FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "Ignorance is an outlook on life."
YOU ARE IN DARKNESS.
Zoroastrianism page 1 FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "Ignorance is an outlook on life." |
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YOU ARE IN DARKNESS. |
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WOMEN IS BAD(!) AND EVIL(!)
At the end of this second period of 3000 years, upon the incitement by the primeval woman, whore(!) Angra Mainyu burst through the sky and disturbed the creation of Ahura Mazda by killing the first plant, the bull, and gayomart, the sperms of whom fell to the earth and gave rise to other plants and a rhubarb plant, which in turn gave birth(?) to the first human pair and then metals were created. From the seeds of the Bull and Gayomart came all other life. Earth grew mountains, rains turned water into seas, sun circled the top of the mountain - introducing day and night. The sacrifices were a mythical representation of the offerings that used to be made to ensure the favour of the 'supreme entities,' and the continuation of both the world and of asha - the eternal Truth of order and justice.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! - HERE IS THE 'SAVIOUR', THE FINAL JUDGEMENT AND THE REST!
In the third period of 3000 years Angra Mainyu had triumphs in the material world, but he was unable to leave this world. He was trapped by Ahura Mazda and had to prepare his own destruction. In the beginning of the fourth period of 3000 years with the birth of Zarathustra, religion was introduced. But there would be a moral deterioration following the death of Zarathustra and at the end of every 1000 years of this last period, one of the sons of Zarathustra would come as a saviour. Do you want to know how? Well! Ahura Mazda would impregnate three virgins one at a time, bathing in the very same lake where his seeds were preserved. The son of the first virgin would be a 'messenger' and would put things right in a short period of time. A second 'messenger' after him and a third and last 'messenger' after that would come. The third and the last saviour, Saoshyant-Saoshyans will bring about the final judgement. At his time dead would rise out of their tombs. Then the last war between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu would start. The god of evil would be destroyed and Ahura Mazda would be supreme.
GOOD NEWS! IMMORTALITY, AGAIN!
Saoshyans would dispense the drink of immortality, usher in the new world and every soul would attain the transcendence. This was the idea of 'human saviour' of Iranians. Thus finite time, which come forth from the infinite time merges with it again after the space of 12000 years. TThis is a piece of Zurvanistic doctrine accepted by orthodoxy. (The following points must have attracted your attention: 1.Each one of these 'messengers' would be born by each one of the three virgins who took a bath in the pool in which the seeds of the prophet were preserved - You see! Here we have again the virgin birth. Sacred ones cannot be begotten by a lowly(!), humanly(!) act like the union between man and woman. 2.This story of saviour - the Messiah - and the judgement day exist in Judaism and Christianity, and the judgement day in Islam. Islam maintains that the Arab prophet, is the last 'messenger,' Qoran is the last 'code book' and with the supremacy of Islam the order of the supreme overseer would be established. So, 'finality' also exists in Islam. 3. And last but not least here we see again the exploitation of that basic human yearning for becoming immortal. In other words living forever.)
FIND THE ORIGIN OF THE 'GOOD' AND 'EVIL'
Zarathustra tried to introduce a system and an ethical foundation. He made strong attacks against the chief practitioners of the old ancient cults and accused them of worshipping satan. That was why he faced a general opposition in the beginning. Eventually he won Prince Hystaspes (Vishtasp) over to his belifes. Studies on Avesta suggest that he was a descendant of the first nomads which settled down. One of the hereditary priests of the local belief system. He was married and had children. He did not like slaughtering of the animals for the purpose of worship (because after all, animals also were the creation of the supreme overseer). He hated the greed of the priests and their methods in manipulating the people to support their self-centred life styles. He was disturbed by the unjust behaviour of the occupiers towards his people. As a consequence he set out to discover the origins of good and evil. He had 'conversations' with the 'supreme entity' for years. These 'conversations' resulted in the revelation of the new belief.
