the inner fire: faith, choice, and modern-day living in zoroastrianism

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Copyright©RohintonFaliNariman2016

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ToMybelovedgrandparents

CONTENTS

Author’sNote

Introduction

Section1:TheFundamentalsoftheFaith

ChapterOneAhuraMazda

ChapterTwoZarathustra

ChapterThreeSoshyant,RatuandVastrya

Section2:TheHolyImmortals

ChapterOneAsha

ChapterTwoVohuManah

ChapterThreeSpentaMainyu

ChapterFourSarosh

ChapterFiveArmaiti

Section3:LifeandBeyond

ChapterOneTheTwoGreatSermonsofZarathustraandMoralChoice

ChapterTwo

MoralTeachings

ChapterThreeFire

ChapterFourTheProblemofEvil

ChapterFiveIndividualJudgement,Heaven,Hell,JudgementDay,andResurrection

ChapterSixHuUrvaTatandAmereTat–PerfectionandImmortality

ChapterSevenRevelationandPrayer

ChapterEightAttributesThatLeadtoGod

ChapterNineHappinessandLight

VerseTranslationoftheGathas

–GathaAhunavaiti–GathaUstavaiti–GathaSpentaMainyu–GathaVohuKshatrem–GathaVahistaIsti

Appendix:BriefPersianHistoryandOtherFundamentals

GemsfromtheGathas

Acknowledgements

AUTHOR’SNOTE

HOWICAMETOSTUDYMYRELIGIONISastoryinitself.Thankstotheimpetusofmymother,whofirmlybelievedthatanavar inthefamilywouldconsiderablyadd to the family’s prestige, she insisted uponmy undertaking the priesthoodwithgreatzest.Afterafewenquiries,apriestbythenameofManekshahBhardafromUdwada,asmalltowninthestateofGujarat,consideredtheholiestplaceof worship for Zoroastrians, was shortlisted and assigned the onerous task ofteachingmethenecessaryprayerstoaccomplishmynavar-hood.HeturnedouttobeanunassumingandextremelylovablepersonwhoIhavethehighestregard

forandstillmissgreatlyafterhepassedawayinthe1970s.So,thisgentleoldmanwouldcomehometoteachan11-year-oldboyhowto

memorisethenecessaryprayers.Ittookaboutsixmonthsformetodoso,afterwhich Iwasconsigned to theagyari (fire temple) inBandra for28 longdays.Until then, I had always slept at night in an air-conditioned room inMumbai,andwasnow,forthefirsttime,madetosleeponaleatherbedunderafanintheswelteringheatinthesummerholidays!However,surprisinglyenough,despitehavingtoprayfivetimesaday,includingatmidnight,mystayinthefiretemplewaspleasantenoughbecausetheprieststherewerealllikegrandfatherstome–verylovingandmostencouraging.Theyalsohadagreatsenseoffun.Everydaythepriestsatthefiretemplewouldclosethefiretemplegateatlunchtimeandan old priest called Ukaji would religiously take out his snuff box andadminister,forcibly,snuffintothenostrilsofanotheroldpriest,whowaspinneddownforthesaidpurpose.Thismadetheoldpriest’swifebelievethathewasasnuffaddict,when,infact,hehatedthestuff.Andallthiswasdonewithgreatfanfareandjubilationeverysingleday.Apart from this, even thepriestwhocookedour food, a jollyandcorpulent

gentlemancalledPherozshah,wouldspoilmeandoverfeedmewithrich,heavyfood–asaresult,Ilookedlikeafattenedpigattheendofmy28-daystintinthefiretemple.Ontheappointedday,infrontofalargecongregation,Iwasmadetospout theprayers that Ihad learntbyheart,afterwhich itwasallover–Ihadfinallybecomeapriest.Ididn’tthinkmuchofit,oraboutit,atthetime.Backatschool,attheCathedralandJohnCannonSchoolinMumbai,weused

to attend scripture classeswhich consisted of the thenPrincipal,MrKuruvillaJacob,teachingustheOldTestamentoftheBible.Onefineday,PrincipalJacobaskedmetocometotheheadoftheclassandexplaintheZoroastrianreligiontomyfellowclassmates,ashehadlearntthatIhadbecomeaZoroastrianpriest.Iwenttotheheadoftheclassandmumbledsomething,whichIforgetnow,butadeep sense of anguish came upon me as I did not know anything about theZoroastrianreligion,despitehavingbecomeapriest.ThestingIfeltbecauseofmy ignorance gave me the necessary impetus to approach the Zoroastrianscriptures,andlearnaboutthefaithinwhichIhadattainedpriesthood.At first,noneof thebooks I read (albeit inEnglish)madeany sense tome.

That, in turn,mademe take up theBhagavadGita, inwhich I found a directphilosophydealingwithduty,action,anddetachment,includingrenunciationofthefruitsofaction.Asaresult,Idevouredthebookquiteeasily,andwasabletoappreciateit.AfterreadingtheGita,IbeganreadingtheNewTestamentinrightearnest,andfoundbeautifulpassagesinallthefourgospels.ThatthentookmeontotheQuran,whichagain,asaprescribedwayoflife,specificandclearinits

instructions,madeimmediatesensetome.AnguishedbythefactthatmyownZoroastrianreligionmadenosensetome

atall,ImetupwithProfessorKaikhusrovIraniinNewYork(whenIwasabout25 years old), and it was he who sent me to Columbia University’s readingroom, in which I began reading works by A.V. Williams Jackson on theZoroastrian religion, as well as works by R.C. Zaehner. After reading thesebooks,theZoroastrianreligionslowlystartedgainingclarityinmymind.WhenI realized that the Gathas – the most sacred text of the Zoroastrian faith –themselves were only in a language that was a sister of Rigvedic Sanskrit, Ibegan reading the Gathas and attempted to discover their real meaning withequivalent Sanskrit words. This was an extremely laborious and difficultprocess,butyieldedanenormousreward,inthatIwasabletounderstandwhatwaspreachedthousandsofyearsago,whichnotonlymadeperfectsensetome,butwouldstillberelevantinmoderntimes.It thenoccurredtomethat therewerethreemiracleswhichhadtakenplace.

First, the fact that the Gathas had come down to us by an oral tradition ofthousandsofyearsbeforetheywerewritten,almostintact.Interpolation,whichcan be foundwithmany otherZoroastrian texts, does not seem to have takenplace,probablybecauseitisdifficulttopushinawordhereorthereinpoeticalverse. It would disturb the overall structure of the verse. Secondly, what hascome down to us as a dead language can be understood by us because ofRigvedicSanskrit.Andthirdly,versesthattelluseternaltruths,areasrelevanttomodernlivingtodayastheyweretohumanbeingsthousandsofyearsago.Being aware of these three miracles, I have undertaken to pass on the

knowledgethatIhavebeenfortunateenoughtoreceive,towhosoeverwishestohaveadeeperunderstandingofthepurposeoflifeonEarthandwhathappenstomankind after death. These and many other questions have answers in theGathas,whichareaderofthesesplendidhymnswillrealiseonceshe/heembarksonthetaskofreadingandunderstandingthem.Thisbookismyattempttohelpthe reader comprehend theGathas, and choose thepathof leading a righteouslife.

INTRODUCTION

THE GATHAS CONSIST OF 238 VERSES, which are hymns that are sung to onealmightycreator–God.Theyareinfivedivisions–theAhunavaiti,consistingof 7 chapters of the Yajashne, a compilation of 72 chapters of Zoroastrianreligiouslore.These7chaptersarefromChapter28toChapter34,consistinginallof100verses.ThesecondGatha,namely,theUstavaiticonsistsof66versescontained in4 chapters–Chapters43 to46.The thirdGatha,SpentaMainyu,consistsof41versescontainedinChapters47to50.TheVohuKshatremGatha,thefourth,consistsof22versescontainedinasinglechapter–Chapter51,and

thefifthGatha,VahishToistis9versescontainedinChapter53,thusmakingatotalof238verses.Whereas the first four Gathas were composed and sung by Prophet

Zarathustrahimself,asteachingstohispeople,thelastGathaislikeapostscriptin which the Prophet’s daughter gets married, and it explains how great theProphet’ssuccesswasinspreadingthefaithbeforehedied.Itisimportanttoknowthattheseversesareinasimilarlanguagetothatofthe

versesoftheRigveda,whichconsistsof1028hymnscomprising10,552versescomposed by over 400 sages. The Rigveda itself spans a couple of thousandyearsfromtheearliesthymnswhichwerecomposedinCentralAsiatothelaterhymnswhichwerecomposedinIndia.Thefactthat238versesareattributabletoonemanaloneisastounding.WhatisremarkableaboutZarathustra’shymnsis not only the fact that they have come down to us through the ages in anextremely accurate form, being in poeticalmetre, andmemorised through theages by generations of priests, but the fact that they are not dated – they areextremely relevant to modern times for the fundamental reason that they aretimeless. And they are timeless because they do not emanate from ProphetZarathustra’s mind, but are revelations from Almighty God, speaking ofuniversalandtimelesstruths.Zarathustrahimselfbelonged to aperiodofPersianhistorywhichantedated

theAchaemeniandynasty (from550BC to 330BC), the founder ofwhichwasKingCyrus theGreat.TheShahnamahofFirdausi tellsus that therewere twodynasties before the third great Persian dynasty of King Cyrus the Great,namely, the Peshdanian and Kayanian. Prophet Zarathustra belonged to thesecondsuchdynasty,asweknowthatheconvertedKingVistasp,whobelongedto the second dynasty, namely, the Kayanian. The age of the Prophet isindeterminate,varyingfromasmuchas6500BCto1000BC.WhatthesehymnstellusisthattheProphetbelongedtotheoldRigvedicreligionuntilhewasthefirst to receive a revelation from the almighty creator, God. This great Godreplaced thedevaworship (theworshipofmanyGods)of theRigveda (whichessentially consisted of worshipping Nature Gods), and Zarathustra states inunmistakable terms that there is only one such God. The Prophet names himAhuraMazda.Theexpression‘Ahura’isnoneotherthanthesameexpressiontobe found in the Rigveda, namely, ‘Asura’. In the Rigveda, the expression‘Asura’meant‘Lord’.VarunandMitrawerethetwogreatRigvedicAsurasthatwere in charge of upholding the moral order. They were now replaced byanother Lord – another ‘Ahura’ called ‘Mazda’. The word ‘Mazda’ does notexist in theRigveda,andwascoinedbyProphetZarathustrahimself. Itmeans‘the great creator’ or the ‘majestic creator’. Zarathustra’s God, therefore, is

AhuraMazda,i.e.theLordwhoisthegreatcreator.AlongwithAhuraMazdaare several embodimentsofvariousvirtues, allof

whom reside with and are in companionship with him. They find repeatedmentionintheGathasanditisbesttoknowwhotheyareandwhatexactlytheystandfor.The first principle of the Gathas is embodied in Asha – which is the very

embodiment of truth. Asha is central to Zoroastrianism, so central thatHerodotustellsusthatin500BCorthereabouts,aPersianchildwastaughttodotwothings–one,howtorideahorse;andsecond,howtospeakthetruthatalltimes. This central message which permeates the Gathas has come down toZoroastrians through the ages and continues to be the bedrock of theircivilization.‘Asha’issometimesspokenofastheveryembodimentoftruth,i.e.absolutetruth,andsometimesspokenofastruthseenbyahumanbeing.Inthelattersense,truthisrelativeandisspokenofassuchwhenappliedtoman.Thus,thepathof truth is thepathofrelative truthwhichmankindmust treadon thisearth,beforeitmakesitselfreadyforthenextworld.Indeed,thecolophonoftheYajashnereadsthus:

‘Thereisnopathotherthanthepathoftruth;allothersarefalsepaths.’

The next great idea which occurs throughout the Gathas is Vohu Manah.Literallytranslated,itmeans‘thegoodmind’.WheneverVohuManahisspokenof,Ihavetranslateditas‘thePureMind’asbringingouttheessenceofwhatismeant.ItisthroughVohuManahthattheAlmightyGod’srevelationsaremadeto Prophet Zarathustra, and, hence, this expression again occurs repeatedlythroughouttheGathas.ThethirdexpressionwhichoccursrepeatedlyisArmaiti.Literallytranslated,

it means ‘right-mindedness’. For want of a better English expression, I havetranslateditassuch.AnotherveryimportantspiritualpersonageintheGathasisSpenta Mainyu, literally translated as ‘the holy spirit’. It is this holy spiritcreatedbyGodattheverybeginningthatchoosescorrectly,inmoralterms,andwhoseexamplemustthereforebefollowedbymankind.Apart from the aforesaid terms, one very important term that occurs

repeatedlyisSarosh.Translatedliterally,thiswordmeans‘tohearfromwithin’.Ihave,inmytranslation,therefore,soughttotranslatethiswordastheEnglishword‘conscience’.BeforeembarkingontheGathicjourney,itisimportanttofirststatewhatthe

twobasic prayersmean – theAshemVohuprayer and theYathaAhuVairyoprayer.TheAshemVohuprayer concerns itselfwith twoconcepts– truthand

happiness,forgingacausallinkbetweenthetwo.Itgoesthus:

Truthisgood,Indeeditisbest.Itishappiness.Happiness comes to him, who, for the sake of truth, follows the path oftruth.

TheYathaAhuVairyoprayerisinthreeparts.PartoneisareaffirmationoftheAshemVohuprayer.Itsays:

Just as aGreatLord (onEarth) is very powerful, so is a teacher (who isspiritual),forthereasonthathelivesbythepathoftruth.

The second part speaks of the highest gifts that can be bestowed on a humanmind,whichwillbesogivenonlyifgooddeedsaredoneinthislifefortheloveofthegreatcreator.AndthethirdpartgivesZoroastriansthesenseofcharity.Itstatesthathewho

helpsanypersoninneedwill,inturn,behelpedthroughthepowerofAlmightyGod.Withthesetwobasicprayersinmind,thestageisnowsetforappreciatingthe

spiritualmessageoftheGathas.IhaveendeavouredtotranslatethesemessagesfromtheAvestalanguageintotheEnglishlanguageandhavedividedthisbookintodifferenttopicsdealingwithdifferentaspectsofthereligion.

I have chosen to follow a set pattern – to name the topic, thengive a generalintroduction statingwhat exactly is contained in the topic, afterwhich all theGathicversesrelatingtothetopicaresetoutintheorderinwhichtheyappearintheYajashne.

SectionOne

THEFUNDAMENTALSOFTHEFAITH

ChapterOne

AHURAMAZDA

AHURAMAZDAISSAIDTOBETHEworthiestbeingthatcanbeinvokedinprayer.Heisslowtoanger,butshouldneverbeprovokedtowrath.Heisall-pervasive,being the creator of everything that exists. He is the father of all the greatembodiments of truth, the good mind, and right-mindedness. He is the judgeoveralltheactionsoftheliving.Nothingescapeshimasheisall-seeingandcanneverbedeceived.Heisall-powerfulandexistsentirelybyhimself,havingnosecond or equal. He dwells in various worlds described as worlds of truth orreality, and stands at the ultimate goal towhich all creation advances.He hasfashionedthisEarthtogivejoytomankind,inhiswisdom.Heistruth-tonguedand is the teacherofmankind from theverybeginning, throughVohuManah.He is tobeworshipped,notoutof fearbutoutof loveand friendliness.Here,then, are all the verses from the Gathas which bring out these attributes:AHUNAVAITI–Yas.28.9

Never,OLord,OTruth,andOPureMind,mayweprovoketoanger.Maywecometoyouwithhymnsofpraise,foryouarethebesttoinvokein

prayer.

AHUNAVAITI–Yas.29.6

ThereuponspokeGod,whopervadeseverythingwithHiswisdom:Isnotasinglepowerfulpersonoraprotectorwhoisrighteousknowntoyou?IsthiswhyImadeyoutheprotectorofallthingscreatedbyme?


MayIthinkofYouasfirstandlast–thebeallandendallofeverything–always.Asthefatherofthehighestmind.MayIbeholdYouinmymind’seyeasthetruecreatoroftruthandtheLordovertheactionsoftheliving.


Thesequestionsareaskedopenlyorsecretly.Whenforasmallactofviolenceoneundergoesthehighestpenance,thisisobservedbyYouclearly,alongwiththetruth.


Thisisthetrueteachingofateacherwhoisfollowedcorrectly.Youhavepoweroverthosewhoplantomenaceme.Therefore,Iwillrestrainviolentandevilpersonsfromhurtingyourdevotees.


Whereareyourdevotees,OLord,whosemindsarefilledwithunderstanding;who,intimesofillfortuneandtrouble,teachusaboutourtrueinheritancewhichliberatesourmindsfromthethoughtofthemiserybroughtaboutbyretribution?NobodyotherthanYoudoIacknowledge.Therefore,protectmankindthroughtruth.

USTAVAITI–Yas.43.3

Surely,thebestwillcometohimwhoteachesusaboutthepathofrighteousness,whichleadstobliss,bothmentalandphysical,leadingtotheworldofrealitywhereGoddwells.MayYourdevotee,whoiswiseandgood,beonewithYou,OGod.


IhaverealisedthatYouareholy,OLord,whenIrecognisedthatYouwerethefirst,evenbeforelifecameintobeing.Youhaveordainedthatallwordsanddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andblessingsofwell-beingtothosewhoaregood.Thusshallitbetilltheultimategoalofcreationisreached.


AtwhichgoalYoustand,OLord,withtheholyspirit,YourpowerandthePureMind,throughallofwhomlifeadvancesalongthepathoftruth.Thesearepointedoutbyright-mindedness’steaching–thedoingofYourwill,whichcanbethwartedbynoone.


ThisdoIaskYou,tellmetruly,OLord:

Howshouldyourdevoteesworshipyou?Letyourassistanttruth,OGod,pointoutthistome–untiltherevelationsofthePureMindarrivetoallmankind.



WhichBeing,ourFather,firstcreatedtruth?WhichBeinglaiddownthepathofthesunandthestars?ThroughwhichBeingdoesthemoonwaxandwanealternately?AllthisandotherthingsIdowishtoknow,OLord.



WhichBeingsupportstheEarthandtheotherworlds?WhichBeingcreatedthewatersandtheplants?WhichBeingmovesthewindanddarkclouds?WhichBeing,OLord,isthecreatorofthePureMind?



Whocreatedlightanddarkness?Whocreatedsleepandwakefulness?Whocreateddawn,dayandnight?Alltheseinstructthewiseaboutlife’spurpose.



Iwillaskwhetherthisisindeedtrue–right-mindedness,workingthroughgooddeeds,increasestruth.Right-MindednesspromisesthisthroughYourpowerandthroughthePureMind.Forwhomdidyoufashionthisabundantandjoy-givingMotherEarth?


ThisdoIaskYou,tellmetruly,OLord:WhocreatedYourpreciouspowerandright-mindedness?Who,withhislivingbreath,madethesonfollowthefather?ThuswouldIclearlyrecognizeYou,OLord,asthecreatoroftheholyspiritandeverythingelse.


AndIwillexplainaboutthebestthereisinlife.Becauseoffollowingthepathoftruth,Godhasrevealedittome.Heisthefatheroftheactiveandgoodmindandhisdaughter,right-mindedness,makesusdogooddeeds.God,whoisall-seeing,isneverdeceived.


AndIwillexplainaboutthegreatestofall,praisingHiswisdomandtruth.ThroughtheholyspiritmayGodlistentous.ThroughthePureMindmayIbecomedevotedtoHim.MayHeinHiswisdomguidemeonwardstothehighest.


Him,throughdevotiontoright-mindedness,willIseek–whoisforeverknownastheLordwhoisthegreatcreator.For,throughTruthandthePureMind,Hehaspromised,throughHispower,perfectionandimmortality,willbegiventoallpersons,asalsostrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.


WhoisYourforemostdevoteewhowillteachmetoregardYouasworthyofworship–asholyjudgeoverouractions.AndTruthhasrevealedYouasthecreatorofMotherEarth.Iwishfortruthandforyourpuremind.

SPENTAMAINYU–Yas.48.9

WhenwillIknowthatYouruleoverall,OLord,andTruth,despitethosewhoplotagainstitandthreatenme?TellmetrulyandrevealthistomethroughthePureMind.Thesaviourshouldknowwhatisinstoreforhim.

VOHUKSHATREM–Yas.51.3

LetallthosewhodogooddeedscometogethertofosterMotherEarth.GodandTruthspeakthelanguageofrevelationthatcomesfromthehighestmind–fromthebeginninghaveYoubeentheteacher.

ChapterTwo

ZARATHUSTRA

ZARATHUSTRAISAPPOINTEDBYALMIGHTYGodasthefirstpersonevertoreceivea revelation from Him. This is stated in unmistakable terms in the followingthreeverses: AHUNAVAITI–Yas.28.3

ToYou,OTruth,andPureMind,shallIcomposehymnsasneverbefore,anduntotheLord,theGreatCreator,aswell.Then,byYourlimitlesspower,shallright-mindednessincreasewhich,wheninvoked,comestoustograntusperfecthappiness.


Doyou,OLord,Truth,andGod’spower,grantstrengthtohimsothathecangiveuspeaceandmakeMotherEarthagoodplacetolivein?Himdoweacceptasourfirstsaviour.


ThisdoIaskYou,tellmetruly,OLord:Howwillright-mindedness

penetratethosetowhomYourrevelationisproclaimed?ForthistaskhaveIbeensentasthefirst–allotherswhoareashamdoIregardwithhostility?

InaconferencewhichtakesplaceinheavenbetweenGod,Truth,i.e.AshaandthePureMind, i.e.VohuManah,MotherEarth appears in the formof a cow,complainingthatitdesperatelyneedsaprotector.AlmightyGodturnstoTruth,havingheardMotherEarth’scomplaint,andaskswhetheranysuchsaviourcanbe found. Truth does not seem to have such a one, as a result ofwhich,GodturnstothePureMind.ThePureMindthenstatesthatZarathustracouldbesenttoEarth,ashehaslistenedtotherevelationsofthePureMind.Hewillbegiventhe gift of eloquence in order to teach mankind aright. The Earth, however,rejectshisprophethoodstatingthatitexpectedsomebodystrongandnotameremortalwhohasnocourage.Intheend,asitissaid,all’swellthatendswell,andProphet Zarathustra is appointed to lead mankind to a peaceful and goodexistence on earth. Interestingly, Chapter 29, in which all this is stated, isreminiscentof thebookof Jeremiah in theOldTestamentof theBible,whereJeremiahisappointedasaprophettotheJewishpeopleinsimilarfashion–SeeBible,BookofJeremiah.

‘1:4ThewordoftheLordcametome,saying,1:5‘BeforeIformedyouinthewombIknewyou,BeforeyouwerebornIsetyouapart;Iappointedyouasaprophettothenations.’

ThischapteralsoremindsusofChapter10Verse18oftheBhagvatPuran.Inthattext,MotherEarth,againintheshapeofawailingcow,asksforKrishnatobesentdowntoearthtoprotectandsaveit.


ToYou,OLord,didMotherEarthcomplain:

Whydidyoucreatemeinthefirstplace?Iamsurroundedbyanger,rapineandviolence,whichaggressivelythreatenme.Forme,thereisnoprotectorotherthanYou.So,tellmewhowillprotectmeeffectivelyagainstthisonslaught?


