Eastern religions

[4] Also known as Dharmic religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism originated in the Indian subcontinent and share similar concepts (e.g., dharma, karma, moksha).

Hinduism contains a vast body of scripture, divided as revealed and remembered, expounding on dharma, or religious living.

The Bhagavad Gītā, a treatise excerpted from the Mahābhārata, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of the Vedas.

It is difficult to identify any universal belief or practice in Hinduism, although prominent themes include: Dharma, Samsara, Karma, and Moksha.

Hinduism includes a diverse collection of schools whose beliefs span monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, monism and even atheism.

For instance, the Advaita Vedanta school holds that there is only one causal entity (Brahman), which manifests itself into all the various living and non-living forms that we observe, whereas traditions such as Vaishnavism and Shaivism worship Vishnu and Shiva in a relatively more monotheistic sense (caused by a differentiation between the parabrahman and atman).

[10] Jainism is the religion of the followers of the Jinas or Tirthankars (torch bearers and spiritual teachers of dharma).

[11] Parshvanatha and Mahavira, the 23rd and 24th Tirthankars, respectively, revived the Jain religion and re-organized the shraman sangha.

Jain philosophy states that the jiva, or soul, can escape the cycle of rebirth and death by freeing itself from karmic bondages.

When nothing remains but the purity of the jiva, that person is called a jina, or winner, which is the origin of the term Jain.

The Gurū Granth Sāhib are the central scriptures intended to preserve hymns and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints from Hindu and Sufi traditions.

[12] Sikhism also has a strong warrior tradition which arose in defense of religious freedom and human rights from a tyrannical Moghul occupation of India.

Taoist theology focuses on doctrines of wu wei ("non-action"), spontaneity, humanism, relativism and emptiness.

Shinto practitioners commonly affirm tradition, family, nature, cleanliness and ritual observation as core values.

"Folk", or "popular", Shinto places an emphasis on shamanism, particularly divination, spirit possession and faith healing.

[25] Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social and political thought, influential in the history of East Asia.