The reflections on the caste duties and the detachments in the Bhagavad Gita show similarities and differences when compared to the ethical teachings of Zarathustra and Confucius. This excerpt clearly portrayed the strictly structured social classes that were maintained in India and their duties to their society. It became very evident that following orders and participating in Battle was a key point for being a member of the kshatriya caste. Hinduism taught its followers the importance of responsibility to one’s society and how if each caste contributes its duties, it would result with the society growing as a whole. This caste-based society shares similarities with Confucianism and the teachings of Zarathustra because all three’s main goal was to better their society, however each went about it differently. Confucius taught that individuals, who displayed virtue and benevolence, while also concentrating of self-improvement, were key to enhancing their society. In comparison, Zarathustra taught that individuals needed to have good morals in order to build a just society. In general, it seemed as though Confucianism and Zoroastrianism both were more focused on the individual as opposed to Hinduism, which focused on the entire society as a whole. Hinduism also wanted people to stop thinking about personal gain or reward, but instead do things that they thought would help their population and complete their duties to their castes, while Confucianism and Zoroastrianism cared more about being self-satisfied instead of worrying about everyone else. In the end, although there were definitely differences among all three of these religions and ethical teachings of each, they all have the same initial goal, to make their societies as successful as possible.
Well stated!
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