ThereuponthecreatorofMotherEarthaskedtheAbsoluteTruth:

WhereistheprotectorforMotherEarthwhocanzealouslyperformthistask?Whichpowerfulpersoncanrepelsuchhatredandanger?


ToGod,AbsoluteTruth,whobindsalltogether,replied:

Nosuchoneisknowntomewhocanfightonthesideoftheupright.Ofalllivingpersonshemustbeverystrong.Iwilltrytorespondassoonaspossible.


Godbearsinmindallprayersmadetohim–past,presentandfuture;thosemadebyordinarypeopleaswellasthebelieversinmanyGods.Godisthesolejudge:soletGod’swillbedone.


Therefore,maywewithhandsuplifted,receiveGod’sgrace.BountifulMotherEarthrequestsGodthus:

Nevermayharmcometothosewhoareuprightortotheirleader,thoughtheybesurroundedbyevilpersons.


ThereuponspokeGod,whopervadeseverythingwithHiswisdom:

Isnotasinglepowerfulpersonoraprotector,whoisrighteous,knowntoyou?IsthiswhyImadeyoutheprotectorofallthingscreatedbyme?


AbsoluteTruthiscreatedbytheholywordofsacrificeutteredbyGod.GodgivesallthegoodthingsofMotherEarthtotheholyprotectorsbecauseoftheirteachingoftruthtomankind.Who,OPureMind,doyouhaveinmind?Whowillsavemankind?


ThePureMindanswers:

Onesuchisknowntome–somebodywholistenedtoourteaching–ZarathustraSpitama.AboutGodandtruthishewillingtospeak.Granthim,

ZarathustraSpitama.AboutGodandtruthishewillingtospeak.Granthim,therefore,thegiftofeloquence.


MotherEarthwailed:

HowdoIacceptsuchfeeblesupport–acowardlyperson–whenIwantedapowerfulLord.When,ifever,willIgeteffectivehelpfromastrongprotector?


Doyou,OLord,Truth,andGod’sPower,grantstrengthtohimsothathecangiveuspeaceandmakeMotherEarthagoodplacetolivein.Himdoweacceptasourfirstsaviour.


WhenwillTruth,thePureMind,andGod’spowercometome?PleasegiverecognitiontotheMaghabrotherhood,whowillspreadyourteaching.Nowthathelphasarrived,wewillserveyouasprotectorsoflifeonEarth.

In thefollowingverses,weare told thatGodappointsZarathustraasa teacherformankind,totellthemofthepathoftruthandhowtoliveinaccordancewithtruth. The prophet invokes the embodiment of truth itself to fulfill hisguardianshipasplanned.Inaverseofgreatpoignancy,heshowshishumilitybyasking the Almighty to take pity on him when he is judged. The mode ofrevelation is pointed out in some of these verses, which is the Pure Mindentering Zarathustra and telling him what he should tell mankind. In aninterestingverse,he laysdown two importantprinciples–one, to fightevil totheextentthatoneiscapableofsodoing,andsecond,topraytoFirebeingthephysical embodiment of a spiritual being, namely Truth. In perhaps the mostimportantverse in theGathas,Chapter45Verse8,ProphetZarathustra finallygets toperceiveAlmightyGodhimselfwithhismind’seye,pursuant towhichtheHolyTrinityofgoodthoughts,goodwords,andgooddeedsislaiddownasthe path of truth whichmankind is to follow. The last two verses of the lastGatha state how Prophet Zarathustra’s mission has been successful. He hasconquereddeathandhasbeengrantedlifeforalleternity.


Blindedbytheteachingsofthosewhoareevil,thebetterpathisnotclearlyinsight.Therefore,IhavecometoyouallasGod’sappointedinstructor.Godhassentmeasaninstructortobothgoodandevilpersonssothatwemayallliveinaccordancewithtruth.


Therefore,asinvokerofTruth’sstraightpath,Ipraywiththehighestorloftiestmotives.IinvokeHisgrace.ThatImayfulfillmyroleastheprotectorasplanned.Therefore,IwishavisionofGodandcommunicationwithHim.


Cometome,OBestofAll,unmistakablyinyourownperson,togetherwithTruthandthePureMind,inorderthatImaybeheardbeyondtheMaghabrotherhood.MayYouclearlygivetousthedutieswehavetoperformwhicharededicatedwithhumblereverencetoYou.


YouareAlmighty,OLord,Right-Mindedness,Truth,andGod’sPower,andyouallblesslife.Listentomeandtakepityonmewhileapportioningjustdessertstoall.


Therefore,Zarathustraoffershimselfandhisupliftment,toGod,anddedicatesthefirstfruitsofhisthoughtinspiredbytheloftiestmotives,Hisdeedsoftruth,andhiswordsutteredaccordingtohisconscience–ineffect,hiswholebeing.


AsholyhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandasked–Whoareyou?Wheredoyoubelong?Whatdailysignsaregiventoallaydoubtsaboutoneselfandone’slife?


IaminthefirstplaceZarathustra,dedicatedtogood,andthetrueadversary

ofevil,totheextentthatIcancontainit.Totherighteous,Iwillbeasourceofstrengthandjoy.Infuture,mayIbegiftedwithYourinfinitepowersolongasIamyourdevotee,OLord,andsinghymnsofpraisetoYou.


AsholyindeedhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredme.

WhenIwasfirsttaughtbyYourrevelation,myfaithinthegoodnessofmankindhelpsmeintimesofdifficultyandIdowhatIhavebeentaughtbyyou–tobethebest.


HimdoIseektopraise,inallhumility.Indeed,Ihaveseenhimwithmymind’seye.Bygoodthought,deed,andword,andbytheknowledgebroughtbythepathoftruthhaveIperceivedGodHimself.Letus,therefore,offersongsofdevotiontohimintheabodeofsong,whereGoddwells.


WhenwillIknowthatYouruleoverall,OLord,andTruth,eventhosewhoplotagainstandthreatenme?Tellmetruly,andrevealthistomethroughthePureMind.Thesaviourshouldknowwhatisinstoreforhim.

VAHISTAISTI–Yas53.1:

Zarathustrahasbeengrantedeternallifebecausehefollowedthepathoftruth.Eventhosewhoopposedhimhavenowunderstoodhisteachingsandarefollowinghisfaithinwordanddeed.


Allevilpersonswhohavebeendeceivedintobeingevilshallchidethemselves,butmayouryoungmenandwomenlivebytheseeternaltruths,andmaypeacedescenduponourhappypeople.MayZarathustra,theGreatest,leadusallagain,forhehassurmounteddeath.

Various names occur in theGathas. For instance, the ancestors of Zarathustrawere persons by the name of Haecat-aspa and Spitama. References to theseancestors are to be found in Chapter 46.15 and Chapter 53.3. Zarathustra’scousin, Maidyo-Manha, also considered as one of his first disciples, ismentioned by name in Chapter 51.19. His daughter, Pourucista, is likewisementionedinChapter53.3.Apartfromhisancestorsandfamily,KingVistasp,whoseconversionbyZarathustramadethefaithspreadeasily,isalsomentionedinfourverses–Chapter28.7,Chapter46.14,Chapter51.16,andChapter53.2.Likewise,twoofhisministers–theHvogvabrothers,FrashostraandJamaspa–arealsomentioned.FrashostraisreferredtoinChapters28.8,46.16,49.8,51.17,and53.2.JamaspaismentionedinChapters46.17,49.9,and51.18.Apartfromthesenames,thereonlyafewotherswhichoccurintheGathas.Asismentionedelsewhereinthiswork,YimaorKingJamshedandhisfather

Vivanhusa are both mentioned in Chapter 32.8 as persons whose exampleZarathustradoesnotwishtofollowastheyilluminethematerialaspectsoflife.Likewise, two particularly evil human beings, Grehma and Bendva, arementioned in Chapters 32.12, 32.13, and 32.14 and Chapters 49.1 and 49.2respectively.Fryana,saidtobeaTuranian, i.e.aMongol, isalsomentionedinChapter 46.12 as being a personwho has embraced the faith. Apart from thenamesofthesepersons,theGathashaveverylittletodowithhumancharactersandarebasicallyconcernedwitheternal,philosophicaltruths.OneveryimportantaspectofspreadingtherevelationreceivedfromAlmighty

Godistheinstrumentbywhichitistobespread–theMaghabrotherhood.Thisbrotherhoodconsistsofthreegrades–thehighestistheXvaitu,whoisnolongerin needof religious instructionbut is self-reliant; theAiryamnaor friendwhobefriendspersonssothattheydonotgoastray;andtheVerezanah,ortheworkerwhoistheactivefieldworkerontheground,whoistospreadthefaith.Thus,ina significant verse, those who are self-reliant in the first rung of the Maghabrotherhood should beware of perverse thought – the idea being that humilityandnotarroganceoughttobefollowedbypersonswhohavereachedthehighestgrade.Likewise,thesecondgrade,theAiryamnaorfriend,isattackedbythosewhoslanderhim–suchpersonsshouldbekeptawayfromhim.Andasfarastheworkers on the ground are concerned, since there will be opposition at homefrommembersof theold faith, theyshouldbeprotected.Further, the first twogrades are exhorted to live according to the spiritual law received by them sothattheycansetagoodexampletothelastgrade,whichistheworker.Since the Magha brotherhood is to spread Zarathustra’s teaching, God has

beenaskedtograntHisrecognitiontoit,andtheMaghabrotherhoodhasbeenpromisedthattheZoroastrianheavenwillbetheirlot:namely,theabodewhere

allissong.KingVistaspisreferredto,who,havingacceptedthefaith,willmakefamousthisMaghabrotherhood.


WhenwillTruth,thePureMind,andGod’spowercometome?PleasegiverecognitiontotheMaghabrotherhood,whowillspreadyourteaching.Nowthathelphasarrived,wewillserveyouasprotectorsoflifeonearth.


ToGodprayallthreegradesoftheMaghabrotherhood,asalsothebelieversinmanygods,inthesamewayandjustasearnestly.Maythebrotherhoodbecomeyourmessengerstorepelthosewhospreadduplicity.


Whosoeveruntotherighteousisthebest,whetherhebeofanygradeoftheMaghabrotherhood,orhelpswithzealtheliving,willbeatonewithtruth,andwilldwellinthepasturesofthePureMind.


Therefore,actingagainstmyconscienceandevilintent,willIcorrectbyprayer,OLord.Andfromthespirituallyself-sufficientwillIprayawayperversethoughts;fromtheworkerwhospreadsthefaiththeenvyofhisevilrelations;andfromthefriendtomankindslanderers;andfromMotherEarth,theteacherofevil.


TowhichlandcanIflee?TheyholdmeapartfrommyMaghabrothers–evilrulerskeepmeawayfromthem.HowdoIcarryoutyourmission,OLord?


Zarathustra,whoisloyaltoTruth?Whowillmakefamousyourgreatbrotherhood?KingVistaspahasusheredinthisnewera.Youhavemadehimkinginthiskingdomwhichiswelladministered,OLord,sothatImaydeliverYourmessagewhichIhavereceivedfromthePureMind.


LeteachonelistentothePureMindandTruth,OLord–dothou,OLord,bearwitnesstothis–sothatthespirituallyself-reliantandthefriendofmankindliveaccordingtoYourlawandsetagoodexampletotheworkerwhospreadsYourmessage.

VOHUKSHATREM–YAS.51.11

WhoisthefriendofZarathustra?Whocommuneswithtruth,andholyright-mindedness,andthehighestideals–thusregardinghimselfasanuprightmemberoftheMaghabrotherhood?


TherewardwhichZarathustrahaspromisedtotheMaghabrotherhoodcomesfrombeyond–thehouseofsongwhichwasfirstinhabitedbyGodHimself,andtheblessingsofTruthandthePureMind.


TherewardoftheMaghabrotherhoodawaitstheunitedcouple.Butshouldyouchoosetoleavethisbrotherhood,deludedbytheevilspirit,yourendwillsurelybeingriefandwordsofwoe.

ChapterThree

SOSHYANT,RATUANDVASTRYA

A SOSHYANT IS SAID TO BE A GREAT prophet or messenger from God, whosemissionistosavemankindfromevil.ARatuisaspiritualpersonwholivesbytruth.AndVastrya is a shepherd;he is, therefore, aprotectorwhoprotectshisflock from evil. In the verses that follow, these three persons are mentioned,theircommonfeaturebeingthat theyall instructhumanbeings to livebytruthandprotectthemagainstevil.The‘KemNaMazda’prayerpartiallycontainedinChapter44.16andChapter46.07speaksofaprotectorwhowillprotectandleadhumanbeingstotriumphoverevilthroughhisteachings.WehavealreadyseenhowMotherEarthwantedaprotector tobeappointed

andhowZarathustrawassoappointed. Inoneverse,hedescribeshimselfasaRatu, with characteristic humility. However, he is really a Soshyant who hascomewithamessagefromGod tosavemankindfromevil.AsaRatu,havingrealized truth, he is eloquent in being able to spread the message of God.Interestingly, shamprotectors are alsomentioned–wolves in sheep’s clothingwho will be exposed by their words and deeds. Ultimately, all Soshyantsvanquish hatred by deeds inspired by truth alone. Even the Shepherd, who

acquireswisdomthroughhumility, isable to instructothersasa teacherof thepathoftruth.


ToYou,OLord,didMotherEarthcomplain:Whydidyoucreatemeinthefirstplace?Iamsurroundedbyanger,rapine,andviolence,whichaggressivelythreatenme.Forme,thereisnoprotectorotherthanYou.Sotellme,whowillprotectmeeffectivelyagainstthisonslaught?


ThereupontheCreatorofMotherEarthaskedAbsoluteTruth:WhereistheprotectorforMotherEarthwhocanzealouslyperformthistask?Whichpowerfulpersoncanrepelsuchhatredandanger?


Thebestwillbethelotofthewisemanwhospeaksthetruth–wordswhichbringperfectionandimmortalityintherealmoftruth.SuchisGod’spower,thatwiththisthought,goodintentwillincreasefromwithin.


Yourshasbeenright-mindednessandthewisdomwhichcreatedlife,OGod.UntolifehaveYougrantedthechoiceoffollowingtheteachingsofatrueprotectororthewilesofafalseso-calledprotector.


So,betweenthesetwo,letthechoiceasShepherdbeforamanwhopossessestruth,apromoterofthebestofintentions.Never,OLord,mayawolfinsheep’sclothingpurporttospreadYourmessage.


Whoeverlistenstoandthinksoftruthbecomeswiseandhelpslife.Hewillbeeloquentinhisspeechwithwordswhicharetrue.Throughtheblazingfireofjudgementwillyouassignthenextdwellingplacetoallofmankind.


InaccordwithdivineprinciplesdoIact;thesearethelawsgoverninglife

fromtheverybeginning.Theteacherwillactjustlytoboththerighteousandtheunrighteousandweightheadmixtureoffalsehoodandtruthineach.


Whosoeverfrustratesevilbythought,word,ordeed,orinstructshiscompaniontodogood,accomplisheslife’spurpose,outofloveforGod.


SinceYouaresuchinreality,OLord,TruthandPureMind,guidemewhendoubtsarise,ateverystageoflife,sothatyourworshipperisfreefromtheloadwhichultimatelyweighsthesouldown.



Thefirstthinginlifeistostriveforthebest,toleadanotheryearningsoultoattainthebest,forsuchperson,indeed,isholythroughtruth,andwillattainthegoalofallmankind.Thispersonisourguardianspiritandliferenewingfriend,OLord.



Whichvictorwillprotectallwhoexistthroughhisteachings?Clearlyrevealtometheguidewhowillgivelifeanewdirection.ToHimgrantpure-mindednessandanactiveconscience,OLord,andtowhomsoeverelseaswell.


When,OLord,willtherebeanewdawnwhentruthshallshineforthfromalllife,followingtheeffectiveteachingsofwisesaviours.Towhosehelpthisshallcome,togetherwiththePureMind–IhavechosenYouasthesubjectofmyteaching.


Who,OLord,willprotectmewhenevilpersonsthreatenmewithviolence?Who,otherthanYourfireandthePureMind?Whentheybothareat

workwithinme,truthprevails,OLord.DeclarethisclearlysothatImayunderstandthisphilosophicaltruth.


Thiswouldbeforthosewhounderstandthebestteaching–thatwhichistaughtbythewisdomoftruth.HolyandWisearetheteachersofthatwhichcannotbeseen–theyareYours,OGod,havingthePureMind’swisdom.


Sucharethesavioursofthisland,whoareguidedbythePureMind’swisdom.BecauseoftheirdeedsoftruthandtheirteachingsofGodandthespreadofthedivinemessage,hatredwillbevanquished.


Questioningaboutalltheseastohowheshouldadvancelifeintruth,theprotector,uprightinhisdeeds,acquiresgoodinsightthroughhumility.Heisthetrueguidetothosewhoarewise,bringingthemblessings.

SectionTwo

THEHOLYIMMORTALS

ChapterOne

ASHA

ITHASALREADYBEENMENTIONEDTHATthisgreatimmortalbeingisthebackboneofZoroastrianism.Truthissoimportant that itoccurs inalmosteveryverseoftheGathas.Oneversealoneisbeingquoted, inordertobringout theessentialelementsofabsolutetruth.Absolutetruthandrelativetrutharedescribedbythesameword,thecontexttellinguswhetheritistheformerorthelatter.Theversequotedbelowmentionstwointerestingattributesofabsolutetruth–first,thatitdoesnotdisunite,i.e.itistheultimatemoralbindingforceofallmankind,andsecond, that like the sunwhich shinesongoodandevil alike, it is inimical tonone.


ToGod,AbsoluteTruth,whobindsalltogether,andisinimicaltonone,replied:Nosuchoneisknowntomewhocanfightonthesideoftheupright.Ofalllivingpersons,musthebeverystrong.Iwilltrytorespondassoonaspossible.

ChapterTwo

VOHUMANAH

VOHUMANAH,WHICHLITERALLYMEANSthegoodmind,isalmostasimportantasAsha,and recurs throughout theGathas. It is throughVohuManah thatGod’srevelations are made known to Zarathustra. Since life on Earth, and in thehereafter,hastodowiththemind/spirit,itisVohuManahwhosegiftsaremostprecious. The basic ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ prayer, in its second part, speaks ofthesegifts.Thesegiftsaresetoutintheversesbelow,andarefourinnumber:Tevishi–thatisstrengthofcharacterUtayuiti– life renewedor takingonadifferentdirectionorcourseHuUrvaTat–wholenessorperfectionAmereTat–immortalityThefirsttwogiftsaregiventoahumanbeinghereonEarth,andaretheby-

productsoffollowingthepathoftruth.Thelasttwogiftsaregiventomankindonlyafterithasbeencompletelycleansedofevil,andthereforeoccuronlyinthehereafter.


Grant,OTruth,therewardofwhatisthebestthatthemindcanachieve.ORight-Mindedness,grantthistoVistaspaandtomypeople,throughyourpower,OLord,sothatyourworshippersmaycarryoutyourwishes.



Howshouldyourdevoteesworshipyou?Letyourassistant,Truth,OGod,pointoutthistome–untiltherevelationsofthePureMindarrivestoallmankind.


Him,throughdevotiontoRight-Mindedness,willIseek–whoisforeverknownastheLordwhoistheGreatCreator?For,throughTruthandthePureMind,HehaspromisedthatthroughHispower,perfection,andimmortalitywillbegiventoallpersons,asalsostrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.


Shealoneisoursafehaven–thegiftsofthePureMindarestrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.God,throughTruth,hasclothedherwithvegetation,whichnourishedlifeattheverybeginning.

VOHUKSHATREM7–Yas.51.7

Grantme,OCreatorofMotherEarth,thewatersandplantlife,immortalityandperfectionthroughYourholiestspirit,OLord.GrantmestrengthofcharacterandliferenewedthroughtheteachingsofthePureMind.

ChapterThree

SPENTAMAINYU

LITERALLY TRANSLATED, THIS REFERS TO the holy spirit. This holy spirit wascreatedatthebeginningoftimeandwasgiventhechoiceofwhetheritwouldbebeneficent or malignant – it chose the former. Interestingly enough, its twin,whichisitsequalineveryrespect,wasalsogiventhesamechoice,butitchoseto be malignant. Angra Mainyu, or the evil spirit, is all that exists as theembodimentofevilintheGathas.Thereisnodevilherewhoisbothpowerfuland an opposing force to theAlmightyGod.God is clearly omnipotent in theGathas,andevilisonlyequatedwithwrongmoralchoice.Theverseschosenbelowreferonlytotheholyspirit–AngraMainyubeing

spoken about in the two great sermons of Zarathustrawhichwill be set out alittlelater.Intheseverses,ZarathustrachoosestobelikeSpentaMainyu,whoisequatedwiththehighestthatanyhumanmindcanachieve.ThisspiritspeaksinaccordancewiththePureMind’srevelationsandfulfillsthetasksthatanyright-minded person must do, inspired by the fact that God alone is the Father ofTruth.Importantly,it isonaccountofthisspirit thatevilpersonsfeelthwartedandrighteouspersonsfeelcomforted.SpentaMainyuisclearlythespiritwhich,

whenitworksinman’sbrain,producesresultswhichaccordwiththeteachingsofthePureMind.


ToAlmightyGod,Iprayinallhumility,withupliftedhandswhichreachoutforperfecthappiness.Thisprayeris,firstofall,totheGoodSpirit,whichIseektoemulatethroughdeedsdonefortheloveoftruth.Thesedeedsarewhatbringswisdom,thehighestthatthemindcanattain.ItisthiswisdomthatMotherEarthneedsmost,sothatpeacecanbebroughttoher.


OLord,ZarathustrachoosesforhimselfthewayoftheHolySpirit.MayTruthincarnatedupliftuswithherstrength.MayRight-MindednessandYourpower,resplendentasthesun,blessdeedsdonefromgoodmotives.


Bytheholyspiritandbestmind,bywordsanddeedsoftruth,perfectionandimmortalityarebestowedbyGod,HispowerandRight-Mindedness.


Thus,thebestandtheholiestspiritspeakswordsofthehighestwisdom.WithRight-Mindednesshelpingitdoesittoil,doinggooddeedswithbothitshands,inspiredbythethoughtthatGodistheFatherofTruth.


YouareindeedtheFatheroftheHolySpirit–youhavefashionedourjoyfulMotherEarthforit,andtoprotectithaveyousentpeace,andright-mindedness,andthePureMind,whenitaskedforhelp.


Becauseofthisspirit,theevilpersons’plansarefrustrated,OGod–butnotthoseoftherighteous.Onlyonewhohaslittlematerialwealthisinclinedtoberighteous.Butbeingrichandpowerful,suchpersonisinclinedtobeingevil.


Throughthisholyspirit,OGod,haveYoupromisedthebesttothe

righteous.TheevilpersonwillgethisjustdessertsremovedfromYourlove,becauseofhisevilintentandbaddeeds.

ChapterFour

SAROSH

CONSCIENCE,ORTHEMORALVOICETHAT speaks fromwithin, isdescribedas thegreatestofall.This issobecauseit isonlybyhearingthis innervoicethat thepathoftruthcanbefollowedinobediencetoGod’slaw.Theversesbelowbringout the essence of Sarosh. There is also an enigmatic verse which says thatSaroshissopowerfulthatitcanevenhearhymnssungbydevoteesinheaven.


