Bahagvad Gita Compare and Contrast

Bhagavad Gita

• Live life selflessly
• perform action without desire for reward
• focus on the duty not the fruit
• way of life
• Krishna & Arjuna
• there is a soul
• if all requirements are met soul will go to heaven (reach moksha)
• if requirements are not met soul will be bound to repeating cycle of birth and death

Confucianism

• way of life 
• Confucius
• 5 relationships
• Father-son
• Elder brother-younger brother
• King-minester
• friend-friend
• husband-wife
• 5 virtues
• ethics and politics the key to "the way"
• ancestor worship

Zoroastrianism
there is a soul (needs to be saved)
way of life
cosmic balance between good and evil
Judgment day in 12,000 years (good souls go to heaven, bad souls burn forever
enjoy the world and its pleasures in moderation
honesty towards others, good thoughts and deeds, be a good person
Ahura Mazda (good god)
Angra Mainyu (bad god)

Conclusion: The information provided in the Bhagavad Gita is similar to that given in the teachings of Zoroastrianism since they both discuss the human soul and how it can receive salvation. Unlike these two religious teachings Confucianism stands as a non-religious teaching for how to live, focusing more on earthly bound duties.

Zarathustra on Good and Evil

Zarathustra makes quite a few assumptions on the nature of humans and their ability to be able to make morally good choices of their own free will. These assumptions may hold two sides, like everything he had preached, about Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu, how there is a good and evil side. He claims that those who choose evil will suffer for their wrong doings but those who do good will be rewarded. From this it can already be assumed that Zarathustra believes that people will choose the good side over the bad side because it is only natural for them (a human) to want to be rewarded rather than be punished. This dose not mean he thinks all humans will side with him on the path of good. He believes that there is a positive and negative energy in people that drive them to do good or bad. He obviously wants everybody to side with being good since he greatly emphasizes on the rewards and "joy of salvation" a person would receive if they chose to be good. Zarathustra might also believe those who refuse to acknowledge the existence of these two gods will lead bad lives because they do not choose to follow Ahura Mazda let alone Angra Mainyu. Therefore its almost like he wants people to follow and practice Zoroastrianism of their own free will but at the same time is not giving them a choice by frightening them of the bad things that will come from leading bad lives, indirectly meaning lives without the practice of Zoroastrianism.