THAT MAGIC NUMBER 7, AND THE 'CONVERSING GOD'
Zarathustra is said to have had seven revelations or 'visions from up there.' (Here we have again the 'magical' number of seven). Many of these visions were brought by angels and archangels (which later had similar functions(!) in Judaism and Islam). These visions formed the basis of his belief system. This was the 'belief system' of Ahura Mazda (one and only source of creation, a creation that has neither beginning nor end). This is what Ahura Mazda thought of Zarathustra, as it is told in the scriptures: "O Zarathustra! I have created no one better than you in the world, and I shall likewise not create one better after you are gone. You are my chosen one and I have made this world apparent on account of you." (Here one can detect the possible origins of the ideas of 'chosen' prophets and 'chosen' peoples, like we see in Hebrew mythology and Islam). He declared that one all-wise lord and sovereign ruler of universe (Ahura Mazda) was the sole creator and sustainer of creation. Man was the crowning act of creation (Islam upholds this idea as well), the whole cycle of existence having been called into being to enable him to soar higher and higher and at last enjoy eternal bliss. Every phenomenon spiritual and material was attributed to Ahura Mazda, who determined the path of the stars, upheld the earth and firmament, caused the moon wax and wane and created light and darkness. Ahura Mazda was eternal, not created, wise, good, benevolent, and just. He was the creator of all the spiritual and material worlds. The wise and all-seeing 'god' of Zarathustra could see(!) everyone's heart(!) (this belief about heart being very very important and the seat of conscience comes from Sumer) and could talk not only to the priests but to everybody (this 'conversing supreme being' progressed towards a distant, separate, unreachable, different etc. creator and overseer).
AHURA MAZDA, DID HE CREATE EVERYTHING OR JUST THE 'GOOD'?
In him the primal pre-cosmic twin spirits of good or righteousness and evil (Angra Mainyu-Druj-Ahriman) meet in a higher unity. The eternal polarism however was not originally cosmic or absolute dualism of good and evil because the twin spirits had no independent existence apart from Ahura Mazda and in the end his righteous will was destined to prevail. But in later Avestan (Zend Avesta) literature Ahura Mazda is considered to be the creator only of that which is good. He is in perpetual conflict with Ahriman, now considered to be the creator of all that is evil. Ahriman is represented by a
serpent.DUALISM
ENTER SPENTA MAINYU !
The existence of 'evil' in Zoroastrianism is formulated by the two sons of Ahura Mazda choosing good or evil at creation. This is the
dualism aspect of the belief system. Spenta Mainyu chose the 'good' and was associated with life, truth and justice. Angra Mainyu (lie) chose the 'evil' and was associated with destruction, injustice and death which are all related to 'evil.'WHO IS WHO?
Having good and evil at creation opposing each other lead us to 'dualism', which is the main characteristic of Zoroastrianism. But at the same time there is no certainty about it. Zarathustra has preached and spread motoheism. But uncertainty and the real debate starts at this point:
If you believe in the first notion, you believe in a pure cosmic dualism. According to which both Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu are not created, are eternal, and are the opposite of each other. Which leads us to an absolute cosmic dualism and means that good and evil are primordial powers, which existed before time. They are in a constant conflict with each other. Furthermore, since man was created in supreme being's image, and supreme being would not create evil, man cannot be evil by nature. Evil is external and manifests itself in the shape of Angra Mainyu.
WHERE IS THE 'SEAT' OF EVIL? IS IT SOMEWHERE OUT 'THERE' OR IN THE HUMAN MIND?