Onself-realizationthroughwisdom,whenwillIactuallyseetheveryembodimentofTruthandthePureMind?ThepathtoAlmightyGodisobediencetoHiswill.(Thisisself-realization.)Throughthisexcellentversewillwickedpeople,bywordofmouth,betaughttochoosecorrectly.


Therefore,doIinvokeconscience,thebestofall,toreachourfinalgoal,whichislonglifeinthesecurityofthePureMind,havingfollowedthe

straightpathoftruth,whichleadstowhereGodalonerules.


Therefore,ZarathustraoffershimselfandhisupliftmenttoGod,anddedicatesthefirstfruitsofhisthoughtinspiredbytheloftiestmotives,Hisdeedsoftruth,andhiswordsutteredaccordingtohisconscience–ineffect,hiswholebeing.


AndwhenYoutoldmetofollowtruthtoacquireunderstanding,Youdidnottellmetodosomethingwhichwillbeunheededbyme.Iwillbestirwithinmyself,myconsciencewhichwillthenblessmewiththeaccompanimentofgreatlight.Youawardboththesideswithjustdues.



WhichvictorwillprotectallwhoexistthroughHisteachings?Clearlyrevealtometheguidewhowillgivelifeanewdirection.ToHimgrantpure-mindednessandanactiveconscience,OLord,andtowhomsoeverelseaswell.


Andworshippingyouandpraisingyou,OGod,withTruthandPureMindandYourpower,mayhe,whodesirestohearYourrevelation,listentoYourdevoteesintheabodeofsong.

ChapterFive

ARMAITI

ARMAITI, OR RIGHT-MINDEDNESS, IS SAID to grow through the teachings orrevelations of the Pure Mind. It is the human beings’ guide, who stands bywhenever there is doubt, to resolve it inmoral terms.She is said towithdrawfrom persons who make the wrong moral choice. She alone imparts realunderstandingofthepathoftruth,beingtherootofthiseternallaw.ThedevoteeofArmaiti is stated to bewise.Andwisdom is defined as such teachings andactionswhichgotogethertopromotetruth.


Therefore,eachloudlyproclaimswhateverhewishes–whetheritbefalseortrue;whetheritbewiseorfoolish–withheadandheart,hisspiritstandsbesideRight-Mindedness,questioningastohowtoresolvehisdoubts.


HolyRight-Mindedness,bounteousandwise,isignoredbythosedoing

evil.TheyareignorantofPure-Mindedness,too.Fromthese,truthwithdrawscompletely,justasunculturedandevilpersonswithdrawfromgoodpersons.


Untosuch,doingdeedsoutofpuremotives,dopersonsofgoodunderstandingspeakaboutholyRight-Mindedness,whogivestrueunderstandingandputspersonsonthepathoftruth.AllofthemwillcometoYou,OLord,oncetheyhaveknowledgeofYourpower.


AtwhichgoalYoustand,OLord,withtheHolySpirit,YourPower,andthePureMind,throughallofwhomlifeadvancesalongthepathoftruth.ThesearepointedoutbyRight-Mindedness’steaching–thedoingofYourwill,whichcanbethwartedbynoone.



Yourrevelationisbestforalllivingbeings,whichadvancestruthandlifeandguidesarightourwordsanddeeds,ORight-Mindedness,sothatmydesiretounderstandYourwill,OLord,isfulfilled.



HowwillRight-MindednesspenetratethosetowhomYourrevelationisproclaimed?ForthistaskhaveIbeensentasthefirst–allotherswhoareshamdoIregardwithhostility.


Ofoneaccordareyouallingrantingusblessings,OTruth,thePureMind,andthewordofRight-Mindedness.Withhumilitywillyourworshipperyearnforbliss,OGod.


ThatmanisholywhoisfilledwithRight-Mindedness.Throughhiswisdom,words,deeds,andwayofthinking,hepromotestruth.MayGodgivehimthepowerofthePureMind–forthishighestblessingdoIpray.

SectionThree

LIFEANDBEYOND

ChapterOne

THETWOGREATSERMONSOFZARATHUSTRAANDMORALCHOICE

TWO WHOLE CHAPTERS OF THE GATHAS are dedicated to sermons addressed byProphetZarathustratothemultitude.Thelessersermon,sonamedbecauseitisasermononly to his ownpeople, is contained inChapter 30,which is the thirdChapter of the Ahunavaiti Gatha. The greater sermon, that is addressed topersonswhohavecomefrombothnearbyandfromafar,iscontainedinChapter45,which is the thirdchapterof theUstavaitiGatha.Bothsermonsdeliver thecentralmessageof theGathasandmust thereforebeunderstoodbothfullyandcorrectly.Chapter30beginsbysayingthateverypersonmustdecideforhimselfas to

whatmoral choiceheor she is tomake so that life’sonward journey is eithertowardslightandhappinessortowardsdarknessandmisery.Thesermonbeginsby speaking of the twin spirits created by Almighty God at the beginning oftime.Theywereequalineveryrespectexceptthatonespiritchosetobegoodinthought,word,anddeed,whereasitstwinchosetobeevil.Togethertheycreated

lifeanditsdestructionsothatcreation’spurposemaybefulfilled–thebestforthefollowersoftruthandtheworstforthefollowersofevil.Thosewhobelievedintheoldfaith– thosewhobelievedinmanygods–havedeludedthemselvesand polluted life through anger and hatred born of evil thoughts. The path oftruth,onwhichpeoplecontinuallyprogress,islikenedtogoingthroughmoltenmetal.God’slawwillberevealedtoallsinnersonlywhenretributioncomestothem for their sins, at which point they actually achieve their real, innermostdesire,i.e.tobeatonewithGodandhisarchangels.ThesermonendsbystatingthatmoralchoicecreatedbyGodleadseithertohappinessortomisery,whichiseither upward progress towards illumination and hence happiness, or age-longpunishmentforsinscommittedandhencemisery.


Tothosewhowishtohear,IshallspeakofthetwocreatedbyGod–thisteachingistoinstructthewise.IshallpraiseGodandthePureMind,praytoTruth,sothatyouallmaygrowspirituallytoattainlight.


Listenwithyourearsmostattentively.Consider,clearly,whatIhavetosay.Choosebeforedeciding–manforman,eachforhimself,beforethisgreatnewageisusheredin.Eachoneofyou,awakentothismessage.


Now,inthebeginningthereweretwospirits.Theyweretwins(equalinallrespects)andgotonwellamongthemselves.Inthought,word,anddeed,theyrevealthemselvesasgoodandevil.Thosewhoareofgreaterunderstandingchoosetobeupright;notsothosewhoareoflesserunderstanding.


Inthebeginning,whenthesetwospiritsworkedtogether,onefosteredlifeandtheotherdestroyedit.Soitwillbe:theworsttothosewhoareevil,andthebesttothosewhoaregood.


Ofthosetwospirits,onechosetodoitsworst,whereastheHolySpiritchosetolivebytruth.TheHolySpiritclothesitselfinlightimperishable

andpleasesGodbywillinglydoinggooddeedsfromgoodmotives.


Ofthetwo,thebelieversinmanygodschosewrongly.Theyweredeludedwhentheyarguedamongthemselvesconcerningwhatiscorrect.Theychosetohavetheworstofmotivescombinedwithdeedsdoneinanger,whichhadbanefuleffectsonmankind.


UntosuchwillcomeGod’spower,amindwhichispure,andtruth.Right-Mindednesswillgrantcontinuedspiritualprogress,andtheywillbetriumphantintheordealthatislife–asiftheyhavesuccessfullygonethroughmoltenlavaunscathed.


Butwhenretributioncomestothosewhoindulgeinviolence,God’sjudgmentwillbeclearlyrevealed.Itisthenthattheliewillbedeliveredintothehandsoftruth.


Thosewhomakelifeworthlivingforothershaverealcompanionshipwithtruth.Suchpersonsareclear-mindedandfreefromdoubt,andareabletowithstandfalsehoodwheneverreasonswaysindoubt.


Whentheshort-livedtriumphofthosewhoareevilisdestroyed,theywillgettheirjustdesserts.Afterthis,theywillreachtheabodewhereindwellthePureMind,God,andTruth,andtheywillconstantlystrivetodogood.


IfyouunderstandtheseprincipleswhichGodhaslaiddownforman–happinessandmisery,punishmentofalongdurationforthosewhoareevil,andupwardprogressforthosewhoaregood–happinesswillbeyourlot.

The greater sermon contained in Chapter 45 is in some ways an emphaticreiteration of the smaller sermon, but with greater intensity. It begins with areiteration of the theme of the twin spirits and states how they are exactlyopposite ineverypossiblerespect.Havingstated that, the twinconceptsofHuUrvaTat andAmereTat are then spokenabout.HuUrvaTat isnothingmoreand nothing less than a state of being by which each soul is ‘Hu’, which is‘good’,whichiswholeorperfect,beingridofallevil.Whenthisstateofbeingoccurs,AmereTat also happens –which is that such a soulwill be in a statewheredeathispermanentlyremoved.The prophet then goes on to say that the soul of the righteous becomes

immortal,buteverrenewedaretroublesandtribulationstotheevilsoul.Verse8inChapter45isarguablythesinglemostimportantverseintheentireGathasforitisherethatZarathustra,havingseenGodwithhismind’seye,laysdowntheholytrinityofgoodthoughts,goodwords,andgooddeeds,andgoesontosaythat anybodywho follows these threewill surely land up in heaven,which isdescribedbytwowords–GaroDeman.Interestingly,bothwordsarewords incommon usage today – the first in the Gujarati language, and the second inEnglishitself.ThisisbecauseAvestaisanoldlanguagebelongingtotheIndo-European group of languages, of which Gujarati and English are youngerlanguages,belongingtothesamegroup.‘Ga’inGujaratimeans‘song’,whichisthesameinHindi‘gaana’,while‘deman’istheEnglish‘domain’,whichleadstoheavenbeingdescribedasthe‘domain’orabodeofsong.Twoother importantgiftswhicharecerebral innaturearespokenof.These

two gifts, namely ‘Tevishi’ and ‘Utayuiti’, are the gifts spoken about in thesecond part of the Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer. ‘Tevishi’ means strength ofcharacter, and ‘Utayuiti’ means life renewed. When one follows the path oftruth,onefindsthatitisapathfilledwithdifficulties.Whenthosedifficultiesareovercome,twothingsareassured–first,strengthofcharacter,asthatalonehasenabled theperson toovercome thosedifficulties, andsecondly, that life takesonanewmeaninganddirection.Whereas,earlier,onemayhavebeencowardlyandgreedy,onenowbecomesstrongandgiving. It iswith these twogiftsandthe twoconceptsofHuUrvaTat andAmereTat that thismagnificent sermonends,givingthelistenergreathopeandinstructingher/himaboutwhathappenswhenthepathoftruthisfollowed,bothhereinlifeandafterdeath.


NowwillIexplain–givemeyourearandlisten,thosewhohavecomefromnearby,andthosewhohavecomefromafar.Andpleasetrytounderstand

whatIhavetosayandkeepitclearlyinmind.Neveragainwillthepreacherofevildestroylife.Hehasbecomeevilandspeaksevilbecausehehasgoneastrayandchosentobeevil.


Iwillexplainaboutthetwospiritsatlife’sbeginning,ofwhomtheholyonespoketotheevilonethus:Betweenus,neitherthoughtsnorteachings,norunderstanding,normoralchoice,norwords,nordeeds,norwayofthinking,norsouls,arealike.


Iwillexplainthefirstthingthatshouldbeknownaboutlife–thiswasrevealedtomebyGod.ThoseamongyouwhodonotputintopracticethesehymnsasIunderstandandspeakthemwillonlylandupinmiseryattheendoflife.


AndIwillexplainaboutthebestthereisinlife,becauseoffollowingthepathoftruth,Godhasrevealedittome.HeistheFatheroftheactiveandgoodmindandhisdaughter,Right-Mindedness,makesusdogooddeeds.God,whoisall-seeing,isneverdeceived.


Iwillexplainwhattheholiesthasrevealedtome.WhatHesaysisbestformortalstohear.Thosewhoobeyandrevereit,willattainperfectionandimmortality,andthroughdeedsdonefromtheloftiestmotives,GodHimself.


AndIwillexplainaboutthegreatestofall,praisingHiswisdomandtruth.Throughtheholyspirit,mayGodlistentous.ThroughthePureMind,mayIbecomedevotedtoHim.MayHeinHiswisdomguidemeonwardstothehighest.


Toallseekersofsalvation,past,present,andfuture,Ihavethistosay:thesouloftherighteouswillbevictoriousandwillgainimmortality.Ever

renewedaretimesoftroubleforthosewhoareevil.ThisissentbyGodthroughHispower.


HimdoIseektopraise,inallhumility.Indeed,Ihaveseenhimwithmymind’seye.Bygoodthought,deed,andword,andbyknowledgebroughtbythepathoftruth,haveIperceivedGodHimself.Letus,therefore,offersongsofdevotiontohimintheabodeofsongwhereGoddwells.


GodandthePureMinddoIseektoworship,who,inhisplan,hasmadeforusbothgoodand,itsopposite,evil.God’spowerhasmadeusserveourhumanflocksothattheyadvancetothehighesttruthandwisdom.


Him,throughdevotiontoRight-Mindedness,willIseek–whoisforeverknownastheLordwhoistheGreatCreator.For,throughTruthandthePureMind,HehaspromisedthatHispower,perfection,andimmortalitywillbegiventoallpersons,asalsostrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.


Who,inthefuture,opposes‘thegods’andtheirfollowers;whodespisesthemandopposesthem,theybeingsodifferentfromHim;andhewhothinkswithreverenceofHim,isasaviour,awisefather,aholythinker,afriend,abrother,andafather,OLord.

ChapterTwo

MORALTEACHINGS

APART FROMWHAT IS STATED IN THE twogreat sermons, there areversesof theGathas thathavebeenput together in this chapter to further explain themoralteachings of Zarathustra. These verses stress the fact that human beings havebeen created not as puppets but as thinking beings capable of moral choices.Humanbeingsareapartfromtheanimalcreationinthisonerespect,andperhapstheworshipoffireasasymboloftruthorcorrectmoralchoiceisalsobecause(apartfromfirebeinglight)ananimalcannotlight,kindle,orputoutafire.Itis,therefore, the symbol of moral choice par excellence. So, a human being, byusinghisconscience,bothlightsandkindleshisinnerfireand,byceasingtousehisconscience,putsitout.Among thevariousversesbeloware twoextremely importantones.Chapter

34Verse 13 restates the teaching of every great saviour. It is that every gooddeedinspiredbytruthalonereachesfar.Likewise,Chapter43Verse5makesitclearthatallactsandwordsbearfruit–nobodycanescapetheconsequencesofher/hisactsandwords.Anotherinterestingverse,Chapter46Verse6makesthedichotomybetweengoodandevilcrystalclearbydeclaringthathewhoisgood

to those who are evil is himself evil, and he who is good to the righteous ishimselfrighteous.Theseversesalsotellusthatitisthroughstrivingbyone’sowninnerurgeand

self-sacrifice that one understands and then follows revelatory truths, and thatultimately,thehighestisreachedandthelawsofGodarefollowedonlythroughgooddeeds.




Fromthebeginning,OLord,Youcreatedlifeandthoughttomindsofunderstanding.Youcreatedupliftmentformankind–afterall,deeds,teachings,andwillsareamatterofindividualchoice.




Whichofthetwopathsdoeithertherighteousorunrighteouschooseasthebetterone?Lettheenlightenedpersonexplainthistothemanofgoodunderstanding.Letthemanofpoorunderstandingnotleadusastray.DoYou,OGod,instructusaboutthepurityofthemind.


WhatisYourlaw,Yourwill,concerningYourworship.Speaktomeclearly,OLord,sothattheblessingsofrectitudecomeuponus.Leadusontothepathoftruthandself-realizationthroughthepuremind.


Thatpath,OLord,whichYoupointedouttome–thecreedofallsaviours–thateverygooddeedinspiredbyloftymotivesalonegoesfar.Thisteachingisfortheclear-sighted,leadingtotheultimaterewardwhich

youwillgrant.


IhaverealizedthatYouareholy,OLord,whenIrecognizedthatYouwerethefirst,evenbeforelifecameintobeing.Youhaveordainedthatallwordsanddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andtheblessingsofwell-beingtothosewhoaregood.Thusshallitbetilltheultimategoalofcreationisreached.


Andwhenyoutoldmetofollowtruthtoacquireunderstanding,youdidnottellmetodosomethingwhichwillbeunheededbyme.Iwillbestirwithinmyselfmyconscience,whichwillthenblessmewiththeaccompanimentofgreatlight.Youawardboththesideswiththeirjustdues.


AsholyindeedhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandsaidthatsilentmeditationisgoodforspiritualgrowth.Nevershouldanypersontrytoplacateevilpersons,for,theywillalwaysregardtherighteousastheirenemies.



Yourrevelationisbestforalllivingbeings,whichadvancestruthandlifeandguidesarightourwordsanddeeds,ORight-Mindedness,sothatmydesiretounderstandyourwill,OLord,isfulfilled.



HowshallIdeliverthelieintothehandsofTruth?HowwillIoverthrowtheliebyteachingYourholyword?HowdoIbringcompletefrustrationoftheplansofthosewhoareevil?HowdoIgetthemintotroubleandgetthemtobehated?


EvilpersonsallaroundusthwarttherighteousfromhelpingLife.These

personsareenemiesoflifeasshownbytheiractions.Whosoeveropposesthemwithallhislifeandstrength,OLord,isahelperalongthepathsofholywisdom.


Whoever,beinginapositionofstrength,receivesanypersoninkindnessorinfriendship,andwhoeverreceivesanybodybecauseheisafollowerofYourrevelation,isblessed;evenifsuchaperson,beingrighteous,receivesanevilperson,heshouldteachhimthepathtosalvationtosavehimfromdestruction,OLord.


But,whoever,beingabletodoso,doesnotdoso,shallhimselfbeensnaredbyevil.Becausehewhoisgoodtothosewhoareevilishimselfevil.Andhewhobefriendstherighteousishimselfrighteous.Thisisyourlaweversinceyoufirstcreatedus.


Who,OLord,willprotectmewhenevilpersonsthreatenmewithviolence;who,otherthanYourfireandthePureMind?Whentheybothareatworkwithinme,truthprevails,OLord.DeclarethisclearlysothatImayunderstandthisphilosophicaltruth.


Whoeverisviolentinlife,hisdeedsofflaminghatewillnottouchmebutwillrecoilonhim,thiswhichkeepshimfromthegoodlife,butnotfromhatefulevilways.


TheHaecat-aspaandSpitamafamilydoIspeakto,sothatyoumaydiscriminatebetweenunderstandingandignorance.ThroughdeedsoftruthwillyoumarchforwardinaccordwithGod’sprimevallaw.


Ihavetoldyouthataction,notinaction,isbest,OWiseJamaspa.Withyourconsciencearoused,doyouseektoworship–youwilldiscriminatebetweenunderstandingandignorance.GodandTruthareourwonderful

protectors.


Whosoevermakeshismindbetterorworse,hiswordsanddeedsshowhiswayofthinking.Hechoosesforhimself–attheend,inyourwisdom,willhestandapart(dependingonthechoicemade).


Buthe,OLord,who,throughearnestdesireandzeal,linkshiswayofthinkingwiththePureMind–eachsuchappliesright-mindednessandgrowswisebyfollowingthetruth–allsuchwilldwellunderYourrule,OLord.


God’spowerisgreat.Itcomesasarewardtothosewhoarededicatedandeagertoservethecauseoftruth.Bydoingdeedsoftruthwillonereachthehighest–forthatalonewillIstrivenowandalways.


Whichshepherdwilllookafteryourworshipper?Whenwillcompassiontakeover?Whenwilltruthtakeover?Andwhenwillright-mindednessdothesame?WhereisthehighestmindandYourpower,OGod?


Whosoeverproveshimselftobebetterthangood,thusfulfillinglife’spurpose,willbehelpedbyGod’spower.Butitshallbeworsethanbadforhimwhodoesnotdosoatthefinalendoflife.


Therefore,thatman,OMaidyo-Manha,shalldedicatetoHimtherealizationofself.WhoeverwishestounderstandthemeaningoflifeisbetterabletodemonstrateGod’slawsthroughdoinggooddeeds.


Thesewordsarespokentoyounggirlswhoaregettingmarriedandtotheiryoungmen–bringthePureMinddowntoyourownminds,andleteachonestrivetosurpasstheotherintruthandhigh-mindedness,whichwill

surelybringrichrewards.

AsZarathustra’steachingisuniversal,theversessetoutbelowshowusthathesetouttoconvertmankindasawhole,regardlessofcaste,creed,orrace.Infact,Fryana, a Turanian (i.e. a non-Persian – probablyMongol in origin), has alsocome over to the faith, and is said to advance life, and becomes zealous inspreadingthefaithhimself.


Onself-realizationthroughwisdom,whenwillIactuallyseetheveryembodimentofTruthandthePureMind?ThepathtotheAlmightyGodisobediencetoHiswill.(Thisisself-realization.)Throughthisexcellentversewillwickedpeople,bywordofmouth,betaughttochoosecorrectly.


Yougivetousfireinspiritandbliss,promisedtoallwhofollowtruth,sothatthosewhocandiscerncorrectlyaregivenyourdivinerevelation.Declarethisrevelationfromyourownmouthsothatallthelivingmaychoosearight.


AmongthedescendantsandprogenyoftheTuranians,therewillemergethestrongFryanawho,throughright-mindedness,zealouslyhelpstheliving.HewillhelpthemtoreachthePureMindandbliss,whichGodwillgrant.

ChapterThree

FIRE

WEHAVEALREADYSEENHOWGODTOLDZarathustrainarevelationthathemustworship fire as a physical symbol of truth.The verses set out below speak offire,bothphysicallyandastheinnerfirewhichdrivesmankind.Thus,thisinnerfire is what ultimately gives mankind bliss. In other verses, fire is given itsjudgementalaspect.Thisisintwoparts–oneispassingthefierytestprescribedbyfollowingthepathoftruth,afterwhichthedestinyofthosewhoaregoodandthosewho are evil is determined through fire. Fire is looked upon as a livingindividualwhichgiveshelptothosewhoarefaithfulandcanseethroughevil.Itis also spoken of as the inner fire of a human mind which alone can repelviolence.




WhoeverlistenstoandthinksofTruthbecomeswiseandhelpslife.Hewillbeeloquentinhisspeechwithwordswhicharetrue.Throughtheblazingfireofjudgementwillyouassignthenextdwellingplacetoallofmankind.


AndforYourfire,OLord,mightythroughtruth,doweyearn;powerfulandgivingclearhelptothosewhoareconstantlyfaithful.But,OGod,thefireseesthroughthosewhoareunfaithfultoYou.


MayIrecognizeYouasholyandpowerful,OLord,who,withamerewaveofthehand,dostfulfilourlongings.Yougiveboththegoodandtheeviltheirjustdesserts.ThroughYourblazingfire,mightywithtruth,willmentalstrengthcometome.


Asholy,indeed,haveIrecognizedThee,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandasked:TowhomshouldIpayhomage?Henceforth,IwillpayhomagetoFirewithallhumility.AndIwilllivebytruth,whichismyowndesire.


Who,OLord,willprotectmewhenevilpersonsthreatenmewithviolence,who,otherthanYourfireandthePureMind.Whentheybothareatworkwithinme,truthprevails,OLord.DeclarethisclearlysothatImayunderstandthisphilosophicaltruth.


