Arabic Numerals and Bhagavad Gita

Arabic numerals were responsible for the development of place-values in mathematics; this was brought about by the introduction of 0.  Other mathematics systems were available at the time, but Arabic numerals is the most simplified.

Bhagavad Gita

• Humans are born neutral and have to prove their goodness.  Kshatriya for example were granted honor and life in heaven if they were to fight and die in battle; if they chose to cower, the Kshatriya would be belittled and lead a life of infamy.
• Those who focused and indulged in worldly pleasures would be unable to reach an afterlife in heaven.
• There is no fear of death; existence on earth is not given such a high value because once one dies, he or she is birthed again.

Zarathustra

• Zarathustra developed a religion that focused on Ahura Mazada (good) against Angra Mainu (evil).  After they lived their life on earth, they would be judged on whether they are sent to a paradise or hellish realm.
• People should enjoy the worldly pleasures that are available in moderation because the worldly life is a gift from Ahura Mazda.
• Humans are responsible for whether they are good or evil as indicated by the hymn from the Gathas on page 176 in the textbook.

Confucius

• Humans are born with ren; they are all capable of doing good.
• Confucius did not address religion because he believed human intelligence was too limited to understand it.