Second notion leads us to an ethical dualism. It presupposes monotheism. Ahura Mazda is supreme, the Highest Light. All that is 'good' emanates from him. 'Evil' is produced by human activity and is called Angra Mainyu - the closest translation into English would be 'evil mentality.' So this is a moral dualism existing in the human mind only. Dualism exists in man's daily life and it is about the choice he must make between two moral directions. Many people consider this definition and understanding as the real Zoroastrianism. They say that dualism is ethical, the only creator is the supreme being (Ahura Mazda), those created has to decide between the two opposites - good and evil, and this dualism manifests itself in physical and
intellectual spheres.AMESHA SPENTAS AND SPENTA MAINYU
Zarathustra had rejected all the other Ahuras. Around Ahura Mazda (the father of gods) there were six Amesha Spentas - 'divine entities' also called as the 'Beneficient (or Holy) Immortal Ones' or 'Bounteous Immortals.' Following the death of Zarathustra these six 'divine entities' were associated with six branches of creation: Asha Vahishta (Excellent Order or Truth - Intelligence) ruled over the fire; Vohu Manah (Good Mind - Righteousness-with-Justice)) ruled over the Ox; Khshathra Vairya (Desirable Dominion - Tranquility-with-love) ruled over metals (Khshathra was identified with Xisitros, Ziusudra, Utnapishtim). Spenta Armaiti (Beneficient Devotion - Divine Might) ruled over the earth; Haurvatat (Wholesomeness - Perfection) ruled over water and Ameratat-Ameretat-Amerodad (Immortality - Eternity) ruled over plants. According to some scholars the existence of the 'divine entities' maybe due to Zarathustra's decision to keep the supreme overseers of the classes in the ancient Indo-Iranian community. These 'divine entities' also appear as 'archangels' and 'angels' in the Old Testament and in Qoran which adopted many aspects of the Old Testament). All of these qualities are also present in the world and in the human spirit. The seventh one Ahura Mazda created was the sacred spirit, Spenta Mainyu, who was in reality the greatest of all powers, the Sublime Constructive Force. It is the driving force behind constructiveness, creativity and positiveness, and these are shared only with the human spirit. If these qualities are shared only with the human spirit and Spenta Mainyu's association in nature is man (since he was associated with man in nature, here may be the origin of the Islamic belief that man is the pinnacle of creation. What do you think?) then man becomes a co-creator.
MAN, CO-CREATOR?
In other words, as it is summarized by the priests in every mass, Spenta Mainyu was representing the god incarnate in man (can you detect the possible origin of the 'holy spirit' in Christianity and Jesus' descending to earth as god incarnate in man?) These seven entities, also called as the Bounteous Immortals (Amesha Spentas) were worshipped as entities representing the attributes of Ahura Mazda, and ideals to be aimed for. These Amesha Spentas asked help from Yazatas - the old good gods. Angra Mainyu answered by using daevas, the old immoral demons to attack the creation. Daevas were condemned as evil satans by Zarathustra.
According to this belief humanity is a co-creator of earth with Ahura Mazda. If mankind is the co-creator and has the free will, then obeying the law of
Asha is obligatory. Failing to do that will bring 'evil' to the world. It means that every man and woman has to make a choice between the 'good' and 'evil.' Those who do 'good' deeds will undoubtedly rise to the sky, and those who chose the 'evil' deeds and 'evil' thoughts will inevitably fall to the hell.GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD WORDS, GOOD DEEDS ARE OBLIGATORY
According to the Zarathustran doctrine it is a duty for every man and woman to lead a life full of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Only this way could the creation be cleaned of evil. Evil was created by the 'uncreated but not eternal evil spirit' Angra Mainyu (Ahriman-Ehriman-Ahiram)
Yasna 30.3 reads: 'It is the truth that there were two spirits in the beginning, twins known for fighting each other. They are two, in thought, and in word: good and evil.'YOU MUST CROSS 'THE BRIDGE OF THE REQUITER'
Zarathustra preached that earth would be destroyed 'shortly' as a result of a huge conflagration (?), only those following the 'good' would survive and take part in the 'recreation.' One of the basic tenets of the Zoroastrianism is the 'free will.' One should choose by one's free will, in one's lifetime. After death until the time of the final judgement spirits of the dead would cross the 'Bridge of the Requiter' -
