The Eternal Nature of Zoroastrian Thought
Zarathustra proposed the existence of One Supreme God, Ahura Mazda, and so exalted monotheism. Ahura Mazda is the pivot round which the whole of creation revolves. He is the author of all good and He alone is worthy of praise and admiration as the highest. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. Lord Tennyson unwittingly echoes the 6,000-year-old thoughts of Zarathustra: "That God which ever lives and loves,/ One God, One Law, One element/ And one far off divine event/ To which the whole creation moves". The fundamental teachings of the Zoroastrian religion are contained in the Gathas, such as freedom of choice between good and evil, monotheism, the law of Asha, crusade against evil, industrious living and Divine judgment; besides themes like the origin of creation and power of mind. The eternal law of Asha means righteousness in our dayto-day life. Asha signifies truth, order, discipline and harmony and includes acts of purity, truthfulness and beneficence. From order and discipline pro-ceeds progress. From dis order and discord one reaches to destruction. Man's future state depends solely on his own actions in accordance with the unchangeable law of cause and effect. Happiness or misery is the result of our own thoughts, words and deeds, which determine our so-called heaven or hell. The moment we perform an action we are subject to the immutable law of cause and effect. There is no escape from it. After initiation into the fold after the Navjote, a child is bound by certain duties towards his parent and teachers. As he grows up, his circle of duty widens, and extends over his community, society and even the country. And one must carry out one's duty towards all those to whom one is obliged in one way or the other. And how could one bos do so by running away from the world to seek one's own salvation? The current of life must flow with vigour and vitality, which a devotee ardently desires from Ahura Mazda (Yasna 43.1). Man should share the joys of life with the members of his family and for co-operation in the fight against evil and for a good, purposeful and virtuous living. There are three elevating precepts: Humata, Hukhta. Huvarshta -good thoughts, good words and good deeds. This triple injunction is the fabric upon which the whole Zoroastrian system is based. Kindness to animals is specially enjoined in the Zarasthustra scriptures, and it is considered a sin to ill-treat animals. Samuel Laing, Avesta scholar, enlarged the principles of the Zoroastrian religion in the following words: "It is evident that this simple and sublime religion is one to which. by whatever name we may call it, the best modern thought is fast approximating. Men of science like Huxley, philosophers like Herbert Spencer, poets like Ten nyson, might all subscribe to it. The Parsee has no reason to tremble for his faith if a Galileo invents the telescope or a Newton discovers the law of gravity. He has no occasion to argue for Noah's deluge, or for the order of creation described in Genesis" The Zoroastrian Ethical Code is as sublime and complete as its religious system is grand and perfect. Its sanitary code is in striking harmony with modern hygienic teachings. Zoroastrian principles are unassailable by science, its ethics invulnerable for all ages, for all climes, and for all classes of society. Holy Prophet Zarathustrara taught not for one age or for one people but for all ages, for all people and for all time to come.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Burjor H Antia and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Burjor H Antia and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Eternal Nature of Zoroastrian Thought
Zarathustra proposed the existence of One Supreme God, Ahura Mazda, and so exalted monotheism. Ahura Mazda is the pivot round which the whole of creation revolves. He is the author of all good and He alone is worthy of praise and admiration as the highest. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. Lord Tennyson unwittingly echoes the 6,000-year-old thoughts of Zarathustra: "That God which ever lives and loves,/ One God, One Law, One element/ And one far off divine event/ To which the whole creation moves". The fundamental teachings of the Zoroastrian religion are contained in the Gathas, such as freedom of choice between good and evil, monotheism, the law of Asha, crusade against evil, industrious living and Divine judgment; besides themes like the origin of creation and power of mind. The eternal law of Asha means righteousness in our dayto-day life. Asha signifies truth, order, discipline and harmony and includes acts of purity, truthfulness and beneficence. From order and discipline pro-ceeds progress. From dis order and discord one reaches to destruction. Man's future state depends solely on his own actions in accordance with the unchangeable law of cause and effect. Happiness or misery is the result of our own thoughts, words and deeds, which determine our so-called heaven or hell. The moment we perform an action we are subject to the immutable law of cause and effect. There is no escape from it. After initiation into the fold after the Navjote, a child is bound by certain duties towards his parent and teachers. As he grows up, his circle of duty widens, and extends over his community, society and even the country. And one must carry out one's duty towards all those to whom one is obliged in one way or the other. And how could one bos do so by running away from the world to seek one's own salvation? The current of life must flow with vigour and vitality, which a devotee ardently desires from Ahura Mazda (Yasna 43.1). Man should share the joys of life with the members of his family and for co-operation in the fight against evil and for a good, purposeful and virtuous living. There are three elevating precepts: Humata, Hukhta. Huvarshta -good thoughts, good words and good deeds. This triple injunction is the fabric upon which the whole Zoroastrian system is based. Kindness to animals is specially enjoined in the Zarasthustra scriptures, and it is considered a sin to ill-treat animals. Samuel Laing, Avesta scholar, enlarged the principles of the Zoroastrian religion in the following words: "It is evident that this simple and sublime religion is one to which. by whatever name we may call it, the best modern thought is fast approximating. Men of science like Huxley, philosophers like Herbert Spencer, poets like Ten nyson, might all subscribe to it. The Parsee has no reason to tremble for his faith if a Galileo invents the telescope or a Newton discovers the law of gravity. He has no occasion to argue for Noah's deluge, or for the order of creation described in Genesis" The Zoroastrian Ethical Code is as sublime and complete as its religious system is grand and perfect. Its sanitary code is in striking harmony with modern hygienic teachings. Zoroastrian principles are unassailable by science, its ethics invulnerable for all ages, for all climes, and for all classes of society. Holy Prophet Zarathustrara taught not for one age or for one people but for all ages, for all people and for all time to come.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Burjor H Antia and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Burjor H Antia and Speaking Tree,Times of India