1. Confucianism
1.1. The Nature of Ultimate Reality
1.1.1. Human relationships and activities such as making and experiencing art can bring us into contact with the transcendent.
1.2. The Meaning of Life
1.2.1. The meaning of life is found within the context of human relationships.
1.2.2. The meaning of life is to fulfil one's role in society by showing positive qualities such as honesty, loyalty, benevolence etc. in accordance with the cosmos.
1.3. The Concept of "God"
1.3.1. God is not a core concern for Confucianism.
1.3.2. There is a force called Tao/The Great Ultimate, which is the impetus for creation and this force is always flowing which enables betterment.
1.3.3. 'Heaven' is a guiding force of the universe and judgement of reality.
1.4. The Relationship Between Mind & Matter
1.4.1. Mind is a substance that has moral and cognitive functions and a universal nature.
2. Taoism
2.1. The Nature of Ultimate Reality
2.1.1. The way of the Tao is the way of ultimate reality. The Tao is the force and essence that flows through all life, which all things come from.
2.2. The Meaning of Life
2.2.1. The meaning of life is to live in harmony with the Tao, meaning to live in harmony with the natural course of things- to not struggle, oppose, or strive.
2.3. The Concept of 'God'
2.3.1. Taoism is polytheistic, with a pantheon of gods, demons, and spirits. However, these deities are not omnipotent or outside our universe. They are with the Tao.
2.4. The Relationship Between Mind & Matter
2.4.1. If only one thing exists, that being the Tao, then there cannot be concepts involving two things. Meaning there is only Tao, not mind and matter.
3. Hinduism
3.1. The Nature of Ultimate Reality
3.1.1. The term for ultimate reality is "Brahman"
3.1.1.1. Reality perceived at a transcendental and immanent level. Described as Sat-cin-ananda, meaning truth-consciousness-bliss.
3.2. The Meaning of Life
3.2.1. The Hindu approach to the meaning of life is four-fold: To achieve Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
3.2.1.1. Dharma: To act virtuously and righteously.
3.2.1.2. Artha: The pursuit of wealth and prosperity.
3.2.1.3. Kama: To enjoy life.
3.2.1.4. Moksha: To achieve enlightenment.
3.3. The Relationship Between Mind & Matter
3.3.1. Mind IS matter.
3.3.1.1. There is no difference between matter and energy. Psychic energy is the manifestation of cosmic energy, called Prana.
3.4. The Concept of "God"
3.4.1. There are many diverse views on God depending on the group/sect of Hinduism.
3.4.1.1. In many groups, Lord Shiva is believed to be the supreme God that created all other Gods.
4. Buddhism
4.1. The Meaning of Life
4.1.1. Buddha teaches that the meaning of life is to end suffering and therefore end the cycle of rebirth.
4.1.1.1. This can be achieved through following the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.
4.2. The Nature of Ultimate Reality
4.2.1. Referred to as 'Dharma', meaning the system of natural laws that constitute the natural order.
4.2.1.1. Buddhists seek to match their perspective of reality with the true state of things, this being essential to ones well-being.
4.3. The Relationship Between Mind & Matter
4.3.1. Life is a co-existing combination of mind/'nama' and matter/'rupa'.
4.3.1.1. Things of the mind: Sensations, perceptions, consciousness.
4.3.1.2. Things of matter: Solidarity, fluidity, motion, heat.
4.3.2. Death is the seperation of mind and matter. Rebirth is the recombination. All mental and material aspects that make up a human being have previously existed in other forms.
4.4. The Concept of "God"
4.4.1. Buddhism rejects the notion of a creator deity. Buddha is simply a perfected human being.