Sacred Texts

A foundational Confucian collection of sayings and dialogues associated with Confucius. The text shaped moral cultivation, education, governance, and ritual propriety across East Asia.

The surviving scriptural corpus of Zoroastrianism. It preserves liturgy, hymns, and doctrinal elements central to Zoroastrian ritual and memory.

A major Hindu scripture presented as a dialogue about duty, action, devotion, and liberation. Its enduring importance comes from the way it brings philosophy, ethics, and devotion into one accessible narrative setting.

A library of texts central to Christian faith, worship, theology, and ethics. Its diverse books shape doctrine, liturgy, moral reasoning, and the story Christians tell about creation, covenant, Jesus, and the church.

A foundational scripture of the Latter-day Saint movement alongside the Bible. It is central to Latter-day Saint identity, missionary work, and theological self-understanding.

A widely read Buddhist anthology of verses on ethical and spiritual life. Its concise form has made it one of the most approachable and globally read Buddhist texts.

The Sikh scripture revered as the eternal Guru. It functions not only as scripture but as the continuing spiritual authority of the Sikh community.

A central text of Baha’i law and guidance. It is important for understanding the Baha’i approach to law, ethics, community order, and spiritual practice.

An early Japanese text preserving mythic and genealogical material important to Shinto history. It matters for understanding kami narratives, imperial mythology, and the literary background of Shinto tradition.

A highly influential Mahayana scripture with major importance in East Asian Buddhism. It shaped ideas of skillful means, buddhahood, devotion, and universal access to awakening in many Mahayana communities.

The central scripture of Islam, believed by Muslims to be divine revelation in Arabic. It anchors theology, law, prayer, ethics, and devotional recitation across Muslim communities.

A foundational rabbinic compendium of legal reasoning, debate, and interpretation. The Talmud is essential for understanding how Jewish law, commentary, and communal reasoning developed over time.

A foundational Taoist text of brief, poetic reflections on the Dao and right action. Its influence extends across philosophy, spirituality, political reflection, and global modern interpretations of Taoism.

The foundational written teaching at the heart of Jewish scripture and communal life. Torah shapes covenant, law, memory, worship, and the interpretive traditions that surround Jewish learning.

A major Buddhist canonical collection preserved in the Theravada tradition. It preserves early teachings on monastic discipline, sermons, and doctrine that remain central to Buddhist study and practice.

Philosophical texts exploring selfhood, ultimate reality, and liberation. They have profoundly shaped Hindu thought on Brahman, Atman, knowledge, and the spiritual goal of liberation.

Ancient Sanskrit scriptures foundational to the historical development of Hindu traditions. The Vedas matter historically, ritually, and symbolically even for many Hindus who do not read them devotionally in daily life.

A classic Taoist text known for narrative, paradox, and philosophical playfulness. It widens the Taoist imagination beyond formulaic slogans and presents a richer vision of spontaneity, perspective, and transformation.