Thesethingsaregivenbytheholyspirittous,OGod–throughfireshallbedeterminedthejustduesofbothparties.Whenright-mindednessandtruthincrease,manyseekerswillchoosearight.


Thejustdessertswhicharegiventobothsidesbyyourblazingfire,O

God,throughthemoltenmetaltest–maythatgrantusspiritualguidance.Frustratedwillbethosewhoareevilandblessedthosewhoaregood.

ChapterFour

THEPROBLEMOFEVIL

ZARATHUSTRAISASTAUNCHFOLLOWEROFmonotheism.Thefollowersoftheoldreligion, who believe in many gods, are described as angry and, therefore,harmfulpollutersofthemorallife.Theyaresaidtobeofthefalsespirit–thosewho are liars, those who are self-centered, and those who have doublespeak.Theyhavestrayed from thepathof truth.Yet, theyareanextremelypowerfulgroup, and men doing the worst deeds are said to be beloved of the gods,spreadinghatredandmakingmankindwailinbondage.Threepersonsaresingledoutbyname.ThefirstisYima,whoisnoneother

thanthefamousKingJamshedafterwhomtheNavrozfestivalon21stMarchofeveryyearisnamed.Heissaidtohaveilluminedthematerialsideofthisearthinsteadofthespiritual,andisthuscondemnedbyZarathustra.Theotherpersonmentioned by name is Grehma, whomaywell have been some evil priest orking.Heissaidtodoomlifetodeath,butoncereformedbysufferingwillasktobe instructed correctly. The third person mentioned by name is Bendva, whoagainissaidtobebothaliarandduplicitousbynature,thusleadingZarathustratoforbidhisflockfromassociatingwithsuchpersonsingeneral.

Twoversesareofparticularinterest–onedealingwithblackmagic,andtheother dealingwith the soma cult. Thus, in Chapter 32.10we are told about agroupofblackmagicianswhosay thatseeing theearthand thesunarebadasboth theEarthand thesunwould interferewith theirnefariousdeeds.AnotherinterestingverseisinChapter48.10whichseemstorefertotheRigvediccultofsoma.Soma is said tobe the juicewhich intoxicates theGods in theRigveda,whothendothingsthattheywouldn’thavedoneotherwise.Obviously,thiscultseems to have been powerful in Zarathustra’s time and is denounced by him,stating that the priests of this cult falsely fascinate personswith ‘muther’, thesameastheGujaratiwordforurine.TheextremesofdrugandalcoholabusearewhattheProphetisrailingagainsthere.Theseversesfurthergoontotellusnottobetakeninbyextremeworldlygrandeurandalluringspeech.Falsepreachersare said to distort the scriptures and remove us from our real heritage. Theirdeeds and teachings show them up for what they really are. Ultimately, suchpersonsaredescribedaspersonsofpoorunderstanding, for if theyunderstoodandknewthateveryevilactionwillhaveitsrecompenseintheotherworld,andhencerecoilontheevilpersonhimself,theywouldnotcontinuetobeevil.




Butallyoubelieversinmanygodsareclearlyfromtheevilspirit,andsoarethosewhogreatlyhonouryou.Amongyouareliars,self-centeredpeople,andeventhosewhoareduplicitous,andmenwithoutconscience.


Andso,youhavebroughtaboutasituationwheremendoingtheworstarecalledbelovedof‘thegods’.Theyhavemovedawayfromhigh-mindedness,God’swisdom,andstrayedfromthepathoftruth.


AmongtheseviolentpersonswasVivanhusoandYima,who,desiringtoplacatemankind,illuminedwhatismaterialinsteadofwhatisspiritual

onEarth.FrompersonssuchasthesemayIstandapartontheDayofJudgement.


Thefalseteacherdistortsthescriptures,andthroughhisteachingscorruptslife.Heremovesfromusourrealdesire:thepreciousrealizationofhigh-mindedness.IhavespokenoutwhatisinmymindandappealtoYouandtoTruth.


Suchpersondistortsthescriptureswhenhesaysthatitistheworsttobeoutdoorsandinthesun.Hemakesthegoodfollowevil.Hehurlsweaponsagainsttherighteousandpoisonsourhabitat.


Personslikethiscorruptlife.Theyregardasgreatevillordsandtheirevilladies.Theydepriveusofourtrueinheritance–thebestthattruthhastooffer.Theydistractthemind,OGod.


Throughsuchteachingstheyturnmankindawayfromdoingthebestdeeds.Forsuchasthese,Goddecreesretribution.Theycorruptlifewiththeirglibwords.Grehmapreferstorunafteruntruthinsteadofthetruth.


WhateverpowerthisGrehmahopestowinintheworstmind’sabode,hewillultimatelydestroyhimself.HewillthendesiretoknowwhatisGod’srealmessage.ButIwillwatchoverhisthreatstothosewhoaretruthful.


Grehmaandevilkingsdirecttheirenergies,sincedaysofyore,toensnaregoodpeople.Theyapproachevilpersonsforhelp,anddoomMotherEarthtodeathinthehopethattheyareinvincible.


Thusarebroughttoruintheplansofevilpriestsandevilkings.Theyare

unfittoruleoverpersonswhowillultimatelybecarriedintothedomainofthePureMind.


How,OLord,havethefollowersofpolytheismbecomesopowerful?ThisdoIask:thosewhoareself-centeredhavedeliveredMotherEarthtowrathandcontinuouswailing,likethepriestsofoldandevilrulers,whodonotadvanceandincreasethecauseoftruth.


When,OLord,willtherebemenwhowillcometospreadthefaith?Whenwillthisinfatuationwithpissbeeradicated,throughwhichevilpriestsandwickedrulersofevilintentdupepeopleinthisplace?


Bendvahasalwaysresistedmegreatly.Iwishtowinhimoverfromhisevilways,OLord.InYourmercy,givemetherewardofdefeatinghimbytellinghimabouttherevelationsofthePureMind.


Indeed,Bendvamakesmeanxious.Hisevilteachingsandduplicityseparateshimfromthetruth.NeverdoeshecommunewiththeholyRight-MindednessorthePureMind,OLord.


Godhasdecreedtheteachingthattruthwillprevailanduntruthwillbeneutralized.So,choosecarefully.Therefore,wouldIaskforassociationwiththePureMindandprohibitassociationwithallthosewhoarewicked.


Evilpersonsincreasehatredandcrueltywiththeirspeech–shamprotectors,thewolvesamongshepherds.Thosewhoperpetrateevildon’thaveanydesiretodogooddeeds.SuchmencreatefalseGodsandevilwaysofthinking.


Andthemanwhoseekstodestroycontrarytotheselaws,OGod,ishimselfthechildofthelie.Allsuchareofpoorunderstanding.FormypeoplewillIinvokeTruthtocometouswithitsbestblessings.


NeithertoGod’slawsnortoman’sdothepriestslistenwithreverence.Theydeceivegoodpersons.Throughtheirdeedsandteachingswilltheybeconsignedtotheabodeofwoe/misery.

ChapterFive

INDIVIDUALJUDGEMENT,HEAVEN,HELL,JUDGEMENTDAY,ANDRESURRECTION

THREEVERSESARE SETOUTBYME TOBEGIN thisdifficult subject.Eachof theseverses speaks of life on earth as being a trial run. If one is successful in theordeals of life, by sheer effort and correct choices, one will be triumphantultimately.


UntosuchwillcomeGod’spowerandtruth,amindwhichispure.Right-Mindednesswillgrantcontinuedspiritualprogress,andtheywillbetriumphantintheordealthatislife–asiftheyhavesuccessfullygonethroughmoltenlavaunscathed.


TheseviolentpersonsdonotunderstandtheHerculeaneffortrequiredtotreadthepathoftruth,whichistaughtbylife’smoltenmetaltest.You

knowbest,OLord,whatfateisinstoreforthem.


So,doYougivetometruth,forwhomIyearn,accompaniedbyright-mindedness.Youquestionmankindandtestus–passingthetestmakesusstrong,sothattestedbyYou,mankindismadestrong.

TheversescollatedbelowspeakoflifeonEarth,aswellaswhathappensinthehereafter.ZarathustrarepeatedlyquestionsGodastowhatpunishmentisinstoreforevilpersonshereonEarth.Hisansweristhatretributionoccursatdeath.TheinterestinganswergivenisthateverysoulwilljudgeforitselfwhereitistogodependinguponhowithaslivedlifeonEarth.Afterdeath,thesoulgoesdownthebridgeof theseparatoranddependingon its thoughts,words,anddeeds, itconsignsitselftoeitherheaven,whichistheabodeofsong,orhell,whichistheabode ofmiserable existence. In heaven, the soul enjoys happiness and light,whereasinhellitisgivenretributionforitsevildeedsbyGodHimself,whichisdescribedasanage-longpunishmentindarkness.Theideaofsuchretribution,however,issothatGod’slawscanberevealedto

thosewhohavenotfollowedthemonEarth,sothatatthisstage,atleasttheyaregivenachance tomake thecorrectmoralchoice.Acut-offdateor JudgementDaywillarriveafterwhichallsoulswouldtriumphinHuUrvaTatandAmereTat(perfectioncoupledwithimmortality),whichisnoneotherthantheultimateresurrectionwhichistotakeplace.TheversessetouthereinbelowclearlyandunmistakablystatethesetruthswhichbecomeacentralthemeofreligiontoonegroupofJews,thePharisees,afterKingCyrusofPersiareleasesthemfromtheirbondage inBabylonandallots themfunds to rebuild theirdestroyed temple inJerusalem.TheverysameideasarealsocontainedinChristianityandIslam.




Whentheshort-livedtriumphofthosewhoareevilisdestroyed,theywillgettheirjustdesserts.Afterthis,theywillreachtheabodewherein

dwellsthePureMind,God,andTruth,andtheywillconstantlystrivetodogood.


IfyouunderstandtheseprincipleswhichGodhaslaiddownforman–happinessandmisery–punishmentofalongdurationforthosewhoareevil,andupwardprogressforthosewhoaregood–happinesswillbeyourlot.


ThisdoIaskYou,OLord:

Howwasitinthepastandhowwillitbeinthefuture?Howhaveyounotedthewishesoftherighteousandthoseoftheunrighteous,andhowwillyoudealwiththemoncetheiraccountsareclosed?


Iaskthis:Whatisthepunishmentforthosewhoadvancethepowerofevil-doers,OLord;thosewhofindnothingbetterthantoinjuretheprotectorwhoopposesevil,andtoinjurehishumanflock?


Whoeverfollowsthosewhoarerighteouswillabideinlight.Buttolongagesofdarkness,andwordsofmisery,willtheevilpersonleadhimself,thankstohiswayofthinkingandhisdeeds.


AmongtheseviolentpersonswereVivanhusoandYima,who,desiringtoplacatemankind,illuminedwhatismaterialinsteadofwhatisspiritualonEarth.FrompersonssuchasthesemayIstandapartontheDayofJudgement.


YouareAlmighty,OLord,Right-Mindedness,Truth,andGod’sPower,andyouallblesslife.Listentomeandtakepityonmewhileapportioningjustdessertstoall.


Thatpath,OLord,whichYoupointedouttome–thecreedofallsaviours–thateverygooddeedinspiredbyloftymotivesalonegoesfar.Thisteachingisfortheclear-sighted,leadingtotheultimaterewardwhichyouwillgrant.


Thatreward,OLord,worthhaving,isgrantingspiritualupliftmenttothoseinthefleshfordeedsdonefromapuremind.ThosewhoserveourabundantMotherEarth–throughYourpowerandwisdom,OLord,willdoYourwill–andgainfulfilmentbythetasksoftruth.


MayIrecognizeYouasholyandpowerful,OLord,who,withamerewaveofthehand,dostfulfilourlongings.Yougiveboththegoodandtheeviltheirjustdesserts.ThroughYourblazingfire,mightywithtruth,willmentalstrengthcometome.


Andwhenyoutoldmetofollowtruthtoacquireunderstanding,youdidnottellmetodosomethingwhichwillbeunheededbyme.Iwillbestirwithinmyselfmyconscience,whichwillthenblessmewiththeaccompanimentofgreatlight.Youawardboththesideswiththeirjustdues.



Whathappenstothosewhodonotrewardpersonswhospeakthetruth?Whatistheirpunishmentatpresent?Iknowwhatwillhappentothemattheend.


Toallseekersofsalvation,past,present,andfuture,Ihavethistosay:Thesouloftherighteouswillbevictoriousandwillgainimmortality.Everrenewedaretimesoftroubleforthosewhoareevil.ThisissentbyGodthroughHispower.


Throughtheirpower,priestsandkingswoulddestroymankindthroughtheirevilways.Buttheirownconscienceandthoughtshalltroublethemwhentheycomeneartothebridgeoftheseparator.Throughalltimewilltheyliveintheabodeofmisery.


WhoeverwillaccomplishthroughtruthandhiswillthiscompleterenovationonEarthforZarathustra,tohimwillbegiventherewardofeternallife,togetherwithallthathedesiresfromourbountifulMotherEarth.AllthisYoudidrevealtome,OLord,theWisest.


Throughthisholyspirit,OGod,haveyoupromisedthebesttotherighteous.TheevilpersonwillgethisjustdessertsremovedfromYourlove,becauseofhisevilintentandbaddeeds.


Since,onJudgementDaytruthtriumphsoveruntruth–whenapersonattainsimmortality,whichhasbeensaidtobeadelusion–thenwillthedevoteesofmanygodsandotherpeoplewhowillwitnessthisincreasetheirdevotiontoYou,OLord.


RevealtomewhatYouknow,OLord;whenretributiontakesoverinthelifebeyond.Whethertruthconquersuntruth,OLord.Thatwouldindeedbethegrandfinaleoflife.


Frombeyond,OLord,andTruth,mayIsingthatwhichisrevealedtome–yourjoy-givinghymns.Youcanhelpuswithawaveofthehand(whichIcanseeclearly)whichwillleadustolight.

SPENTAMAINYU–Yas50.11

Iamyourstaunchworshipper,andwillalwaysbe,OLord,aslongasIhavethewillandthestrength.Life’slawsareaccomplishedthroughthePureMind,sothatinaccordwithYourwill,therenovationofmankindisachieved.


Notsatisfactorytome,Zarathustra,isthesmoothpassageofevilkingsthroughthisworld.Because,spiritualgrowthisattainedbythosewho,withardentfervour,toilforit.


Thus,dotheevilcorruptuprightandtruthfulwaysofthinking.Theirsoulswillchidethemandsendthem,whenonthepathoftheseparator,tomisery.Forthistheyarethemselvestoblame,asbytheirownwordsanddeedstheyhavestrayedfromthepathoftruth.





ChapterSix

HUURVATATANDAMERETAT–PERFECTIONANDIMMORTALITY

THE VERSES COLLATED BELOW SPEAK OF what is mankind’s lot in the ultimateanalysis.We are told that once these concepts become clear to man, he willpromotetruth.Also,evilpeoplearesaidtodefraudmankindofbothahappylifeon Earth and immortality in the life beyond. One extremely enigmatic versenamely, Chapter 44 Verse 18 speaks of Zarathustra asking for 10 mares, astallion, and a camel so that he may bring perfection and immortality tomankind. By itself, this versemakes no sense. But when read in conjunctionwithChapter46Verse2,which states thatZarathustra ishelpless andnobodyfollows him because he is aman ofmeagre possessions, everything falls intoplace.InthemountainsinwhichZarathustralived,atleast3,000yearsago,wealth

was in the form of livestock.His asking, therefore, forwealth in the form ofmares,a stallion,andacamel isonlyameans toachieveanend.Hewants tobecomeamanofpropertysothathewillnotbedismissedasa lightweightby

people around him. He can then preach a message that would be understoodevenbythosewhoareskepticalofhimbecauseheisnotwealthy.


Thebestwillbethelotofthewisemanwhospeaksthetruth–wordswhichbringperfectionandimmortalityintherealmoftruth.SuchisGod’spowerthatwiththisthoughtgoodintentwillincreasefromwithin.


Godwillgrantperfectionandimmortality,andthroughhiswholeness,truth,God’spower,andpure-mindedness,allofwhichsustainlife,totheonewhoishisfriendinspiritandinaction.


Thus,didyoucheatmankindofagoodlifeonearthandimmortalityinthefuture.Theevilspiritdeceivedyouintobadthought,word,anddeedwhenittaughtyouthatevilwillreignsupreme.


Carefully,seeforyourselfmypurposewhichIpursuewithagoodmotive.WorshipisofonlyYou,thoughIspeakwordsofpraiseforTruthaswell.Grantustheblessingofperfectionandimmortalityoncelifechangesourdirectiontothepathofgood.


Thesetwospiritualattainments,OLord,aremightypromotersoftruth–theybringlightandstrength.MaythePureMindbringtheirassistancetousfromafar–theywhosesoulsworkasone.


Thepathoftruth–words,deeds,andworship–bringsimmortality,andthroughYourpower,OGod,perfection.Maywebringthistomankindbypropagatingthismostzealously,OLord.


AndbothperfectionandimmortalityleadonwardstolightanddisplaythepowerofthePureMind.Truthandright-mindednessincreasestrength

ofcharacterandmakelifetakeonanewmeaning.Throughtheworkingofthesewillyouropponentsbevanquished.



HowdoIattainthegoalsetbyYou,OLord–howdoIbecomeyourcompanion,sothatImayconvincemankindaboutourcommonfuture,namelyperfectionandimmortality,attainedthroughYourholyword,whichisourbestguideowingtoitstruth?



HowshallIearnthroughtruththatreward:materialwealthintheformoftenmares,ledbyastallion,andacamel,sothatImaybringperfectionandimmortalitytomankind?


IknowwhyIamhelpless–IhaveasmallfollowingbecauseIamamanoffewpossessions.Pleaseconsiderthisfactcarefully,OLord.Iwishfortheblissthatonefriendgivestotheother–teachmeaboutthemightofthePureMindthroughtruth.


IwillexplainwhattheHoliesthasrevealedtome;whatHesaysisbestformortalstohear.Thosewhoobeyandrevereitwillattainperfectionandimmortalityandthroughdeedsdonefromtheloftiestmotives,GodHimself.


Him,throughdevotiontoRight-Mindedness,willIseek–whoisforeverknownastheLordwhoistheGreatCreator.For,throughTruthandthePureMind,HehaspromisedthatthroughHispower,perfectionandimmortalitywillbegiventoallpersons,asalsostrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.


Bytheholyspiritandbestmind,bywordsanddeedsoftruth,perfection

andimmortalityarebestowedbyGod,Hispower,andright-mindedness.

ChapterSeven

REVELATIONANDPRAYER

THE VERSES SET OUT BELOW FIRST SPEAK OF the importance of revelation, andthereafteroftheimportanceofprayer.ThefirstwordeverutteredbyGodissaidtobeawordofsacrifice,sothatlightmaystreamforthandcometoEarthfromheavenlylight.RevelationortheholywordgiventoZarathustrabyGodissaidto be the best possible guide because it is true, and it is said that he whoexpoundsonthistothosewithunderstandingwillattaingreathappiness.

AHUNAVAITI1.7–Yas.29.7

AbsoluteTruthiscreatedbytheholywordofsacrificeutteredbyGod.GodgivesallthegoodthingsofMotherEarthtotheholyprotectorsbecauseoftheirteachingoftruthtomankind.Who,OPureMind,doyouhaveinmind,whowillsavemankind?


Whothroughthatfirstwordbroughtlightdowntousfromheavenly

light?Whothroughhiswisdomisthecreatoroftruth?TheupholderoftheHighest(mentally).ThatlightdoYoubrightenwithinus,whichhasotherwiseremaineddormanttillnow.


ToYoudoweturnourminds,fulloftherevelationsofthePureMindandthedeedsofholymen,whosesoulsareatonewithtruth.LeadusnearYou,OLord,worshippingYoubysingingYourpraises.



HowdoIattainthegoalsetbyYou,OLord?HowdoIbecomeyourcompanion,sothatImayconvincemankindaboutourcommonfuture,namelyperfectionandimmortality,attainedthroughYourholyword,whichisourbestguideowingtoitstruth.


IwillexplainwhattheHoliesthasrevealedtome.WhatHesaysisbestformortalstohear.Thosewhoobeyandrevereitwillattainperfectionandimmortalityandthroughdeedsdonefromtheloftiestmotives,GodHimself.


YourmessagewillIpreach–thisshouldbeproclaimedonlytothosewithunderstanding.Miserywillcometothosewhoareevil–andhappinesstothosewhoclingtotruth.Hewhospreadsthiswordtothosewhounderstandwillbehappy.

The verses on prayer divide themselves into three groups. The first speaks ofprayer being important as a reminder of how to lead lifemorally.The secondmakes it clear that, correctly stated, they will guide the path of a person’stongue, so that he may both instruct other persons and lift up his voice inadorationofGod.Thethirdgrouptellsusthatifsomethingisaskedforbywayof prayer, it is answered, provided thatwhat is asked for is righteous.We aretold that the best reward that prayer can give is goodness as it enures to thebenefitofeverybodyelse.Someoftheversestellushowbothpersonswhoare

good,aswellaspersonswhoareevil,alikepray,sothatunlessprayerisdirectedto righteous ends, it is of no avail.Theverses inChapter50 speakof ecstaticsingingofhymnswhichbringsmankindbacktoitscreator.


Youknowthosewhoaretruthful,wise,andupright,OLord.Fulfiltheirdesires,forIknowthatprayersbysuchdevoutpersonstofurthergoodnesswillnotremainunansweredbyyou.


So,throughprayermayIberemindedoftruthandhigh-mindednessforever.PleasetellmeYourself,OLord,(throughYourownmouth)howlifefirstcameintobeing.


GodbearsinmindallprayersmadetoHim,past,present,andfuture;thosemadebyordinarypeopleaswellasthebelieversinmanygods.Godisthesolejudge;soletGod’swillbedone.


ToGodprayallthreegradesoftheMaghabrotherhood,asalsothebelieversinmanygods,inthesamewayandasearnestly.Maythebrotherhoodbecomeyourmessengerstorepelthosewhospreadduplicity.


UnfoldYourselfwithinme,OLord.Grantmethestrengthofcharacterthroughright-mindedness.Throughtheholiestspirit,OLord,grantmegoodnessasarewardforprayer.Grantmealifefullofvigourthroughtruth,andmaythePureMindlookafterme.


WhathelpwillcometoYourworshipper?WhathelpwillcometoZarathustrafromthePureMind?Iwouldsinghymnstopleaseyou,OLord,askingforthatwhichisbest.


AndworshippingYouandpraisingYou,OGod,withTruthandPure

MindandYourpower,mayhewhodesirestohearYourrevelationlistentoYourdevoteesintheabodeofsong.


Frombeyond,OLord,andTruth,mayIsingthatwhichisrevealedtome–yourjoygivinghymns.Youcanhelpuswithawaveofthehand(whichIcanseeclearly)whichwillleadustolight.


I,Zarathustra,willsingtheseupliftinghymns,OLord,befriendedbyTruth,inallhumility.MaytheCreatorofWisdomalwaysguidemytongue–mayheteachmeandguidemethroughthePureMind.


Leadmetothepathtoadoreyou,OLord,TruthandthemightyPureMind,sothatleadingus,youbecomeourhelpers.


