Eastern Religions and Philosophies

Buddism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto and other eastern philosophies, religions, and practices.

	A Chronology of Aum Supreme Truth Events
	A chronology of the events surrounding the Japanese doomsday Aum Supreme Truth cult.
	Akaranga Sutra
	Jainism sacred text.
	Anu Gita	by Gita Society
	Sri Krishna's last sermon to the warrior Arjuna. This is taken from the Mahabharata which is another sacred text for Hindus.
	Basic Meditation Techniques #3
	Bhagavad-Gita For Busy People	by Sri Swami Sivananda
	An abridged version of the Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Blessed One.) The Bhagavad-Gita is the most famous Hindu text.
	Brahma Sutras (aka Vedanta Sutras)
	The Brahma Sutras (Vedanta Sutras) are a commentary on the Upanishads in Hinduism.
	Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
	Some selected chapters from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad from Hinduism.
	Buddist Koans
	Two sages were standing on a bridge over a stream. One said to the other, "I wish I were a fish. They are so happy." The other replied, "How do you know whether fish are happy or not? You're not a fish." The first said, "But you're not me, so how do you know whether or not I know how fish feel?"
	Ch'an Tao Chia Essays & Lectures (Rosenthal)
	Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto Religions	by dagnabitt
	Short synopsis and comparison of these three eastern religions. Emphasis is placed on their commonalities and differences with each other, as well as traditional western thought.
	Dharma Daishi, Great Teacher of Buddhism and the Martial Arts	by Robert David Mancini
	Dharma Daishi (Bodhidharma in Sanskrit and Daruma Daishi in Japanese) was an enlightened Hindu from India who is credited with re-teaching and reviving Hindu philosophy in China, which was originally spread to China by another Indian Hindu, Siddhartha, or Buddha. This second teacher thus founded the martial arts. Buddhism is simply the worshipping of this enigmatic Hindu figure, called the Buddha, which means "great and focused mind" in Sanskrit.
	Excerpts from Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines	by W. Y. Evans-Wentz (ed)
	He who is ever ready to take the credit for any action when it hath proved successful And is equally ready to throw the blame on others when it goeth wrong in the least, And who is ever looking for faults in those who are learned and righteous, Possesseth the nature of a crow.
	History of Buddism
	The founder of the Buddhist Belief, which was established in the 6th Century B.C., was an Indian Prince named Siddartha Gautama, who later became The Buddha, or Enlightened One. Buddha was born on the plains of the Ganges. As he was the only son of a King many visitors, including seven Holy men from the Himalaya mountains came to congratulate his parents. The Holy men declared that he would grow up to be a great leader of men.
	Inspiration from Enlightened Nuns (Susan Elbaum Jo
	Introduction to Ismailism: Part I	by Dr. Sheikh Khodr Hamawi
	Ismalism is a esoteric and enigmatic sect of Islam. The Inner-Circle of Islam is manifistated in Ismailism. This Text describes the many aspects and beliefs of this magnificiant faith.
	Kali the Mother
	Kalpa Sutra
	Jainism sacred text, about the lives of the Ginas and the Life of Mahavira.
	Meditating on Non- Self: A Dhamma Talk Edited for Bodhi Leaves	by Sister Khema
	Meditating on Non-Self: A Dhamma talk edited for Bodhi Leaves (Sister Khema). Bodhi Leaf No. B. 95
	Rig-Veda Selections
	A few selections from the 1,028 hymns from the Rig-Veda, one of the oldest Hindu scriptures.
	Shaman, Saiva and Sufi	by R. O. Winstedt
	The dead appear to the living in dreams. Or the dead may be born again in a child, who is the image of a forefather. A Malay prays at the grave of an ancestor to beget a child, unaware that probably his worship is based on the idea of the dead welcoming reincarnation.
	Shiva Sutra
	Text from Hinduism for Shiva devotees.
	Svetasvatara Upanishad
	Upanishad from Hinduism that deals with unity of souls.
	Tao Te Ching	by Lao Tzu
	The Tao Te Ching is the basis for the philosophy of Taoism, written by a Chinese hermit and ex-government employee named Lao Tzu (aka Laozi), some time in the sixth or fifth century.
	The Aitareya Upanishad	by Max Muller
	Aitareya Upanishad is on the account of Creation in Hinduism. Translated by Max Muller.
	The Analects of Confucius	by K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius)
	These are the sayings of a well known Chinese statesman and philosopher named K'ung Fu Tzu, or Confucius.
	The Analects of Confucius	by Confucius
	The Analects were collected together by Confucius' students around seventy years after his death. This is the most influential text in East Asian intellectualism.
	The Bhagavad Gita
	The Bhagavad Gita is the most popular book in Hindu literature, and according to many Hindus, the central text of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). It is the god Krishna's conversation with a warrior named Arjuna.
	The Bhagavad Gita	by Ramananda Prasad, Ph.D.
	Bhagavad Gita translation by the International Gita Society, contains Chapter & Verse numbers. Also contains a section at the end on how to meditate. Gita is about Sri Krishna giving counsel to Arjuna on the battlefield before the war.
	The Bodhicaryavatara	by Shantideva
	Bodhicaryavatara (A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life) Mahayana/Vajrayana Buddhist text about how to develope an enlightened mind and the benifits of enlightenment. Written in the 8th Century by Shantideva.
	The Dhammapada	by Siddhartha Gautama
	The Dhammapada is one of many well known Buddhist texts. It is said to be by Gautama Buddha.
	The Dhammapada	by Max Muller
	Max Muller's Dhammapada translation WITH Chapter & Verse numbers for easy reference. Contains all 423 verses of Buddha's sayings.
	The Diamond Sutra	by Siddhartha Gautama
	The Diamond Sutra is said to be a conversation between Gautama Buddha and an Indian man named Subhuti.
	The Heart Sutra	by Siddhartha Gautama
	The Heart Sutra is a poem supposedly by Gautama Buddha.
	The Isa Upanishad	by Max Muller
	The Isa Upanishad is about why we should do our duty in the world without any attachments. This Upanishad usually appears at the first of Upanishad collections.
	The Kena Upanishad	by Max Muller
	The Kena Upanishad is about the parodoxal nature of knowing Brahman (Supreme Reality.) There are 12 Upanishads excepted by all Hindus as primary. This is one of them, enjoy the insights into Hindu thought. (translated by Max Muller)
	The Mandukya Upanishad
	Mandukya Upanishad explains the meaning of the word OM (also spelled AUM.) & explains the states of waking, dream, & sleep. Another great Hindu philosophical work.
	The Mundaka Upanishad
	Vedic sacrifices are lower knowledge, connecting with Brahman is higher knowledge. Another wonderful work from Hinduism.
	The Samurai Creed	by Diphara Buddha
	The code that all Samurai warriors follow.
	The Sutra In Forty-Two Chapters	by Siddhartha Gautama
	This sutra is a compilation of the Buddha's sermons compiled by Indian monks to serve as an introduction to Buddhism for East Asians.
	The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali	by Pantanjali
	Hindu Yoga Sutra by Patanjali dating from about 150 B.C.
	The ancient Tao I Ching fortune- telling system
	Understanding Yoga - Part 1 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 2 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 3 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 4 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 5 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 6 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 7 of 8
	Understanding Yoga - Part 8 of 8
	What the Buddha didn't Teach	by buddhism.about.com
	Once one of the Buddha's followers, a monk named Malunkyaputta, came to him and asked four questions that had been troubling him: Is the world eternal or not eternal? Is the world infinite of finite? Is the soul the same as the body or are they different? Does the Buddha exist after death or does he not exist?