Mithraic Median prototype and a Zurvanist Sassanid successor, it
served as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires for more than a millennium, from around
600 BCE to 650 CE. Zoroastrianism was suppressed from the 7th century onwards following the Muslim
conquest of Persia of 633–654. Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians at around
190,000, with most living in India and in Iran; their number is declining. In 2015, there were reports of up
to 100,000 converts in Iraqi Kurdistan. Besides the Zoroastrian diaspora, the older Mithraic faith
Yazdânism is still practised amongst Kurds.

The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes the writings of Zoroaster
known as the Gathas, enigmatic poems that define the religion's precepts, and the Yasna, the scripture.
The full name by which Zoroaster addressed the deity is: Ahura, The Lord Creator, and Mazda, Supremely
Wise. The religious philosophy of Zoroaster divided the early Iranian gods of Proto-Indo-Iranian tradition,
but focused on responsibility, and did not create a devil per-se. Zoroaster proclaimed that there is only
one God, the singularly creative and sustaining force of the Universe, and that human beings are given a
right of choice. Because of cause and effect, they are responsible for the consequences of their choices.
The contesting force to Ahura Mazda was called Angra Mainyu, or angry spirit. Post-Zoroastrian scripture
introduced the concept of Ahriman, the Devil, which was effectively a personification of Angra Mainyu.

Zoroastrianism's creator Ahura Mazda, through the Spenta Mainyu (Good Spirit, "Bounteous Immortals")
is an all-good "father" of Asha (Truth, "order, justice"), in opposition to Druj ("falsehood, deceit") and no
evil originates from "him". "He" and his works are evident to humanity through the six primary Amesha
Spentas and the host of other Yazatas, through whom worship of Mazda is ultimately directed. Spenta
Mainyu adjoined unto "truth", oppose the Spirit's opposite, Angra Mainyu and its forces born of Akəm
Manah ("evil thinking"). Zoroastrianism has no major theological divisions, though it is not uniform;
modern-era influences having a significant impact on individual and local beliefs, practices, values and
vocabulary, sometimes merging with tradition and in other cases displacing it. In Zoroastrianism, the
purpose in life is to "be among those who renew the world...to make the world progress towards
perfection".
Its basic maxims include:

 Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta, which mean: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.
 There is only one path and that is the path of Truth.
 Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and then all beneficial rewards will come to
you also.

Hinduism
Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or a way of life, widely practised in the Indian subcontinent.
Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it
as Sanātana Dharma, "the eternal tradition", or the "eternal way", beyond human history. Scholars
regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse roots and
no founder. This "Hindu synthesis" started to develop between 500 BCE and 300 CE, following the Vedic
period (1500 BCE to 500 BCE). Although Hinduism contains a broad range of philosophies, it is linked by
shared concepts, recognisable rituals, cosmology, shared textual resources, and pilgrimage to sacred
sites. Hindu texts are classified into Śruti ("heard") and Smṛti ("remembered"). These texts discuss
theology, philosophy, mythology, Vedic yajna, Yoga, agamic rituals, and temple building, among other
topics. Major scriptures include the Vedas and Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Agamas. Sources
of authority and eternal truths in its texts play an important role, but there is also a strong Hindu
tradition of questioning authority in order to deepen the understanding of these truths and to further
develop the tradition.

Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include the four Puruṣārthas, the proper goals or aims of human life,
namely Dharma (ethics/duties), Artha (prosperity/work), Kama (desires/passions) and Moksha
(liberation/freedom/salvation); karma (action, intent and consequences), Saṃsāra (cycle of rebirth), and
the various Yogas (paths or practices to attain moksha). Hindu practices include rituals such as puja
(worship) and recitations, meditation, family-oriented rites of passage, annual festivals, and occasional
pilgrimages. Some Hindus leave their social world and material possessions, then engage in lifelong
Sannyasa (monastic practices) to achieve Moksha. Hinduism prescribes the eternal duties, such as
honesty, refraining from injuring living beings (ahimsa), patience, forbearance, self-restraint, and
compassion, among others. The four largest denominations of Hinduism are the Vaishnavism, Shaivism,
Shaktism and Smartism. Hinduism is the world's third largest religion; its followers, known as Hindus,
constitute about 1.15 billion, or 15–16% of the global population. Hindus form the majority of the
population in India, Nepal and Mauritius. Significant Hindu communities are also found in the Caribbean,
Africa, North America, and other countries.

Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and dharma that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual
practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted
philosophies. Buddhism originated in Ancient India sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE,
from where it spread through much of Asia, whereafter it declined in India during the Middle Ages. Two
major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravada (Pali: "The School of
the Elders") and Mahayana (Sanskrit: "The Great Vehicle"). Buddhism is the world's fourth-largest
religion, with over 520 million followers or over 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists.
Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the importance and canonicity of
various teachings and scriptures, and especially their respective practices. Practices of Buddhism include
taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, study of scriptures, observance of moral
precepts, renunciation of craving and attachment, the practice of meditation (including calm and
insight), the cultivation of wisdom, loving-kindness and compassion, the Mahayana practice of bodhicitta
and the Vajrayana practices of generation stage and completion stage.

In Theravada, the ultimate goal is the cessation of kleshas (destructive mental states including ignorance,
attachment, and aversion) and the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana, achieved by practising the
Noble Eightfold Path (also known as the Middle Way), thus escaping what is seen as a cycle of suffering
and rebirth. Theravada has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Mahayana, which includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon and Tiantai
(Tendai), is found throughout East Asia. Rather than Nirvana, Mahayana instead aspires to Buddhahood
via the bodhisattva path, a state wherein one remains in the cycle of rebirth to help other beings reach
awakening.

Vajrayana, a body of teachings attributed to Indian siddhas, may be viewed as a third branch or merely a
part of Mahayana. Tibetan Buddhism, which preserves the Vajrayana teachings of eighth century India, is
practised in regions surrounding the Himalayas, Mongolia and Kalmykia. Tibetan Buddhism aspires to
Buddhahood or rainbow body.

Sikhism
Sikhism, is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent about
the end of the 15th century. It is one of the youngest of the major world religions. The fundamental
beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on
the name of the one creator, divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service,
striving for social justice for the benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood while
living a householder's life. In the early 21st century there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the
great majority of them (20 million) living in Punjab, the Sikh homeland in northwest India, and about 2
million living in neighboring Indian states, formerly part of the Punjab.

Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru (1469 – 1539), and the nine Sikh
gurus that succeeded him. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, named the Sikh scripture Guru Granth
Sahib as his successor, terminating the line of human Gurus and making the scripture the eternal,
religious spiritual guide for Sikhs. Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a
monopoly on Absolute Truth.
The Sikh scripture opens with Ik Onkar (ੴ), its Mul Mantar and fundamental prayer about One Supreme
Being (God). Sikhism emphasizes simran (meditation on the words of the Guru Granth Sahib), that can be
expressed musically through kirtan or internally through Nam Japo (repeat God's name) as a means to
feel God's presence. It teaches followers to transform the "Five Thieves" (lust, rage, greed, attachment,
and ego). Hand in hand, secular life is considered to be intertwined with the spiritual life. Guru Nanak
taught that living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity"
is above the metaphysical truth, and that the ideal man is one who "establishes union with God, knows
His Will, and carries out that Will". Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, established the
political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms to be mutually coexistent. Sikhism evolved in times of
religious persecution. Two of the Sikh gurus – Guru Arjan (14. April 1563 – 25 May 1605) and Guru Tegh
Bahadur (12. April 1621 – 19. December 1675 ), after they refused to convert to Islam, were tortured and
executed by the Mughal rulers. The persecution of Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa, as an
order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion, with qualities of a "Sant-Sipāhī" – a saint-
soldier.