EverwithchantswhichwelluptoYoufromwithin,mayIreachYouwithhandsuplifted,OLord.AsYourhumbledevotee,mayIreachTruthandthegreatwisdomofthePureMind.


WiththesehymnsofpraisemayIcometoyou,OLord,OTruth,andthroughdeeds,tothePureMindwhenIhavefullyachievedallIhavesetouttodo.IyearntobecomethepossessorofYourwisdom.

ChapterEight

ATTRIBUTESTHATLEADTOGOD

AN IMPORTANTATTRIBUTEWHICHCOMES toapersonwho livesby truth is tobefarseeing,whichissetoutinChapter33.13.


Givemebliss,makemefarseeingandrevealtomeYourincomparablegifts–Yourpower,and theblessingsof thePureMind.OHolyRight-Mindedness,teachusclearlyastohowtruthguidesourwayofthinking.

AnotherattributeisgratitudesetoutinChapter31.5.


DeclarewhatistrueuntomesothatImaydecideastowhatisbetterforme.ThatImayknowthisthroughthepuremindandfeelexaltedinwhatever

goodmaycometome–whetheritcomesordoesnotcome.

Anumberofversesspeakofhumility.Theseareself-explanatoryandaresetoutinthischapter.


TotheAlmightyGod,Iprayinallhumility,withupliftedhandswhichreachoutforperfecthappiness.Thisprayeris,firstofall,totheGoodSpirit,whichIseektoemulatethroughdeedsdonefortheloveoftruth.Thesedeedsarewhatbringwisdom,thehighestthatthemindcanattain.ItisthiswisdomthatMotherEarthneedsthemostsothatpeacecanbebroughttoher.



WhowillIassociatewith–therighteousorthosewhoareevil?OnwhichsideamI–thevictimortheperpetratorofevil?Thedoerofevilsetshimselfagainsttruthanditsrewards–isitnotthatsuchpersonasthisthinksnotaright?


Andthis,OLord,willIfindinYourabode,inYourgreatdominion–thePureMind,andthesoulsoftherighteous,who,filledwithhumilityandthedesiretoberight-minded,lookkindlyonmankindinsupport.


Questioningaboutalltheseastohowheshouldadvancelifeintruth,theProtector,uprightinhisdeeds,acquiresgoodinsightthroughhumility.Heisthetrueguidetothosewhoarewise,bringingthemblessings.

MeditationissaidtobebestforspiritualgrowthinChapter43.15.


AsholyindeedhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandsaidthatsilentmeditationisgoodforspiritualgrowth.Nevershouldanypersontrytoplacateevilpersonsfortheywillalwaysregardthe

righteousastheirenemies.

ProgressissaidtobeachievedonlythrougheffortinChapter32.7.


TheseviolentpersonsdonotunderstandtheHerculeaneffortrequiredtotreadthepathoftruth,whichistaughtbylife’smoltenmetaltest.Youknowbest,OLord,whatfateisinstoreforthem.

Thosewho are poor andmeek are to be protected. The verses set out hereinbelowalso tellus thathardenedsinnersmaybecomefamousonEarthbutwillfailwhenGodultimatelyjudgesthem.Worldlygrandeurhindersmankindfromobtaining its ultimategoal, amanof small possessionsbeingmore inclined totruth than great lords and their ladies.God’s law is to defend and protect themeek, which law gets defeated when those who are strong oppress the meekinsteadofprotectingthem.


Thusdeluded,acompletesinnermightappeartosucceedandbecomefamous.ButGod,whoremembersall,isawareofhisrealworth–forverilyTruth,High-Mindedness,andGod’spower,allofwhichinstructus,shallprevail.


Personslikethiscorruptlife.Theyregardasgreatevillordsandtheirevilladies.Theydepriveusofourtrueinheritance–thebestthattruthhastooffer.Theydistractthemind,OGod.


HowgreatisYourpower,andmywishtodogooddeeds,sothatImaybewithYou,OLord,TruthandPureMind.Inordertoprotectthoseinneed,wespeakofYouasaboveallothersandapartfrom‘otherGods’andwickedmen.


Ofthosepersonswhodogoodareevilpersonswhoareafraidofthem–buttheyareharmfultomany.Beingpowerful,theyoppressmankind,defyingYourlaw,OGod.ThosewhostrayfromthepathoftrutharefarawayfromthePureMind.




Beingslavestotheirownpassions,thosewhoareevilarefilledwithhatred,andstrugglewiththemselves.Theyhatethosewhoaregood.Whowillopposesuchpersonswitheverythingathiscommand?OLord,itisthroughYourpowerthatYougivetotherighteousmeektheultimatereward.

Non-violence is an important fundamental of the faith. Violence is onlypermittedtoresistapersonwhocomestomurderyou.Thisisbestbroughtoutinthefollowingverses: AHUNAVAITI–Yas.31.18

Letnotanyofyoulistentothewordsandteachingsofthosewhoareevil.Becausesuchpersonsmakethisearthamiserableplace.Itisonlywhensuchpersonscometokillyouthatyoucanresisttheirviolencewithviolence.


Keephatredfarawayandsteelyourselvesagainstviolence,thoseofyouwhowishtoclingontothebestwisdom.Toincreasetruth,beinthecompanyofholymen,whowillleadsuchpersonstoYourabode,OLord.

ChapterNine

HAPPINESSANDLIGHT

‘HAPPINESS TO HIM WHO GIVES HAPPINESS to whomsoever else’ is the openingstatementoftheUstavaitiGatha.Intheversessetoutinthischapter,whatisachievedbyfollowingthepathof

truth is happiness here on Earth and upward progress in the realms of lighthereafter. This is brought out well in the verses set out here, which are self-explanatory. One other interesting thing spoken of is the fact that light arisesfromwithinanditisfromstrivingforlightthatmanultimatelyattainslight.


ToAlmightyGod,Iprayinallhumility,withupliftedhands,whichreachoutforperfecthappiness.ThisprayerisfirstofalltotheGoodSpirit,whichIseektoemulatethroughdeedsdonefortheloveoftruth.Thesedeedsarewhatbringwisdom,thehighestthatthemindcanattain.ItisthiswisdomthatMotherEarthneedsmostsothatpeacecanbebroughttoher.




IfyouunderstandtheseprincipleswhichGodhaslaiddownforman–happinessandmisery,andpunishmentofalongdurationforthosewhoareevil,andupwardprogressforthosewhoaregood–happinesswillbeyourlot.


Who,throughthatfirstword,broughtlightdowntousfromheavenlylight?Who,throughhiswisdomisthecreatoroftruth?TheupholderoftheHighest(mentally).ThatlightdoYoubrightenwithinus,whichhasotherwiseremaineddormanttillnow.


Whoeverfollowsthosewhoarerighteouswillabideinlight.Buttolongagesofdarknessandwordsofmisery,willtheevilpersonleadhimself,thankstohiswayofthinkingandhisdeeds.


WhateverisduetoYou,OLord,andtoTruth,willIgivewithallhumility.Allliveswhich,withYourpower,promotethePureMind,andcanbeseenasgood(inrealmsfarawayfromEarth)haveblissforeverwhenlivingwithGod.


AndbothperfectionandimmortalityleadonwardstolightanddisplaythepowerofthePureMind.Truthandright-mindednessincreasestrengthofcharacterandmakelifetakeonanewmeaning.Throughtheworkingsofthesewillyouropponentsbevanquished.


Happinesstohimwhogiveshappinesstowhomsoeverelse.MayGod,whorulesatwill,grantthis.Iwishforprogress,strengthofcharacter,andliferenewed.Forupholdingtruth,granttome,ORight-Mindedness,the

blessingsofalifespentwithamindilluminedbylight.


Tohimwillcomeallthatisbest.Throughstrivingforlight,manwillattainlight.Asdidthewiseholyspirit,OGod.Granttoustruth,andthemightofthePureMind,growingeverydaywithinusinalonglifeoffulfilment.


Andwhenyoutoldmetofollowtruthtoacquireunderstanding,youdidnottellmetodosomethingwhichwillbeunheededbyme.Iwillbestirwithinmyselfmyconsciencewhichwillthenblessmewiththeaccompanimentofgreatlight.Youawardboththesideswiththeirjustdues.


ThewiseLordgivestohisbelovedmankind–tomypeople,OLord–thegiftofjoywhichcomesfromtruthandstrength.Allmenwilluniteindefenceofyourteachingandindefenceofthosewhoaremindfulofyourhymns.


GodandthePureMinddoIseektoworship,who,inhisplan,hasmadeforusbothgoodanditsopposite,evil.God’spowerhasmadeusserveourhumanflocksothattheyadvancetothehighesttruthandwisdom.


Letrulersofgoodunderstandingrule–notthoseofpoorunderstanding–bydeedswhicharebothgoodandwise,ORight-Mindedness.Dedicationtopurityfrombirthonwardsisbestformankind.ForMotherEarthshouldwetoil,leadingallmentotherealmsoflight.


Ofoneaccordareyouallingrantingusblessings,OTruth,thePureMind,andthewordofRight-Mindedness.WithhumilitywillYourworshipperyearnforbliss,OGod.

VERSETRANSLATIONOFTHEGATHAS

GATHAAHUNAVAITI

Chapter28


ToAlmightyGod,Iprayinallhumility,withupliftedhands,whichreachoutforperfecthappiness.Thisprayeris,firstofall,tothegoodspirit,whichIseektoemulatethroughdeedsdonefortheloveoftruth.Thesedeedsarewhatbringwisdom,thehighestthatthemindcanattain.ItisthiswisdomthatMotherEarthneedsmostsothatpeacecanbebroughttoher.


Iwouldreachyou,OLord,throughthePureMind.Grantmebothphysicalandmentalwell-being,therewardsoflivingbytruth.ThosewhoarefaithfultoYouwillbeledbyYouintolight(asopposedtodarkness).


ToYou,OTruth,andPureMind,shallIcomposehymnsasneverbefore,anduntotheLord,theGreatCreator,aswell.Then,byYourlimitlesspower,shallright-mindednessincreasewhich,wheninvoked,comestoustograntusperfecthappiness.


Thesoul/humanmindonattuningitselftothepuremind,willbecomeawarethatitisblessedbecauseithasdonegooddeedsfortheloveofGod.Therefore,aslongasIhavethewillandthestrength,willIteachmankindtostrivefortruth.


Onself-realizationthroughwisdom,whenwillIactuallyseetheveryembodimentoftruthandthepuremind?ThepathtoAlmightyGodis

embodimentoftruthandthepuremind?ThepathtoAlmightyGodisobediencetoHiswill.(Thisisself-realization.)Throughthisexcellentversewillwickedpeople,bywordofmouth,betaughttochoosecorrectly.


Youtoldme,OLord,thatfollowingthepathoftruthgivesgiftswhichareofanenduringnature–namelyeverlastinghappinesswhichalonecanovercomehatred.


Grant,OTruth,therewardofwhatisthebestthatthemindcanachieve.ORight-Mindedness,grantthistoVistaspaandtomypeople,throughYourpower,OLord,sothatYourworshippersmaycarryoutYourwishes.


Iwishforthebestfromthebest–fromtruthandYou,OLord,forFrashostraandformypeople.Thisisnothinglessthanthehighestmentalillumination/joythroughalltime.


Never,OLord,OTruth,andOPureMind,mayweprovoketoanger.MaywecometoYouwithhymnsofpraise,forYouarethebesttoinvokeinprayer.


Youknowthosewhoaretruthful,wise,andupright,OLord.Fulfiltheirdesires–for,Iknowthatprayersbysuchdevoutpersonstofurthergoodnesswillnotremainunansweredbyyou.


So,throughprayermayIberemindedoftruthandhigh-mindednessforever.PleasetellmeYourself,OLord,(throughyourownmouth)howlifefirstcameintobeing.

Chapter29


ToYou,OLord,didMotherEarthcomplain:Whydidyoucreatemeinthefirstplace?Iamsurroundedbyanger,rapine,andviolence,whichaggressivelythreatenme.Forme,thereisnoprotectorotherthanYou.Sotellmewhowillprotectmeeffectivelyagainstthisonslaught.


ThereuponthecreatorofMotherEarthaskedAbsoluteTruth:WhereistheprotectorforMotherEarthwhocanzealouslyperformthistask?Whichpowerfulpersoncanrepelsuchhatredandanger?


ToGod,theAbsoluteTruth,whobindsalltogether,andisinimicaltonone,replied:Nosuchoneisknowntomewhocanfightonthesideoftheupright.Ofalllivingpersonsmusthebeverystrong.Iwilltrytorespondassoonaspossible.


GodbearsinmindallprayersmadetoHim,past,present,andfuture;thosemadebyordinarypeopleaswellasthebelieversinmanygods.Godisthesolejudge:soletGod’swillbedone.


Therefore,maywewithhandsuplifted,receiveGod’sgrace.BountifulMotherEarthrequestsGodthus:Nevermayharmcometothosewhoareuprightortotheirleader,thoughtheybesurroundedbyevilpersons.


ThereuponspokeGod,whopervadeseverythingwithHiswisdom:Isnotasinglepowerfulpersonoraprotectorwhoisrighteousknowntoyou?IsthiswhyImadeyouprotectorofallthingscreatedbyme?


AbsolutetruthiscreatedbytheholywordofsacrificeutteredbyGod.God

AbsolutetruthiscreatedbytheholywordofsacrificeutteredbyGod.GodgivesallthegoodthingsofMotherEarthtotheholyprotectorsbecauseoftheirteachingoftruthtomankind.Who,OPureMind,doyouhaveinmind,whowillsavemankind?


ThePureMindanswers:Onesuchisknowntome–somebodywholistenedtoourteaching–ZarathustraSpitama.AboutGodandtruthishewillingtospeak.Granthim,therefore,thegiftofeloquence.


MotherEarthwailed:HowdoIacceptsuchfeeblesupport–acowardlyperson–whenIwantedapowerfulLord.When,ifever,willIgeteffectivehelpfromastrongprotector?


Doyou,OLord,Truth,andGod’sPower,grantstrengthtohimsothathecangiveuspeaceandmakeMotherEarthagoodplacetolivein?Himdoweacceptasourfirstsaviour.


Whenwilltruth,thepuremind,andGod’spowercometome?PleasegiverecognitiontotheMaghabrotherhood,whowillspreadyourteaching.Nowthathelphasarrived,wewillserveyouasprotectorsoflifeonearth.

Chapter30






Now,inthebeginning,thereweretwospirits.Theyweretwins(equalinallrespects)andgotonwellamongthemselves.Inthought,word,anddeed,theyrevealthemselvesasGoodandEvil.Thosewhoareofgreaterunderstandingchoosetobeupright;notsothosewhoareoflesserunderstanding.


Inthebeginning,whenthesetwospiritsworkedtogether,onefosteredlifeandtheotherdestroyedit.Sowillitbe:Theworsttothosewhoareevil,andthebesttothosewhoaregood.


Ofthosetwospirits,onechosetodoitsworst,whereastheholyspiritchosetolivebytruth.TheholyspiritclothesitselfinlightimperishableandpleasesGodbywillinglydoinggooddeedsfromgoodmotives.




UntosuchwillcomeGod’spower,amindwhichispure,andtruth.Right-Mindednesswillgrantcontinuedspiritualprogress,andtheywillbetriumphantintheordealthatislife–asiftheyhavesuccessfullygonethroughmoltenlavaunscathed.




Thosewhomakelifeworthlivingforothershaverealcompanionshipwithtruth.Suchpersonsareclear-mindedandfreefromdoubt,andareabletowithstandfalsehoodwheneverreasonswaysindoubt.


Whentheshort-livedtriumphofthosewhoareevilisdestroyed,theywillgettheirjustdesserts.Afterthis,theywillreachtheabodewhereindwellsthePureMind,God,andTruth,andtheywillconstantlystrivetodogood.


IfyouunderstandtheseprincipleswhichGodhaslaiddownforMan–happinessandmisery–punishmentofalongdurationforthosewhoareevil,andupwardprogressforthosewhoaregood–happinesswillbeyourlot.

Chapter31


Bearinginmindthesedivinelawsdowedeliveramessagehithertounheard.Peoplefollowtheirevilways,whichdestroytruthinthisworld.ThismessageisunderstoodbestbythosewhohavefaithinGod.


Blindedbytheteachingsofthosewhoareevil,thebetterpathisnotclearlyinsight.Therefore,haveIcometoyouallasGod’sappointedinstructor.Godhassentmeasaninstructortobothgoodandevilpersonssothatwemayallliveinaccordancewithtruth.




Whenwillyoulistentome,OTruth,andyou,OLord,inallyourmanifestations,andyou,ORight-Mindedness?ThenshallIwishthroughthebestmindthatGod’smightypowerisbestowedonusthroughtheworkingofwhichtheincreaseofevilmaybeovercome.


DeclarewhatistrueuntomesothatImaydecideastowhatisbetterforme.ThatImayknowthisthroughthepuremindandfeelexaltedinwhatevergoodmaycometome–whetheritcomesordoesnotcome.


Thebestwillbethelotofthewisemanwhospeaksthetruth–wordswhichbringperfectionandimmortalityintherealmoftruth.SuchisGod’spower,thatwiththisthought,goodintentwillincreasefromwithin.


Who,throughthatfirstword,broughtlightdowntousfromheavenlylight.

Who,throughthatfirstword,broughtlightdowntousfromheavenlylight.Who,throughhiswisdom,isthecreatoroftruth.Theupholderofthehighest(mentally).ThatlightdoYoubrightenwithinus,whichhasotherwiseremaineddormanttillnow.


MayIthinkofYouasfirstandlast–thebeallandendallofeverything–always.Asthefatherofthehighestmind.MayIbeholdYouinmymind’seyeasthetruecreatoroftruthandthelordovertheactionsoftheliving.




Sobetweenthesetwo,letthechoiceasshepherdbeforamanwhopossessestruth,apromoterofthebestofintentions.Never,OLord,mayawolfinsheep’sclothingpurporttospreadYourmessage.


Fromthebeginning,OLord,Youcreatedlifeandthoughttomindsofunderstanding.Youcreatedupliftmentformankind–afterall,deeds,teachings,andwillsareamatterofindividualchoice.




Thesequestionsareaskedopenlyorsecretly.When,forasmallactofviolence,oneundergoesthehighestpenance,thisisobservedbyYouclearly,alongwithTruth.


ThisdoIaskYou,OLord:Howwasitinthepastandhowwillitbeinthefuture?HowhaveYounotedthewishesoftherighteousandthoseofthe

future?HowhaveYounotedthewishesoftherighteousandthoseoftheunrighteous,andhowwillyoudealwiththemoncetheiraccountsareclosed?


Iaskthis:Whatisthepunishmentforthosewhoadvancethepowerofevildoers,OLord?Thosewhofindnothingbetterthantoinjuretheprotectorwhoopposesevil,andtoinjurehishumanflock.


Iaskthis:Anymanwhostrivesearnestlytoincreasetruthinthehome,inthetown,inthedistrict,orintheentirenation–howishetoactsothatheisofoneaccordwithYou,OLord.


Whichofthetwopathsdoeithertherighteousorunrighteouschooseasthebetterone?Lettheenlightenedpersonexplainthistothemanofgoodunderstanding.Letthemanofpoorunderstandingnotleadusastray.DoYou,OGod,instructusaboutthepurityofthemind.


Letnotanyofyoulistentothewordsandteachingsofthosewhoareevil.Becausesuchpersonsmakethisearthamiserableplace.Itisonlywhensuchpersonscometokillyouthatyoucanresisttheirviolencewithviolence.


WhoeverlistenstoandthinksofTruthbecomeswiseandhelpslife.Hewillbeeloquentinhisspeechwithwordswhicharetrue.Throughtheblazingfireofjudgementwillyouassignthenextdwellingplacetoallofmankind.


Whoeverfollowsthosewhoarerighteouswillabideinlight.Buttolongagesofdarkness,andwordsofmisery,willtheevilpersonleadhimself,thankstohiswayofthinkingandhisdeeds.


Godwillgrantperfectionandimmortality,and,throughhiswholeness,truth,God’spower,andpure-mindedness,allofwhichsustainlife,toonewhoishisfriendinspiritandinaction.

hisfriendinspiritandinaction.


Cleararetheseteachingstothewiseandtothosewhosemindsareattunedtohigh-mindedness.WiththehelpofGod’spowerandtruthsuchperson,throughhiswordsanddeeds,helpsGod.

Chapter32


ToGodprayallthreegradesoftheMaghabrotherhood,asalsothebelieversinmanygods,inthesamewayandasearnestly.Maythebrotherhoodbecomeyourmessengerstorepelthosewhospreadduplicity.


Tothem,thePureMind,whoisunitedinGod,throughhispowerreplied:associatecloselywithTruth.BegoodandunitewithRight-Mindedness.Holdfastuntothem.


Butallyoubelieversinmanygodsareclearlyfromtheevilspirit–andsoarethosewhogreatlyhonouryou.Amongyouareliars,self-centeredpeopleandeventhosewhoareduplicitous,andmenwithoutconscience.


Andsoyouhavebroughtaboutasituationwheremendoingtheworstarecalledbelovedof‘thegods’.Theyhavemovedawayfromhigh-mindedness,God’swisdom,andstrayedfromthepathoftruth.


Thus,didyoucheatmankindofagoodlifeonEarth,andimmortalityinthefuture.Theevilspiritdeceivedyouintobadthought,word,anddeedwhenittaughtyouthatevilwillreignsupreme.


Thusdeluded,acompletesinnermightappeartosucceedandbecomefamous.ButGod,whoremembersall,isawareofhisrealworth–forverilyTruth,High-Mindedness,andGod’spower,allofwhichinstructus,shallprevail.


TheseviolentpersonsdonotunderstandtheHerculeaneffortrequiredtotreadthepathoftruth,whichistaughtbylife’smoltenmetaltest.Youknow

treadthepathoftruth,whichistaughtbylife’smoltenmetaltest.Youknowbest,OLord,whatfateisinstoreforthem.


AmongtheseviolentpersonswereVivanhusoandYima,who,desiringtoplacatemankind,illuminedwhatismaterialinsteadofwhatisspiritualonEarth.FrompersonssuchasthesemayIstandapartontheDayofJudgement.


Thefalseteacherdistortsthescriptures,andthroughhisteachingscorruptslife.Heremovesfromusourrealdesire–thepreciousrealizationofhigh-mindedness.IhavespokenoutwhatisinmymindandappealtoYouandtoTruth.


Suchpersondistortsthescriptureswhenhesaysitisworsttobeoutdoorsandinthesun.Hemakesthegoodfollowevil.Hehurlsweaponsagainsttherighteousandpoisonsourhabitat.


Personslikethiscorruptlife.Theyregardasgreat,evillordsandtheirevilladies.Theydepriveusofourtrueinheritance–thebestthattruthhastooffer.Theydistractthemind,OGod.


Throughsuchteachingstheyturnmankindawayfromdoingthebestdeeds.Forsuchasthese,Goddecreesretribution.Theycorruptlifewiththeirglibwords.Grehmapreferstorunafteruntruthinsteadofthetruth.


WhateverpowerthisGrehmahopestowinintheworstmind’sabodehewillultimatelydestroyhimself.HewillthendesiretoknowwhatisGod’srealmessage.ButIwillwatchoverhisthreatstothosewhoaretruthful.


Grehmaandevilkingsdirecttheirenergiessincethedaysofyore,toensnaregoodpeople.Theyapproachevilpersonsforhelp,anddoomMotherEarthto

goodpeople.Theyapproachevilpersonsforhelp,anddoomMotherEarthtodeathinthehopethattheyareinvincible.


Thusarebroughttoruintheplansofevilpriestsandevilkings.Theyareunfittoruleoverpersonswhowillultimatelybecarriedintothedomainofthepuremind.


Thisisthetrueteachingofateacherwhoisfollowedcorrectly.Youhavepoweroverthosewhoplantomenaceme.Therefore,Iwillrestrainviolentandevilpersonsfromhurtingyourdevotees.

Chapter33


InaccordwithdivineprinciplesdoIact;thesearethelawsgoverninglifefromtheverybeginning.TheTeacherwillactjustlytoboththerighteousandtheunrighteousandweightheadmixtureoffalsehoodandtruthineach.


Whosoeverfrustratesevilbythought,word,ordeed,orinstructshiscompaniontodogood,accomplisheslife’spurposeoutofloveforGod.


Whosoeveruntotherighteousisthebest,whetherhebeofanygradeoftheMaghabrotherhood,orhelpswithzealtheliving,willbeatonewithtruth,andwilldwellinthepasturesofthePureMind.


Therefore,actingagainstmyconscience,andevilintent,willIcorrectbyprayer,OLord.Andfromthespirituallyself-sufficientwillIprayawayperversethought;fromtheworkerwhospreadsthefaiththeenvyofhisevilrelations;andfromthefriendtomankindslanderers;andfromMotherEarth,theteacherofevil.


Therefore,doIinvokeConscience,thebestofall,toreachourfinalgoalwhichislonglifeinthesecurityofthepuremind,havingfollowedthestraightpathoftruth,whichleadstowhereGodalonerules.


Therefore,asinvokerofTruth’sstraightpathdoIpraywiththehighestorloftiestmotives.IinvokeHisGrace.ThatImayfulfilmyroleastheprotector,asplanned.Therefore,doIwishavisionofGodandcommunicationwithGod.


Cometome,OBestofAll,unmistakablyinyourownperson,togetherwith

Cometome,OBestofAll,unmistakablyinyourownperson,togetherwithTruthandPureMind,inorderthatImaybeheardbeyondtheMaghabrotherhood.MayYougivetousclearlythedutieswehavetoperformwhicharededicatedwithhumblereverencetoYou.


CarefullyseeforYourselfmypurposewhichIpursuewithagoodmotive.WorshipisofonlyYou,thoughIspeakwordsofpraisefortruthaswell.Grantustheblessingofperfectionandimmortalityoncelifechangesourdirectiontothepathofgood.


Thesetwospiritualattainments,OLord,aremightypromotersoftruth–theybringlightandstrength.MaythePureMindbringtheirassistancetousfromafar–theywhosesoulsworkasone.


Allliveswellspent–past,present,orfuture,OLord,areYours.OutofYourgrace,allowthePureMind,Truth,andYourpowertocometousandincreasewithinushappiness.


YouareAlmighty,OLord,Right-Mindedness,Truth,andGod’spower,andYouallblesslife.Listentomeandtakepityonmewhileapportioningjustdessertstoall.


UnfoldYourselfwithinme,OLord.Grantmestrengthofcharacterthroughright-mindedness.Throughtheholiestspirit,OLord,grantmegoodnessasarewardforprayer.Grantmealifefullofvigourthroughtruth,andmaythePureMindlookafterme.


Givemebliss,makemefar-seeing,andrevealtomeyourincomparablegifts–Yourpower,andtheblessingsofthePureMind.OHolyRight-Mindedness,teachusclearlyastohowtruthguidesourwayofthinking.


Therefore,ZarathustraoffershimselfandhisupliftmenttoGod,anddedicatesthefirstfruitsofhisthoughtinspiredbytheloftiestmotives,hisdeedsoftruth,andhiswordsutteredaccordingtohisconscience–ineffect,hiswholebeing.

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Thepathoftruth–words,deeds,andworship,bringsimmortality,andthroughYourpower,OGod,perfection.Maywebringthistomankindbypropagatingthismostzealously,OLord.


ToYoudoweturnourminds,fulloftherevelationsofthePureMindandthedeedsofholymen,whosesoulsareatonewithtruth.LeadusnearYou,OLord,worshippingYoubysingingYoupraises.


WhateverisduetoYou,OLord,andtoTruth,willIgivewithallhumility.Allliveswhich,withYourpower,promotethePureMind,andcanbeseenasgood(inrealmsfarawayfromEarth)haveblissforeverwhenlivingwithGod.


AndforYourfire,OLord,mightythroughtruth,doweyearn;powerfulandgivingclearhelptothosewhoareconstantlyfaithful.But,OGod,thefireseesthroughthosewhoareunfaithfultoYou.


HowgreatisYourpower,andmywishtodogooddeeds,sothatImaybewithYou,OLord,Truth,andPureMind?Inordertoprotectthoseinneed,wespeakofYouasaboveallothersandapartfrom‘othergods’andwickedmen.


SinceYouaresuchinreality,OLord,Truth,andPureMind,guidemewhendoubtsarise,ateverystageoflife,sothatyourworshipperisfreefromtheloadwhichultimatelyweighsthesouldown.


Whereareyourdevotees,OLord,whosemindsarefilledwith

Whereareyourdevotees,OLord,whosemindsarefilledwithunderstanding?Who,intimesofillfortuneandtrouble,teachusaboutourtrueinheritancewhichliberatesourmindsfromthethoughtofthemiserybroughtaboutbyretribution?NobodyotherthanYoudoIacknowledge.Therefore,protectmankindthroughtruth.


Ofthosepersonswhodogoodareevilpersonswhoareafraidofthem–buttheyareharmfultomany.Beingpowerful,theyoppressmankind,defyingYourlaw,OGod.ThosewhostrayfromthepathoftrutharefarawayfromthePureMind.


HolyRight-Mindedness,bounteousandwise,isignoredbythosedoingevil.Theyareignorantofpure-mindedness.Fromsuchasthese,truthwithdrawscompletely,justasunculturedandevilpersonswithdrawfromgoodpersons.


Untosuch,doingdeedsoutofpuremotives,dopersonsofgoodunderstandingspeakabouttheHolyRight-Mindedness,whichgivestrueunderstandingandputspersonsonthepathoftruth.AllofthemwillcometoYou,OLord,oncetheyhaveknowledgeofYourdominionoverall.


AndbothperfectionandimmortalityleadonwardstolightanddisplaythepowerofthePureMind.Truthandright-mindednessincreasestrengthofcharacterandmakelifetakeonanewmeaning.Throughtheworkingofthesewillyouropponentsbevanquished.


WhatisYourlaw,Yourwill,concerningYourworship.Speaktomeclearly,OLord,sothattheblessingsofrectitudecomeuponus.Leadusontothepathoftruthandself-realizationthroughthepuremind.


Thatpath,OLord,whichYoupointedouttome–thecreedofallsaviours–thateverygooddeedinspiredbyloftymotivesalone,goesfar.Thisteachingisfortheclear-sighted,leadingtotheultimaterewardwhichYouwillgrant.

isfortheclear-sighted,leadingtotheultimaterewardwhichYouwillgrant.


Thatreward,OLord,worthhaving,isgrantingspiritualupliftmenttothoseinthefleshfordeedsdonefromapuremind.ThosewhoserveourabundantMotherEarth–throughYourpowerandwisdom,OLord,willdoYourwill–andgainfulfillmentbytasksoftruth.


OGod,teachmehowtobebestinwordanddeed.ThisiswhatIyearnforinmyprayer,praisingTruthandthePureMind.ThroughYourpower,makemylifetakeanewdirection,nowthattruthhasenteredit.

GATHAUSTAVAITI

Chapter43


Happinesstohimwhogiveshappinesstowhomsoeverelse.MayGodwhorulesatwillgrantthis.Iwishforprogress,strengthofcharacter,andliferenewed.Forupholdingtruth,granttome,ORight-Mindedness,theblessingsofalifespentwithamindilluminedbylight.


Tohimwillcomeallthatisbest.Throughstrivingforlight,manwillattainlight.Asdidthewiseholyspirit,OGod.Granttoustruth,andthemightofthePureMind,growingeverydaywithinusinalonglifeoffulfillment.


Surelythebestwillcometohimwhoteachesusaboutthepathofrighteousness,whichleadstobliss,bothmentalandphysical,leadingtotheworldsofrealitywhereGoddwells.MayYourdevotee,whoiswiseandgood,beonewithYou,OGod.


MayIrecognizeYouasholyandpowerful,OLord,who,withamerewaveofthehand,doesfulfilourlongings.Yougiveboththegoodandtheeviltheirjustdesserts.ThroughYourblazingfire,mightywithtruth,willmentalstrengthcometome.


IhaverealizedthatYouareholy,OLord,whenIrecognizedthatYouwerethefirst,evenbeforelifecameintobeing.Youhaveordainedthatallwordsanddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andtheblessingsof

anddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andtheblessingsofwell-beingtothosewhoaregood.Thusshallitbetilltheultimategoalofcreationisreached.


AtwhichgoalYoustand,OLord,withtheholyspirit,YourpowerandthePureMind,throughallofwhomlifeadvancesalongthepathoftruth.ThesearepointedoutbyRight-Mindedness’steaching–thedoingofYourwill,whichcanbethwartedbynoone.


AsholyhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthepuremindenteredmeandasked:Whoareyou?Wheredoyoubelong?Whatdailysignsaregiventoallaydoubtsaboutoneselfandone’slife?


IaminthefirstplaceZarathustra,dedicatedtogood,andthetrueadversaryofevil,totheextentIcancontainit.Totherighteous,Iwillbeasourceofstrengthandjoy.Infuture,mayIbegiftedwithYourinfinitepowersolongasIamyourdevotee,OLord,andsinghymnsofpraisetoYou.


Asholy,indeed,haveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandasked:TowhomshouldIpayhomage?Henceforth,Iwillpayhomagetofirewithallhumility.AndIwilllivebytruth,whichismyowndesire.


SodoYougivetometruth,forwhomIyearn,accompaniedbyright-mindedness.Youquestionmankindandtestus–passingthetestmakesusstrong,sothattestedbyyou,mankindismadestrong.


AsholyindeedhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredme.

WhenIwasfirsttaughtbyYourrevelation,myfaithinthegoodnessofmankindhelpsmeintimesofdifficultyandIdowhatIhavebeentaughtbyyou–tobebest.

you–tobebest.


Andwhenyoutoldmetofollowtruthtoacquireunderstanding,youdidnottellmetodosomethingwhichwillbeunheededbyme.Iwillbestirwithinmyselfmyconsciencewhichwillthenblessmewiththeaccompanimentofgreatlight.Youawardboththesideswiththeirjustdues.


AsholyindeedhaveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandasked:Toascertainthepurposeofourwishes,grantthattome–longlife,whichnoonedarestoaskfromYou,andtheblessedexistenceinYourdominion.


ThewiseLordgivestohisbelovedmankind–tomypeople,OLord–thegiftofjoywhichcomesfromtruthandstrength.Allmenwilluniteindefenceofyourteachingandindefenceofthosewhoaremindfulofyourhymns.


Asholy,indeed,haveIrecognizedYou,OLord,whenthePureMindenteredmeandsaidthatsilentmeditationisgoodforspiritualgrowth.Nevershouldanypersontrytoplacateevilpersonsfortheywillalwaysregardtherighteousastheirenemies.


OLord,Zarathustrachoosesforhimselfthewayoftheholyspirit.MayTruthincarnateupliftuswithherstrength.MayRight-MindednessandYourpower,resplendentasthesun,blessdeedsdonefromgoodmotives.

Chapter44



Howshouldyourdevoteesworshipyou?LetyourassistantTruth,OGod,pointoutthistome–untiltherevelationsofthePureMindarrivetoallmankind.



Thefirstthinginlifeistostriveforthebest:toleadanotheryearningsoultoattainthebest,for,suchpersonindeedisholythroughtruth,andwillattainthegoalofallmankind.Thispersonisourguardianspiritandlife-renewingfriend,OLord USTAVAITI–Yas.44.3


WhichBeing,ourfather,firstcreatedtruth?WhichBeinglaiddownthepathofthesunandthestars?ThroughwhichBeingdoesthemoonwaxandwanealternately?AllthisandotherthingsdoIwishtoknow,OLord.



WhichBeingsupportstheEarthandtheotherworlds?WhichBeingcreatedthewatersandtheplants?WhichBeingmovesthewindanddarkclouds?WhichBeing,OLord,isthecreatorofthepuremind?


ThisdoIaskYou,tellmetruly,OLord:Whocreatedlightanddarkness?Whocreatedsleepandwakefulness?Whocreateddawn,day,andnight?Alltheseinstructthewiseaboutlife’spurpose.



Iwillaskwhetherthisisindeedtrue:Right-Mindedness,workingthroughgooddeeds,increasestruth.Right-MindednesspromisesthisthroughYour

gooddeeds,increasestruth.Right-MindednesspromisesthisthroughYourpowerandthroughthepuremind.Forwhomdidyoufashionthisabundantandjoy-givingMotherEarth?



WhocreatedYourpreciouspowerandright-mindedness?Who,withhislivingbreath,madethesonfollowthefather?Thus,wouldIclearlyrecognizeYou,OLord,asthecreatoroftheholyspiritandeverythingelse.



Revealyourplan,OGod,sothatwemayrejoiceinit–therevelationsofthePureMindshallIseek–andtruth,tocorrectlyunderstandlife’spurpose,sothatmysoulshallgoaheadinattainingallthatisgood.



HowshallIbringtoperfectionmywayofthinkingthroughYourwisdom,OFather,andthroughYourpower.For,intruth,Yourpowerbringsblessingstous,OLord–mayIdwellinYourabodewithTruthandthePureMind.



Yourrevelationisbestforalllivingbeings,whichadvancestruthandlifeandguidesarightourwordsanddeeds,ORight-Mindedness,sothatmydesiretounderstandYourwill,OLord,isfulfilled.



HowwillRight-MindednesspenetratethosetowhomYourrevelationisproclaimed?ForthistaskhaveIbeensentasthefirst–allotherswhoareshamdoIregardwithhostility.




WhowillIassociatewith–therighteousorthosewhoareevil?OnwhichsideamI–thevictimortheperpetratorofevil?Thedoerofevilsetshimselfagainsttruthanditsrewards–isitnotthatsuchpersonasthisthinksnotaright?



Howdowekeepliesawayfromus?Howdowekeepawaythosewhoareconscienceless–whodonotwanttokeepcompanywithTruthandthePureMind.



HowshallIdeliverthelieintothehandsofthetruth?HowwillIoverthrowtheliebyteachingYourholyword?HowdoIbringcompletefrustrationoftheplansofthosewhoareevil?HowdoIgetthemintotroubleandgetthemtobehated?



SinceyouareabletoprotectmethroughtruthwhenbothsidestogetherinvokeYou–then,inaccordancewithYourlaw,towhichofthesewillYougrantvictory?



Whichvictorwillprotectallwhoexistthroughhisteachings?Clearlyrevealtometheguidewhowillgivelifeanewdirection.Tohimgrantpure-mindednessandanactiveconscience,OLord,andtowhomsoeverelse,aswell.



HowdoIattainthegoalsetbyYou,OLord–howdoIbecomeyourcompanion,sothatImayconvincemankindaboutourcommonfuture,

companion,sothatImayconvincemankindaboutourcommonfuture,namelyperfectionandimmortality,attainedthroughYourholyword,whichisourbestguideowingtoitstruth.



HowshallIearnthroughtruththatreward:Materialwealthintheformoftenmares,ledbyastallion,andacamel,sothatImaybringperfectionandimmortalitytomankind.



Whathappenstothosewhodonotrewardpersonswhospeakthetruth?Whatistheirpunishmentatpresent?Iknowwhatwillhappentothemattheend.


How,OLord,havethefollowersofpolytheismbecomesopowerful?ThisdoIask:Thosewhoareself-centeredhavedeliveredMotherEarthtowrathandcontinuouswailing,likethepriestsofoldandevilrulers,whodonotadvanceandincreasethecauseoftruth.

Chapter45


NowwillIexplain–givemeyourearandlisten,thosewhohavecomefromnearby,andthosewhohavecomefromafar.AndpleasetrytounderstandwhatIhavetosayandkeepitclearlyinmind.Neveragainwillthepreacherofevildestroylife.Hehasbecomeevilandspeaksevilbecausehehasgoneastrayandchosentobeevil.


Iwillexplainaboutthetwospiritsatlife’sbeginning–ofwhomtheholyonespoketotheevilonethus:Betweenus,neitherthoughts,norteachings,norunderstanding,normoralchoice,norwords,nordeeds,norwayofthinking,norsouls,arealike.


Iwillexplainthefirstthingthatshouldbeknownaboutlife,thiswasrevealedtomebyGod.ThoseamongyouwhodonotputintopracticethesehymnsasIunderstandandspeakthemwillonlylandupinmiseryattheendoflife.


AndIwillexplainaboutthebestthereisinlife.Becauseoffollowingthepathoftruth,Godhasrevealedittome.Heisthefatheroftheactiveandgoodmindandhisdaughter,Right-Mindedness,makesusdogooddeeds.God,whoisall-seeing,isneverdeceived.


IwillexplainwhattheHoliesthasrevealedtome.WhatHesaysisbestformortalstohear.Thosewhoobeyandrevereitwillattainperfectionandimmortalityandthroughdeedsdonefromtheloftiestmotives,GodHimself.


AndIwillexplainaboutthegreatestofall,praisingHiswisdomandtruth.Throughtheholyspirit,mayGodlistentous.ThroughthePureMind,mayIbecomedevotedtoHim.MayHeinHiswisdomguidemeonwardstothe

becomedevotedtoHim.MayHeinHiswisdomguidemeonwardstothehighest.


Toallseekersofsalvation,past,present,andfuture,Ihavethistosay:Thesouloftherighteouswillbevictoriousandwillgainimmortality.Everrenewedaretimesoftroubleforthosewhoareevil.ThisissentbyGodthroughHispower.


HimdoIseektopraise,inallhumility.Indeed,Ihaveseenhimwithmymind’seye.Bygoodthought,deed,andword,andbyknowledgebroughtbythepathoftruthhaveIperceivedGodHimself.Letus,therefore,offersongsofdevotiontoHimintheabodeofsongwhereGoddwells.


GodandthePureMinddoIseektoworship,who,inhisplan,hasmadeforusbothgoodanditsopposite,evil.God’spowerhasmadeusserveourhumanflocksothattheyadvancetothehighesttruthandwisdom.


Him,throughdevotiontoright-mindedness,willIseek–whoisforeverknownastheLordwhoistheGreatCreator.For,throughTruthandthePureMind,HehaspromisedthatthroughHispower,perfection,andimmortalitywillbegiventoallpersons,asalsostrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.


Whoinfutureopposes‘thegods’andtheirfollowers;whodespisesthemandopposesthem,theybeingsodifferentfromHim;andhewhothinkswithreverenceofHim,isasaviour,awisefather,aholythinker,afriend,abrother,andafather,OLord.

Chapter46


TowhichlandcanIflee?TheyholdmeapartfrommyMaghabrothers–evilrulerskeepmeawayfromthem.HowdoIcarryoutyourmission,OLord?


IknowwhyIamhelpless–IhaveasmallfollowingbecauseIamamanofafewpossessions.Pleaseconsiderthisfactcarefully,OLord.Iwishfortheblissthatonefriendgivestotheother–teachmeaboutthemightofthePureMindthroughtruth.


When,OLord,willtherebeanewdawnwhentruthshallshineforthfromalllife,followingtheeffectiveteachingsofwisesaviours.Towhosehelpthisshallcome,togetherwiththePureMind–IhavechosenYouasthesubjectofmyteaching.


Andevilpersonsallaroundusthwarttherighteousfromhelpinglife.Thesepersonsareenemiesoflife,asshownbytheiractions.Whosoeveropposesthemwithallhislifeandstrength,OLord,isahelperalongthepathsofholywisdom.


Whoever,beinginapositionofstrength,receivesanypersoninkindnessorinfriendship,andwhoeverreceivesanybodybecauseheisafollowerofYourrevelation;isblessed;andevenifsuchaperson,beingrighteous,receivesanevilperson,heshouldteachhimthepathtosalvationtosavehimfromdestruction,OLord.


But,whoever,beingabletodoso,doesnotdoso,shallhimselfbeensnaredbyevil.Becausehewhoisgoodtothosewhoareevilishimselfevil.Andhewhobefriendstherighteousishimselfrighteous.ThisisYourlaweversinceYoufirstcreatedus.

Youfirstcreatedus.


Who,OLord,willprotectmewhenevilpersonsthreatenmewithviolence?WhootherthanYourfireandthePureMind?Whentheybothareatworkwithinme,truthprevails,OLord.DeclarethisclearlysothatImayunderstandthisphilosophicaltruth.


Whoeverisviolenttolife,hisdeedsofflaminghatewillnottouchmebutwillrecoilonhim,thiswhichkeepshimfromthegoodlife,butnotfromhatefulevilways.

USTAVAITI–Yas46.9

WhoisYourforemostdevoteewhowillteachmetoregardYouasworthyofworship–asholyjudgeoverouractions.AndTruthhasrevealedYouasthecreatorofMotherEarth.Iwishfortruthandforyourpuremind.


Whichevermanorwoman,OGod,givestolifewhatisregardedbyYouasbestwillhavetheblessingoftruthandmentalstrength.Iwillleadsuchpersonsacrossthebridgewhichseparatesthegoodfromthosewhoareevil.


Throughtheirpower,priestsandkingswoulddestroymankindthroughtheirevilways.Buttheirownconscienceandthoughtshalltroublethemwhentheycomeneartothebridgeoftheseparator.Throughalltimewilltheyliveintheabodeofmisery.


AmongthedescendantsandprogenyoftheTuranians,therewillemergethestrongFryanawhothroughright-mindednesszealouslyhelpstheliving.Hewillhelpthemtoreachthepuremindandbliss,whichGodwillgrant.


WhosoeverhelpsZarathustraSpitamawillamongmenbeknownasupright–tohimshallGodgrantlifeandthroughthepuremindadvancelifeingeneral.Himdoweregardashavingbondedwithtruth.

general.Himdoweregardashavingbondedwithtruth.


Zarathustra,whoisloyaltoTruth?Whowillmakefamousyourgreatbrotherhood?KingVistaspahasusheredinthisnewera.Youhavemadehimkinginthiskingdomwhichiswelladministered,OLord,sothatImaydeliverYourmessagewhichIhavereceivedfromthePureMind.


TheHaecat-aspaandSpitamafamilydoIspeakto,sothatyoumaydiscriminatebetweenunderstandingandignorance.ThroughdeedsoftruthwillyoumarchforwardinaccordwithGod’sprimevallaw.


Frashostra–gotherewithotherdevotees.Foryouallwewisheternalhappiness,wheretruthandright-mindednessmeet;WherethePureMindreignssupreme;whereGoddwellsinallHisglory.


Ihavetoldyouthataction,notinaction,isbest,OWiseJamaspa.WithYourconsciencearoused,doYouseektoworship–Youwilldiscriminatebetweenunderstandingandignorance.GodandTruthareourwonderfulprotectors.


WhosoeveriswholeheartedlywithmedoIpromisethebest.Iwishforhimtheblessingsofthepuremind.ButIwillopposethatmanwhoopposesme,fulfillingyourwish,OLord,throughtruth.Thischoiceismadebymyownmentaldiscrimination.


WhoeverwillaccomplishthroughtruthandHiswillthiscompleterenovationonEarthforZarathustra,tohimwillbegiventherewardofeternallife,togetherwithallthathedesiresfromourbountifulMotherEarth.AllthisYoudidrevealtome,OLord,mostWise.

GATHASPENTAMAINYU

Chapter47


Bytheholyspiritandbestmind,bywordsanddeedsoftruth,perfectionandimmortalityarebestowedbyGod,HispowerandRight-Mindedness.


Thus,thebestandholiestspiritspeakswordsofthehighestwisdom.WithRight-Mindednesshelpingitdoesittoil,doinggooddeedswithbothitshands,inspiredbythethoughtthatGodisthefatheroftruth.


Youareindeedthefatheroftheholyspirit–YouhavefashionedourjoyfulMotherEarthforit,andtoprotectithaveyousentPeace,andRight-Mindedness,andthePureMind,whenitaskedforhelp.




Throughthisholyspirit,OGod,haveyoupromisedthebesttotherighteous.TheevilpersonwillgethisjustdessertsremovedfromYourlove,becauseofhisevilintentandbaddeeds.


Thesethingsaregivenbytheholyspirittous,OGod–throughfireshallbe

Thesethingsaregivenbytheholyspirittous,OGod–throughfireshallbedeterminedthejustduesofbothparties.Whenright-mindednessandtruthincrease,manyseekerswillchoosearight.

Chapter48


SinceonJudgementDaytruthtriumphsoveruntruth–whenapersonattainsimmortality,whichhasbeensaidtobeadelusion–thenwillthedevoteesofmanygodsandotherpeoplewhowillwitnessthisincreasetheirdevotiontoYou,OLord.


RevealtomewhatYouknow,OLord;whenretributiontakesoverinthelifebeyond:Whethertruthconquersuntruth,OLord.Thatwouldindeedbethegrandfinaleoflife.


Thiswouldbeforthosewhounderstandthebestteaching–thatwhichistaughtbythewisdomoftruth.Holyandwisearetheteachersofthatwhichcannotbeseen–theyareYours,OGod,havingthePureMind’swisdom.


Whosoevermakeshismindbetterorworse,hiswordsanddeedsshowhiswayofthinking.Hechoosesforhimself–attheend,inyourwisdom,willhestandapart(dependingonthechoicemade).


Letrulersofgoodunderstandingrule–notthoseofpoorunderstanding–bydeedswhicharebothgoodandwise,ORight-Mindedness.Dedicationtopurityfrombirthonwardsisbestformankind.ForMotherEarthshouldwetoil,leadingallmentorealmsoflight.


Shealoneisoursafehaven–thegiftsofthePureMindarestrengthofcharacterandliferenewed.God,throughTruth,hasclothedherwithvegetation,whichnourishedlifeattheverybeginning.


Keephatredfarawayandsteelyourselvesagainstviolence,thoseofyouwho



HowgreatlydoIyearnforthebest,OLord,throughYourpower.MaythisblessingbegiventoallYourpeople,OGod.ToYourdevoteeswhowishforthetruth,willthebestspiritmanifestitself,tohelpthemdogooddeeds.


WhenwillIknowthatYouruleoverall,OLordandTruth,eventhosewhoplotagainstandthreatenme?Tellmetruly,andrevealthistomethroughthePureMind.Thesaviourshouldknowwhatisinstoreforhim.


When,OLord,willtherebemenwhowillcometospreadthefaith?Whenwillthisinfatuationwithpissbeeradicated,throughwhichevilpriestsandwickedrulersofevilintentdupepeopleinthisplace?


When,OLord,willTruth,Right-Mindedness,andYourpowerbringprotectiontomankindsothatthisEarthbecomesagoodplacetolivein.Whowillbringpeacetomankindwhenthosewhoarebloodthirstyandevilreign?WhenwillthewisdomofthePureMindreturn?



Chapter49


Bendvahasalwaysresistedmegreatly.Iwishtowinhimoverfromhisevilways,OLord.InYourmercy,givemetherewardofdefeatinghimbytellinghimabouttherevelationsofthepuremind.


IndeedBendvamakesmeanxious.Hisevilteachingsandduplicityseparateshimfromthetruth.NeverdoeshecommunewiththeHolyRight-MindednessorthePureMind,OLord.


Godhasdecreedtheteachingthattruthwillprevailanduntruthwillbeneutralized.So,choosecarefully.Therefore,wouldIaskforassociationwiththePureMindandprohibitassociationwithallthosewhoarewicked.


Evilpersonsincreasehatredandcrueltywiththeirspeech–wolvesamongshepherds.Thosewhoperpetrateevildon’thaveanydesiretodogooddeeds.Suchmencreatefalsegodsandevilwaysofthinking.


Buthe,OLord,who,throughearnestdesireandzeal,linkshiswayofthinkingwiththePureMind–eachsuchappliesright-mindednessandgrowswisebyfollowingtruth–allsuchwilldwellunderYourrule,OLord.


Iurgeyouearnestly,OLordandTruth,tostatewhatliesinstoreforusinfuturesothat,decidingcorrectly,wemayproclaimyourfaithtoyourdevotees,OLord.


LeteachonelistentothePureMindandTruth,OLord–doYou,OLord,bearwitnesstothis–sothatthespirituallyself-reliantandthefriendofmankindliveaccordingtoYourlawandsetagoodexampletotheworker

mankindliveaccordingtoYourlawandsetagoodexampletotheworkerwhospreadsYourmessage.


GranttoFrashostrajoy,thegiftoftruth.ThisdoIaskofYou–andassociationwithYou,OLord,andthesameformypeople(whichisbestforthem),underYourrule.Maywebeinspiredbythisthoughtthroughalltime.


LettheprotectorlistentoYourteachingssothathecanleadaright.Nevershouldthespeakeroftruthassociatewithevil,sothathishigherselfmaygettherewardofunitingwithtruthandusheringinanewage,OWiseJamaspa.


Andthis,OLord,willIfindinYourabode,inYourgreatdominion–thePureMind,andthesoulsoftherighteous,whofilledwithhumilityandthedesiretoberight-minded,lookkindlyonmankindinsupport.


Evilrulers,evildoers,evilspeakers,menwithevilintent,andfollowersofuntruth–allsuchevilsoulsgototheabodeofmiserywheretrulytheywilldwell.


WhathelpwillcometoYourworshipper?WhathelpwillcometoZarathustrafromthePureMind?IwouldsinghymnstopleaseYou,OLord,askingforthatwhichisbest.

Chapter50


FromwherecanIgethelpformyflock?WhocanIfindtobeourprotectorotherthantruth,OLord,andthePureMind.


Howdoesonelookafterjoy-givingMotherEarthwhileselfishlyseekingconstantprotectionforhimself.Thosewhoareuprightandlivebytruthmoveintosunlitregionslivingamongthosewhoarewise.


Butespeciallyshe(MotherEarth)willcometohimwithtruth,OLord,andwithYourpowerandthePureMind,aspromised.Thatmanistwiceblessedwhohelpsthosenearhiminaworldinwhichevilpredominates.


AndworshippingYouandpraisingYou,OGod,withTruthandPureMindandYourpower,mayhewhodesirestohearYourrevelationlistentoYourdevoteesintheabodeofsong.


Frombeyond,OLordandTruth,mayIsingthatwhichisrevealedtome–Yourjoy-givinghymns.Youcanhelpuswithawaveofthehand(whichIcanseeclearly)whichwillleadustolight.


I,Zarathustra,willsingtheseupliftinghymns,OLord,befriendedbyTruth,inallhumility.Maythecreatorofwisdomalwaysguidemytongue–mayheteachmeandguidemethroughthePureMind.


LeadmetothepathtoadoreYou,OLord,TruthandthemightyPureMind,sothatleadingus,Youbecomeourhelpers.


EverwithchantswhichwelluptoYoufromwithinmayIreachYouwithhandsuplifted,OLord.AsYourhumbledevotee,mayIreachTruthandthegreatwisdomofthePureMind.


WiththesehymnsofpraisemayIcometoYou,OLord,OTruth,andthroughdeeds,tothePureMindwhenIhavefullyachievedallIhavesetouttodo.IyearntobecomethepossessorofYourwisdom.


Alldeeds,whichIwilldoandhavedoneandwhichareworthyintheeyeofthePureMind,fillmydayswiththebeautifuldawnandsunlight,bothofwhichglorifytruthandYou,OLord.


Iamyourstaunchworshipper,andwillalwaysbe,OLord,aslongasIhavethewillandthestrength.Life’slawsareaccomplishedthroughthepuremind,sothatinaccordwithYourwill,therenovationofmankindisachieved.

GATHAVOHUKSHATREM

Chapter51


God’spowerisgreat.Itcomesasarewardtothosewhoarededicatedandeagertoservethecauseoftruth.Bydoingdeedsoftruthwillonereachthehighest–forthatalonewillIstrivenowandalways.


Firstofall,thesedeedsarededicatedtoYou,OLord,andTruth,andRight-Mindedness.TeachmeaboutYourpowerandYourwill.ThroughthePureMind,grantupwardprogresstoYourworshipper.


LetallthosewhodogooddeedscometogethertofosterMotherEarth.GodandTruthspeakthelanguageofrevelationthatcomesfromthehighestmind–fromthebeginninghaveYoubeentheteacher.


WhichshepherdwilllookafterYourworshipper?Whenwillcompassiontakeover?Whenwilltruthtakeover?Andwhenwillright-mindednessdothesame?WhereisthehighestmindandYourpower,OGod?


Questioningaboutalltheseastohowheshouldadvancelifeintruth,theprotector,uprightinhisdeeds,acquiresgoodinsightthroughhumility.Heisthetrueguidetothosewhoarewise,bringingthemblessings.


Whosoeverproveshimselftobebetterthangood,thusfulfillinglife’s



Grantme,OCreatorofMotherEarth,thewatersandplantlife,immortalityandperfectionthroughYourholiestspirit,OLord.GrantmestrengthofcharacterandliferenewedthroughtheteachingsofthePureMind.


YourmessagewillIpreach–thisshouldbeproclaimedonlytothosewithunderstanding.Miserywillcometothosewhoareevil–andhappinesstothosewhoclingtotruth.Hewhospreadsthiswordtothosewhounderstandwillbehappy.


ThejustdessertswhicharegiventobothsidesbyYourblazingfire,OGod,throughthemoltenmetaltest–maythatgrantusspiritualguidance.Frustratedwillbethosewhoareevilandblessedthosewhoaregood.


Andthemanwhoseekstodestroy,contrarytotheselaws,OGod,ishimselfthechildofthelie.Allsuchareofpoorunderstanding.FormypeoplewillIinvokeTruthtocometouswithitsbestblessings.


WhoisthefriendofZarathustra?Whocommuneswithtruth,andholyright-mindedness,andthehighestideals–thusregardinghimselfasanuprightmemberoftheMaghabrotherhood?


Notsatisfactorytome,Zarathustra,isthesmoothpassageofevilkingsthroughthisworld.Becausespiritualgrowthisattainedbythosewho,withardentfervour,toilforit.


Thus,dotheevilcorruptuprightandtruthfulwaysofthinking.Theirsoulswillchidethemandsendthem,whenonthepathoftheseparator,tomisery.

willchidethemandsendthem,whenonthepathoftheseparator,tomisery.Forthistheyarethemselvestoblame,asbytheirownwordsanddeedstheyhavestrayedfromthepathoftruth.






ThisrewardKingVistapahasattainedthroughthepowerofthebrotherhoodandthehymnswhichcomefromthehighestmind.ThisisthewisdomdecreedbyTruthandtheHolyGodwholeadsustohappiness.


PreciousFrashostraHvogvaeagerlyoffershimselfforthegoodcause.MayAlmightyGodgranthimhisearnestdesireofattainingtruth.


ThisisthewisdomofthewiseJamaspaHvogva,whodesiringlight,haschosenthepathoftruthandthestrengththatcomeswiththerevelationsofthePureMind.GrantthistomesothatImayforeverclingtoYou,OLord.


Therefore,thatman,OMaidyo-Manha,shalldedicatetohimrealizationoftheself.WhoeverwishestounderstandthemeaningoflifeisbetterabletodemonstrateGod’slawsthroughdoinggooddeeds.


Ofoneaccordareyouallingrantingusblessings,OTruth,thePureMind,andthewordofRight-Mindedness.WithhumilitywillYourworshipperyearnforbliss,OGod.


Thatmanisholywhoisfilledwithright-mindedness.Throughhiswisdom,words,deeds,andwayofthinking,hepromotestruth.MayGodgivehimthepowerofthePureMind–forthishighestblessingdoIpray.


TohimwhomakeseveryactofworshipanactoftruthisregardedasthebestbyGod.AllsuchwhohavebeenandwhoaredoIblessintheirownnamesandwill,withrespect,reachouttoallofthem.

GATHAVAHISTAISTI

Chapter53

VAHISTAISTI–Yas.53.1

Zarathustrahasbeengrantedeternallifebecausehefollowedthepathoftruth.Eventhosewhoopposedhimhavenowunderstoodhisteachingsandarefollowinghisfaithinwordanddeed.


Letallpersonsstrivetobegoodwiththought,word,anddeed,andworshipGodthus.KingVistasp,whowasdevotedtoZarathustraandFrashostra,havingfollowedthepathoftruth,hasworshippedGodinthemannerthatthesaviourtaught.


PouruChista,Zarathustra’sdaughter,isadevoteeofthefaith,havingconfidenceinthePureMind.ThefaithunitesallmenwithGod,truth,andright-mindedness.


Thefaithenjoinsthateachpersondoesthetaskassignedtohim,sothattheradiantheritageofthepuremindmaycometoallwhofollowthefaith.


Thesewordsarespokentoyounggirlswhoaregettingmarriedandtotheiryoungmen–bringthePureMinddowntoyourownminds,andleteachonestrivetosurpasstheotherintruthandhigh-mindedness,whichwillsurelybringrichrewards.


InlifeonEarth,thesetruthsholdgood.Donotgoastraybecauseofattractivelureswhichtakeyouawayfromyourtrueself,andobscurethelifeofthespirit.Evilpersonsdespisethetruthandpreventallspiritualgrowth.


TherewardoftheMaghabrotherhoodawaitstheunitedcouple.Butshouldyouchoosetoleavethisbrotherhood,deludedbytheevilspirit,yourendwillsurelybeingriefandwordsofwoe.


Allevilpersonswhohavebeendeceivedintobeingevilshallchidethemselves,butmayouryoungmenandwomenlivebytheseeternaltruths,andmaypeacedescenduponourhappypeople.MayZarathustra,thegreatest,leadusallagain,forhehassurmounteddeath.


Beingslavestotheirownpassions,thosewhoareevilarefilledwithhatredandstrugglewiththemselves.Theyhatethosewhoaregood.Whowillopposesuchpersonswitheverythingathiscommand?OLord,itisthroughYourpowerthatYougivetotherighteousmeektheultimatereward.

APPENDIX

BRIEFPERSIANHISTORYANDOTHERFUNDAMENTALS

APPENDIX

ZOROASTRIANISM IS AN EXTREMELY ANCIENT religion and being ancient, itsscripturesareinatleastfivelanguages.ManyarenotawarethattheKustiprayeritself is inthreelanguagesbecausetheKemNaMazdaprayer isdirectlytakenfromtheGathas,shortofthelastpart.TheAhuraMazdaKhodaiprayerisinPahlavi,whichisacompletelydifferent

language,andwhichwasthespokenlanguageoftheday,duringtheSassaniandynasty.AshortprimeronPersianhistory is important to illustratewhere thisdynastyfitsinthetimeline.AndtheJasmeAvengheMazdaprayerisinAvestan,asopposed toGathicAvestan, so it’sayounger language.Though it isalmostthesame,thereareacoupleofsmalldifferences.Interestinglyenough,thisprayerwasputtogetherbyoneofourgreatestchief

priests,amancalledAderbadMarespand.Hehappenedtobethechiefpriestofagreat Sassanian ruler called Shapur II. Shapur II is, perhaps, the only king tohave been crowned when in his mother’s womb. His father, Hormuz II, diedearly.Somehowortheother,theothersonsthatheleftbehindwereoverlooked.So, theQueenMother and theRegencyCouncil – at that point of timeLittleShapurwas threeorfourmonths inhismother’swomb–decided tocallupononeofthechiefpriests,whosawherstomachandpredictedthatthechildwasaboy and that he would be a great king. Then, the Imperial Diadem, i.e. thecrown,wasactuallyplacedonthemother’sstomachandhewascrowned,sotospeak,inutero.Itwasinthisman’sreignthatthisgreatchiefpriestformulatedwhatwecallourKustiprayer.

One interesting thing to remember is that, as Sir William Jones (a greatEnglishjudgewhocametoCalcuttainthe18thcentury)discovered,AvestaisapartofwhatiscalledtheIndo-Europeangrouporfamilyoflanguages.Wespeakmanylanguagestodaywhicharepartofthisgroup–English,Gujarati,Hindi.Interestingly,oneclue indiscoveringat leastwhat20percentof thewords

used in theGathasmean, is theirmodern usage in these languages. Youwillfind, forexample, thewords‘garodeman’which is theZoroastrianconceptofwhatwecallheaven.Bothwordscanbeunderstoodbytoday’slanguages–garoi.e. gaavanu (in Gujarati), song; deman – domain (English). Prophets alwaysspoke with verve, and always spoke in strong language because they hadultimatelytorevolutionisesociety.Another very interesting thingyouwill find is that there are threemiracles,

concerning the Gathas, which have happened. One miracle is that somehow,what somebody said at least three thousand years ago has been handed to usmore or less intact. Second, though the verses have come to us in a deadlanguage, Avesta, they can be understood because of Rigvedic Sanskrit. Andthird,andmostimportant,thefactthatwhatissaidiscompletelyrelevanttolivebytoday.Thankstophilology,wearenowabletodecipherwhatisstatedintheGathas

– throughRigvedicSanskrit –because the two languages are almost identical.Thereareafewinflectionshereandthere,butifyougobyaRigvedicSanskritdictionary and translate theAvesta for yourselfword byword, youwill get acompletelyauthenticmeaningoftheexpressionsusedinAvesta.We also happen to live in an era where scholarship has provided us with

inspired translations, so that we are able to derive what Zarathushtra said farbetterthanourforebearsinthelasttwothousandyears.Our recorded history begins with Cyrus the Great. Before our recorded

history,wearetold,intheShahnameh,thatthereweretwoothergreatdynastieswhich existed before theAchaemenian – the firstwas the Peshdanian and thesecondwastheKayanian.ItisintheKayanianDynastythatKaviVistasp,whoisspokenofintheGathas,andwhoisthemonarchwhoZarathushtraconverted,ruled. So when there are references to Kavi Vistasp and when there arereferencestotheSpitamafamilytowhichZarathushtrabelonged,theyobviouslybelongedtoanerawaybefore500BC.Another interestingthing:Zarathushtra,himself,saysthatheis thefirstever

to have communed with the one Almighty Creator God. This is anotherstatementtotakenoteofbecause,accordingtohim,hewasprobablybroughtupas anAgnihotri. He says, ‘I am a Zotar,’ which is the equivalent of aHotar,whichisafirepriestintheoldRigvedicfaith.TheRigvedicfaithwasanancient

faith.Now, the Rigvedic faith is somethingwhich believed in natureworshipand in the worship of certain persons who became so powerful that they gotdeifiedafterdeath.Forexample,youwill findMitraandVarun,whoarebothupholdersof the

ethicalorder, referred toas ‘Asuras’ in theRigVeda. ‘Asura’and‘Ahura’areinterchangeable and they both mean ‘Lord’ – somebody who is worthy ofworship. Mitra and Varun are called Asuras because they uphold the ethicalorder.Asopposed to them,youhaveIndra. IndraandAgni, i.e. fire (thesameEnglishword ‘ignite’), have themaximumhymnsof theRigVedadevoted tothem.Indrawasobviouslyakingwhowassopowerfulthathegotdeifiedafterdeath,eventhoughhehadall thefoiblesofamoderndayruler–drunkenness,wantonness, licentiousness, violence, rapacity, etc. There are so many hymnsdevotedtohimthatonewondershowtheethicalorderwouldperhapshavebeenupheldatallinhistime.ItisfromthisthatZarathushtrafinallycomesdowntousandtellsus,‘Iwish

to overthrow this old order because I have seen with my mind’s eye (again,interestingly, the expression used is ‘Chasmaini’ – ‘chasmo’ eye and ‘maini’mind, i.e. mind’s eye) Almighty God.’ So, whereas the expression Asura orAhurawasalways there in theRigVeda, ‘Mazda’wascoinedbyZarathushtraforthefirsttime.Thereisno‘Mazda’intheRigVeda.Thisisthegreatadvancethathemakesbecausehesays,‘Iamthefirsttoreceivearevelationofmattersthatahumanbeingcannototherwiseconceiveoffromthisgreatcreator,God.’Again, the word Mazda is split into two words – maz and da. ‘Maz’ is theancientrootfromwhichtheEnglishword‘majestic’comes.‘Majestic’isgreat,and ‘da’ is creator. Ahura, therefore, means the Lord, somebody worthy ofworship,whoisthegreatcreatori.e.thecreatorofeverythingthatexists.Havinggiventhisshortintroduction,letmealsorefertoafewtimelines.For

this,wehavegobacktothefivedynastiesofKings.Ashasbeenstatedearlier,thefirstwasthePeshdanian,withwhichwearenotdirectlyconcerned;thentheKayanian,withwhichwearedirectlyconcerned,becausethemonarchwhowasconverted by Zarathushtra belonged to this dynasty. The Achaemenian is thethirddynasty,whichbeginswithCyrusII,whoisCyrustheGreat.Incidentally, thismonarch isalso referred to inseveralbooksof theBible–

theOldTestament–andistheonlypersonotherthanaJewishprophet,whoiscalled ‘anointed of the Lord’. And the reason he is so called in the OldTestamentisthatwhenheconqueredBabylon,notonlydidhegiveeverycitizen(thatistheconqueredpeople),therightoffreeworship,butheactuallytoldtheJewsto‘gobacktoyourmothercountry’andthat‘Iwill,withfundsfrommytreasury, rebuild the temple inJerusalemthatNebuchadnezzarhasrazed to the

ground’.Interestingly, the temple’s reconstruction happened only in the reign of

Darius.Cyrus comes and goes;Cambyses, his son, comes and goes; and thenDarius(whoisadistantcousin)comestothethrone.Darius,wearetoldinthebookofEzra, looks forCyrus’sdecreeandasks theJews if, in fact, there isadecree by a Persian emperor that the Jews rebuild their temple with Persianfunds. Ifso,beingadecreeofa formerPersianemperor,he,Darius,wouldbebound by it. The decree was ultimately found, and it is with funds from thePersian treasury that the second temple was built in the reign of Darius theGreat.Partofoneof theouterwallsof this templehappens tobe theWailingWall,whichJewsworshipeventoday.Thewall itself is in twoparts– theolderpartwasconstructedwithPersian

funds. The more recent part is part of Herod’s great third temple, built justbeforeChristwasborn.So,goingbackto thesedynasties,wehave thesegreatrulers,wehaveCyrusandCambyses,hisson,whowasalittleoffhishead.ThenwehaveDariustheGreat,hissonXerxes,anditisunderDariusandXerxesthattheGrecoPersianwarstookplace.WesterncultureandWesternthoughtarebasicallyGreco-Roman.Becausethe

Persiansweredefeatedat thebattlesofMarathon,Salamis, andPlataea (all ofwhichhappenedwithinelevenyears from490 to479BC),Persianculturewaslost to the West completely. This period is, therefore, a period of crucialimportance.TheWest,while adopting theGreco-Roman tradition, abjured thePersianone.PostXerxes,wehaveArtaxerxes,hissoncalled‘Longimanus’,socalledbecauseonehandwaslongerthantheother.Afterhim,cameXerxesIIforashortwhile.Thentherewasabastardking,DariusNothos;‘Nothos’meansthesonofsomebodywhoisillegitimate,likeWilliamtheConqueror.ThenwehaveArtaxerxesII,themanwhowasthoughtful(Mnemon).WehavetheGreatBattleofCunaxain400BCfoughtagainsthisbrother–CyrustheYounger–wherehedefeatshim,andthenwehaveArtaxerxesIII,Arsaces.Finally,thelastemperorat that time,Darius III,was conquered byAlexander, andwith that a dynastywhichruledforroughlytwohundredandthirtyyearscomestoanend.Then, for a short while, we have Greeks ruling under a general called

Seleucus,leftbyAlexander,andfromapproximately225BCtoabout224AD(which is about 400-500 years), we havewhat is called the Parthian dynasty.Nothing much is known about the Parthians, except that they were probablyworshippers of Mitra, again the same Rigvedic God who Zarathushtraoverthrew, and who later came back into Zoroastrianism, because we find atleast six kings who are calledMithridates. But the interesting emperor in theParthiandynastyfromaZoroastrianpointofviewisVologases.

VologasesaskedtheMagi,whoarethePersianpriests,togathertogetherallthescatteredremnantsof theZoroastrian textsat that time.This,again,was inthe early Christian era, and as a result, we had a second redaction of the 21nasks.Anask isonlyacompilation,andeachcompilationdealswithdifferentsubjects.Forexample,thedamdatnask(whichislosttous),dealtwithcreation,whichhasnowbecomepartoftheBundahishan,alaterPahlavitext.The only nask left from this period is what is today called the Vendidad,

whichwas,atthatpoint,calledViDaevaDat.‘Dat’meanslawand‘vidaeva’–‘vi’meansagainst,and‘daeva’meansthosewhoworshipmanyGods.Literally,itmeansthelawwhichteachesyounottoworshipmanygods.Becausethisnaskhascomedowntousinitsentirety,consistingof19chapters,itistreatedwithgreatreverencebymodernParsis,andceremoniesareperformedaroundit.Shortof Chapter 1 and Chapter 19, the rest is nothing but an ancient code of lawswhichdoesnothavemuchrelevancetoday.GoingbacktoEmperorVologases,whogotbackwhatAlexanderissupposed

to have destroyed in Persepolis, and compiled 21 books, and those 21 bookscontinuedforanother500or600yearsuntiltheArabinvasion,whentheywereagainlosttous.Then,asaresult,inthe8thand9thcenturiesAD,thereweretwobrothers, Zadsparam and Maradan Farookh, who basically undertook thearduoustaskofsummarisingthelostnasksinwhatiscalledtheDinkard.Thereare9booksoftheDinkardwhichonlygiveuschapterheadingsorsummariesofwhatwaslosttousinthesenasks.We now come back to the Parthian period which is dynasty number 4.

Incidentally,asamatterofgeneral interest, in53BC,Crassus,whowasoneofthe triumvirs of theRomanEmpire (hewas the samemanwho put down theslaverevoltbySpartacus),wasdefeatedbyaParthianArmy,andthisdefeatwasveryimportantinhistorybecausetheRomansneverevercrossedtheEuphratesafter this. The eastern border of the Roman Empire continued to be theEuphratesriver.TheSassaniandynastybeginsin224ADunderanEmperorcalledArdeshīr-i

Pāpagān, and he happened to be a Zoroastrian priest. He brings back theZoroastrian religion, which was in a state of desolation, at that point. Everyemperorhasanarchbishop,sotospeak,whoisrecordedbyhistorytobeamanwhoisveryimportant,becauseheisessentiallyinchargeofmattersofreligionfor the community. In Ardeshir’s time, it was a man called Kartir and, asmentionedbefore,inShapurII’stimeitwasamancalledAderbadMarespand.Thisdynastyhadapproximately thirty rulers in425years from224AD to651AD.WeareconcernedheredirectlywithShapurII,becauseitwasunderhimthatthischiefpriestcompiledourKustiprayerswhichwepraytoday.

Ardeshīr-iPāpagānruledforabout20years.Hisson,ShapurI,wasoneofthemostvictoriousPersiankings.Infact,between240and260AD,hehadsmashedtheRomanArmyseveraltimes.Duringhistime,onemorereligiontriedtoassertitselfwhich isManichaeism,and inourmodern timesyoumusthaveheardoftheYazidiswhich radical Islamic forcesare trying toexterminate.Apparently,liketheCatharsinEurope,theseYazidismaywellbealeftoverofManichaeism,becauseProphetManibelievedinthesynthesisofthreefaiths–Zoroastrianism,Buddhism, and Christianity. He took the polar opposites of good and evil inZoroastrianism, but then made them completely different. You had lightopposingdarkness.WhereasinZoroastrianism,everythingislightandhappinessonEarth,inManichaeism,everythingonEarthisdarkness.ItisthisprophetwhowasencouragedbyShapurI,butunderoneofhissuccessors,wasputtodeath(BehramII).Thisreligionwasshort-livedbut,somehow,managedtospreadtolandsotherthanPersia.ThenwehaveacoupleofemperorsuntilwereachShapurII.AfterShapurII

thereareanumberofemperors.TheinterestingonesareYazdegerdI,whowascalled‘accursed’bytheZoroastrianOrthodoxybecausehewastolerantofotherfaiths.Infact,hemarriedaJewessasoneofhiswives.After Yazdegerd I, we have Yazdegerd II, who was his opposite and had

forcedconversionsinArmenia,asaresultofwhich,themomenttheZoroastrianyokewasthrownoff,theArmeniansbecameChristianagain.And,ofcourse,wehadthetwogreatKhusrows–KhusrowAnushiruwānI,whowas,perhaps, themost enlightened and greatest of the Sassanian kings, and his grandson,KhusrowParvēz.Parvēzmeansvictorious.Hewassocalledbecausetheempirewasatitslargestextentunderhim.HewentallthewaytoJerusalemintheWestandcameall theway toPunjab in theEast,wasupnear theCaspianSea anddownnearmodernArabia.HeissupposedtohavegotapartoftheHolyCrossonwhichChristwascrucified,which,later,wastakenbackbyHeraclius.Withhimthefifthdynastycomestoanendbecauseafterhimthereare11emperorsandempresses,sons,grandsons,anddaughters,endingwithpoorYazdegerdIII,whoultimatelyfelltotheArabconquestinthetwogreatbattles–al-Qādisiyyahin636ADandNahāvandin641AD.Withthisshorthistoricalexcursus,letusgostraightawaytotheYathaandthe

Ashemprayersbecause thebuildingblocksof the entireGathas restupon thisedifice, and it is important to know and understand thoroughly what theseprayersarebeforeproceedingfurther.Webeginwith theAshemVohuprayer.Now, theAshemVohuprayer is a

very simple prayer and you have to remember that there are a few keywords.Thefirstkeywordis‘Ashem’itselfandanotherkeywordis‘Ushta’,like‘Usha’,

the lightofGod. ‘Asha’ isnothingbut the ‘Rita’of theRigveda. ‘Rita’ is theEnglishword ‘erect’.They all come from the same root.Whenyou are erect,you are straight. The path must therefore be straight. It brings into focus themeaningverysharply.So,theideaisthatittellsyoutobe‘erect’atalltimes,i.e.tobetruthful;inshort,tobegood.AshemVohu– ‘vohu’ is good.VahishtemAsti is the poet’swayof saying

thatnotonlyisitgood–Iamreemphasising‘it’–butitisthehighest,itisthebest.Now, ‘Vahisht’ again in amodernwordwould be ‘behest’, i.e. ‘best’ inEnglish.Whatisbest?Paradise,thatis‘behest’.Everytime,tryandfocusonamodern expression so that themeanings of Gathic words become clearer andclearer.Asha is erect.AshemVohu – truth is good.Vahishtem – behestem –best. Ushta Asti – Asti is the same as the English word ‘it is’. Ushta, asmentionedbefore,isUsha.So,itistellingyouthatlight,happiness(asopposedtomisery,darkness),itis.UshtaAsti–Ushtaahmai–happinesscomestohim–hyat-Ashai – who for truth – ‘ashai’ is truth – does the highest truth (againVahishtaiAshem).What does this prayer tell you? It only tells you that there is a direct link

between treading thepathof truth asyou see it, livingby it,whichalonewillgiveyoumentalhappiness,contentment,satisfaction,andthesecondpart,whichis an inference from the last three words, do it for its own sake. Don’t do itbecausethereisarewardawaitingyouorbecauseyouarescaredofsomething.Do it because it is intrinsically correct to do so. So, you have a very simple,beautifulandprofoundprayer.Therearethreekeywords:

1. Ashem,erect,truth,2. Ushta,happiness,and3. Hyat-Ashai,forthesakeoftruth.

With this,youcome to theYathaAhuVairyoprayer.This is in threeparts.ThefirstisareaffirmationoftheAshemVohuprayer.Thesecondstressesgooddeeds,and the thirdstresses the importanceofcharity.Howdoes itgo?YathaAhu Vairyo – Ahu is a part of Ahura. What is Ahura? God. So Yatha AhuVairyo–justasalord,somegreatperson(whocouldbeaminister),ispowerful–Vairyomeansamanwhowieldspower,somebodylikeIndraintheRigveda,notMitraorVarun.So,justasthereisaLordonEarthequalto,letussay,aminister,apowerful

manwhowieldspower, ‘AthaRatus’ sodoesaRatu.Now,who isaRatu?ARatuissomebodywhofollowsthepathoftruth.Itis,therefore,areaffirmationoftheAshemVohuprayer.Whenyouputitalltogether,whatdoesitmean?It

meansthatmostpersonsareenamouredbypeopleinpower,whentheyshouldreallybeenamouredbypeoplewhofollowtruth.TheyaretherealMcCoy,sotospeak. The interplay is between two words here, Ahu and Ratu – Ahu issomebodywhoislikeIndrawhowieldspowerandRatuissomebodywholivesbythepathoftruthand,therefore,caninstructotherstofollowthesamepath.The second part is Vangheus Dazda Mananho. ‘Vangheus’ again, like

‘Vahista’,meansthehighest,thebest;DazdameansgiftsandMananhoismental–sogiftswhicharementalinnature.ThekeywordhereisShyaothenanam–hewhodoesgooddeeds.Angheush–rightnowinthislife–mazdai–fortheloveofGod.Thisisparttwo.So,whatdoesparttwoconclude?Ifyoudogooddeedsinthislifefortheloveofyourcreator,yourcreatorwillbestowuponyougiftswhichwillilluminethemind.Andthen,thelastpart,‘KshatremChaAhurai’.Now,‘Kshatra’isnothingbut

the power of the Almighty God, the creative force of the AlmightyGod. So,KshatremChaAhurai,i.e.thepoweroftheLord,willbeutilizedtohelpyouifyou, in turn,helpanybodyinneed,whichare thefollowingwords–DrigubyoDadat Vastarem. A ‘Vastarem’ in the old days was a herdsman. In the oldagricultural community, the very word ‘Zarathustra’ meant the golden camel;‘ustra’isacamel,and‘zarat’isshinyorgolden.Theherdsmanwasthepersonwhowasactuallyworking, tillingthefields,etc., takinghissheepandgoats tograze.If theherdsmanwasinapositiontogivesomethingtoanybodyinneed(‘drigu’anotherkeyword), theLordwillutilizehisgreatpower togive to thatherdsmanaswell.Therefore,letusputtogetherthethreepartsoftheYathaAhuVairyoprayer–thefirstpartbeingareaffirmationoftheAshemVahuprayer–thereareverypowerfulpersonsonEarth–don’temulatethem,emulateonlyaperson who follows truth. Second, remember it is only by the doing of gooddeedsthatyouwillbementallyhappy,andthird,itisonlybygivingtoanybodyinneed,inthewidestsense–charitydoesnotonlyexistintheformofpecuniarybenefits–thattheLord,inturn,willlookafteryou.

GEMSFROMTHEGATHAS

ITISIMPORTANTTOENDTHEBOOKWITHwhatIconsidertobethehighlightsofthehymnsofZarathustra.Thus,whenitcomestomoralchoice,eachpersonhastodecideforhimself–nobodyelsecanmakethissinglemostimportantdecisioninlife for such person.Themoral precepts laid down in these hymns are simpleandstraightforward–happinessisthelotofthosewhofollowthepathoftruth,andmiserythelotofthosewhoareevil.In another interesting verse, we are told that the first word uttered in the

universebroughtlightdowntousfromheaven.Asareflectionofthisheavenlylight,wearetoldthatwemaybrightenthelightthatiswithinus,sothatwemaymoveupwardstowardsit.

In one of the most beautiful trilogies contained in the Ahunavaiti Gatha,Chapter 33, Almighty God is asked to unfold himself within mankind. Therewardforprayerissimpleandbeautiful–thegrantofgoodness,sothatpeoplearoundthepersonwhopraysbenefitfromthatperson.Alifefullofvigouralongthepathoftruthisthebest.Farsightednessisaskedforandisveryimportant,inthesensethatlifeonEarthgoesinaflash–itisthelifethatistocomethatisall-important,andoncethisisclearlyunderstood,manyoftheriddlesoflifegetanswered.Anotherbeautifulverseasksforguidance,ateverystageinlife,whendoubts

arise,foritisthisguidancealonethatleadsmankindalongthepathoftruthatalltimes.Thecreedofeverysaviourappointed to teachmankindbyGod is thesame.

Theultimaterewardisobtainedonlyifbothintentanddeedaregood.Oneofthemostimportantdeclarationsevertobemadeisthedeclarationthat

happinesscomes tohimwhogiveshappiness towhomsoeverelse (Chapter43Verse 1). The positivism found in this verse illumines the entirety ofZarathustra’s message. Another verse which follows clearly states that mancannot escape the consequence of hiswords and deeds. Everyword and deedwill bear fruit in the form of either the blessing of happiness or the curse ofmisery.Thetrilogycontainedinverses7to9ofChapter45isperhapsthekernelof

theentireGathas.InVerse7,weare toldthat thesoulof therighteouswillbevictorious ingaining immortality.Correspondingly, the soulof the evil personwillbetroubledforalongtimeasbothpunishmentandretributionaretobehislot. In Verse 8, Zarathustra, having lived by the path of truth, perceivesAlmighty God with his mind’s eye. This perception brings about the mostfundamentalstatementinZarathustra’steachings–goodthoughts,goodwords,andgooddeeds.Heavenisdescribedinthesameverseastheabodeofmusic–musicbeingtheinstrumentbywhichconstantjoyisexperienced.And,inVerse9,wearetoldthatGodisresponsibleforbothgoodandevil.Thisissobecausemanisnotcreatedasapuppetbutasathinkingbeing,giventhepowerofmoralchoice.Whenmanchooseswrongly,hecreatesevil.ItisinthissensethatGodcreatesformankindbothgoodanditsopposite,evil.Another set of verses namely, verses 5 to 8 of Chapter 46, tell us that

broadmindedness is also an important feature of Zarathustra’s faith. A personmay receivewith kindness anybody–whether he is a believer in the faith, orotherwise–andanyonewhodoesso(thatis,whobehaveswithkindnesstohisfellowman)isblessed.Evenevilpersonsarenottobeturnedawaybutaretobeinstructed in the rightpath, so that theyaresavedfromdestroying themselves.

We are also told that whoever furthers the evil designs of an evil person ishimselfevil,andviceversa.Partof theKemNaMazdaprayer iscontained inVerse7.Personsaretoldthatwhentheyarethreatenedwithviolence,aperson’sowninnerfireandzealwillprotecthim.Wearealsotoldinthefollowingversethatsuchviolentpeoplewillultimatelyfindthatevilandviolencerecoilonlyonthe person who perpetrates them. And in Verse 19 of this chapter, theresurrectionofimmortalsoulswhowillenjoyeternallifeonearthisspokenof.InChapter48,JudgementDay,afterwhichthegiftofimmortalityisgivento

all, is spoken of. At this stage all evil vanishes as all persons see that whataccordingtothemwasameredelusionhasnow,infact,cometrue.Suchpersonswill rectify themselves morally and will worship with great devotion theAlmightyGod.Verse7ofChapter48againlaysdownacardinalprincipleofthefaith–non-

violence.AndVerse12tellsusthatsaviourswill,becauseoftheirteachingsanddeeds,spreadadivinemessagewhichwillvanquishhatred.Verses4to6ofChapter51speakoftruthandcompassion.Everyprotectorof

mankindwho is upright and acquires good insight through humility is able toguidemankindsothattheyfollowtherightpath.TheProphetisnotcontentwithpersonsonlydoinggood.Heexhortsallmankindtoprovethemselvesasbeingbetterthangood,and,withpoeticalflourish,saysthatitwillbeworsethanbadforthosewhodonotdosoatthefinalendoflife.




IfyouunderstandtheseprincipleswhichGodhaslaiddownforman–happinessandmisery–punishmentofalongdurationforthosewhoareevil,andupwardprogressforthosewhoaregood–happinesswillbeyourlot.


Who,throughthatfirstword,broughtlightdowntousfromheavenlylight?Who,throughhiswisdom,isthecreatoroftruth?Theupholderofthehighest(mentally).Thatlightdoesthenbrightenwithinus,whichhasotherwiseremaineddormanttillnow.


UnfoldYourselfwithinme,OLord.GrantmestrengthofcharacterthroughRight-Mindedness.Throughtheholiestspirit,OLord,grantmegoodnessasarewardforprayer.GrantmealifefullofvigourthroughTruth,andmaythePureMindlookafterme.


Givemebliss,makemefar-seeingandrevealtomeyourincomparablegifts–Yourpower,andtheblessingsofthePureMind.OHolyRight-Mindedness,teachusclearlyastohowtruthguidesourwayofthinking.


Therefore,ZarathustraoffershimselfandhisupliftmenttoGod,anddedicatesthefirstfruitsofhisthoughtinspiredbytheloftiestmotives,hisdeedsoftruth,andhiswordsutteredaccordingtohisconscience–ineffect,hiswholebeing.


SinceYouaresuchinreality,OLord,TruthandPureMind,guidemewhendoubtsarise,ateverystageoflife,sothatYourworshipperisfreefromtheloadwhichultimatelyweighsthesouldown.


Thatpath,OLord,whichYoupointedouttome–thecreedofallsaviours–thateverygooddeedinspiredbyloftymotivesalone,goesfar.Thisteachingisfortheclear-sighted,leadingtotheultimaterewardwhichYouwillgrant.


Happinesstohimwhogiveshappinesstowhomsoeverelse.MayGod,whorulesatwill,grantthis.Iwishforprogress,strengthofcharacterandliferenewed.Forupholdingtruth,granttome,ORight-Mindedness,theblessingsofalifespentwithamindilluminedbylight.


IhaverealizedthatYouareholy,OLord,whenIrecognizedthatYouwerethefirst,evenbeforelifecameintobeing.Youhaveordainedthatallwordsanddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andtheblessingsof

anddeedswillbearfruit.Miserytothosewhoareevil,andtheblessingsofwell-beingtothosewhoaregood.Thusshallitbetilltheultimategoalofcreationisreached.


Toallseekersofsalvation,past,present,andfuture,Ihavethistosay:thesouloftherighteouswillbevictoriousandwillgainimmortality.Everrenewedaretimesoftroubleforthosewhoareevil.ThisissentbyGodthroughHispower.


HimdoIseektopraise,inallhumility.Indeed,Ihaveseenhimwithmymind’seye.Bygoodthought,deed,andword,andbyknowledgebroughtbythepathoftruthhaveIperceivedGodHimself.Letus,therefore,offersongsofdevotiontoHimintheabodeofsongwhereGoddwells.


GodandthePureMinddoIseektoworship,whoinHisplanhasmadeforusbothgoodanditsopposite,evil.God’spowerhasmadeusserveourhumanflock,sothattheyadvancetothehighesttruthandwisdom.


Whoever,beinginapositionofstrength,receivesanypersoninkindnessorinfriendship,andwhoeverreceivesanybodybecauseheisafollowerofYourrevelation,isblessed;andevenifsuchaperson,beingrighteous,receivesanevilperson,heshouldteachhimthepathtosalvationtosavehimfromdestruction,OLord.


But,whoeverbeingabletodoso,doesnotdoso,shallhimselfbeensnaredbyevil.Becausehewhoisgoodtothosewhoareevilishimselfevil.Andhewhobefriendstherighteousishimselfrighteous.ThisisYourlaweversinceYoufirstcreatedus.


Who,OLord,willprotectmewhenevilpersonsthreatenmewithviolence,whootherthanYourfireandthePureMind?Whentheybothareatworkwithinme,truthprevails,OLord.DeclarethisclearlysothatImayunderstandthisphilosophicaltruth.

understandthisphilosophicaltruth.


Whoeverisviolenttolife,hisdeedsofflaminghatewillnottouchmebutwillrecoilonhim,thiswhichkeepshimfromthegoodlife,butnotfromhatefulevilways.


WhoeverwillaccomplishthroughtruthandHiswillthiscompleterenovationonearthforZarathustra,tohimwillbegiventherewardofeternallife,togetherwithallthathedesiresfromourbountifulMotherEarth.AllthisYoudidrevealtome,OLord,theMostWise.


SinceonJudgementDaytruthtriumphsoveruntruth–whenapersonattainsimmortality,whichhasbeensaidtobeadelusion–thenwillthedevoteesofmanyGodsandotherpeoplewhowillwitnessthisincreasetheirdevotiontoYou,OLord.






Whichshepherdwilllookafteryourworshipper?Whenwillcompassiontakeover?WhenwillTruthtakeover?AndwhenwillRight-Mindednessdothesame?WhereisthehighestmindandYourpower,OGod?


Questioningaboutalltheseastohowheshouldadvancelifeintruth,theProtector,uprightinhisdeeds,acquiresgoodinsightthroughhumility.Heisthetrueguidetothosewhoarewise,bringingthemblessings.

thetrueguidetothosewhoarewise,bringingthemblessings.



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THEINSPIRATIONFORTHISBOOKCAMEFROMCLASSESthatweretakenbymeinthemonthsofJuly,August,andSeptemberof2015.Myentirefamily,includingmyparents–BapsiandFaliNariman–attended.Mygratitudegoestothem,andtoeverypersonwhoattendedthoseclasses,forgivingmetheinspirationtofinallyputdownmy thoughts in thisbook. I have also togratefully acknowledge theimmensehelpwhichIreceivedfromAakankshaSaxenafornotonlycorrectingthetextofthebook,butalsomakingvaluablesuggestions.

the inner fire: faith, choice, and modern-day living in zoroastrianism

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