Chinvat-Cinwat-Chinwad Bridge. This is the bridge in the shape of a sword which the spirits/souls of all the dead should pass. If the dead person was good and righteous a beautiful woman would let them pass on the side of the sword and the soul would rise to paradise. If the dead person was evil, then an ugly old woman would try to help and the sword would turn sharp edge up and the soul would fall down to hell. (This is exactly the formula which appears in the 'code book' of the Mosaic belief system, the Old Testament and the 'code book' of Islam, Qoran). In the early period of the teaching it was formulated that on the day of the final judgement when the body and soul reunited the evil ones would stay forever in the hell. But an amendment to the doctrine at a later date introduced the principle of purifying the evil with molten metal so that it could be allowed to take the place it deserved in the new world. (Here is the origin of the stories of paradise and hell in Judaism and Islam. In Islam the purification of the evil soul would be done by fire - alternating with cold. Spenta Mainyu attracts your attention to 'Sýrât Bridge' in Islam, a bridge every Moslem has to pass to reach the paradise. The similarity between Chinvat-Cinwat-Chinwad and Sýrât should be noted). At the later days of Zoroastrianism a change of belief took place to the effect that the end of the earth would take place in a more distant future. Thus there would be time for the purification by fire of the spirits of the 'evil doers' making it possible for them to take part in the 'last renewal' of the world. When Angra Mainyu is beaten for good whole world could look forward to the future, to the 'renewal of creation,' to the union with Ahura Mazda (Frashogard-Frashogerd) which is called Frasho-kereti in Avesta.ZARATHUSTRA, TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS AND REINCARNATION
There are some who maintain that Zarathustra had believed in reincarnation but it is very difficult to bring together reincarnation and resurrection in the same belief system. If the soul travels from one body to another, who would be judged at the 'judgement day'? If only one person is directly responsible for one's conduct on this earth, and if the soul migrates among bodies, how can the original body and the soul unite and be judged at that final day? (The origin of Islam's rejection of transmigration of souls and reincarnation may be here).
WHO INTRODUCED COSMIC DUALISM, ZARATHUSTRA OR THE MAGI
According to
Gathas man owes the Wise Lord (Ahura Mazda) loyalty, should fight evil endlessly and in the meantime should never forget the evil capacity he has. The difficulty lies with the fact that no one knows what Zarathustra taught exactly. He must have preached monotheism, but was the cosmic dualism really included in his doctrine? Scriptures seem to state in some places that indeed he argued for the notion of cosmic dualism. Maybe this was something superimposed on Zarathustra's monotheism centuries later by the priests when they regained their power by becoming intercessors between the ordinary man and the supreme entities. The Parsees in India do appear to hold a cosmic dualism, but it is not clear whether this goes back to Zarathustra or to the 2nd century AD. and the priests.But despite all this there is agreement in two matters: Man is a co-worker with the supreme being and ultimately 'good' will triumph over evil. In every day life application of dualism boils down to a moral choice. Asha is the path to follow at all times and man should be careful not to fall into druj (falsehood). This dualism is like the dualistic system we find in the religion of the Magi which is the clan that gained much strength in the Achaemenid kingdom. It is not clear what role the Magi played in the development and spread of the Zarathustran belief system. But they claimed that Zarathustra was the founder of their religion and they were the descendants of those first people who adopted this belief system. Herodotus wrote in the 5 th century BC that Magis did not inter or burn their dead but left them out in the open to be picked by the birds. They continued with the marriages between blood relatives. They gave importance to ýnterpretation of dreams (oneiromancy), astrology and magic. Some animals were sacred for them, but sacrificing others was a must. All these points are confirmed by other Greek sources, writings in the last sections of the Avesta and especially
Vendidad.ZURVANITES AND 'ZEROANA AKERNE'-THE ENDLESS TIME
The greatest opponents of the dualist Mazdaist-doctrine were the
Zurvanites who went back to beginning to explain the dualism, and envisaged an endless supreme entity. This was their great ancestor Zurvan. Only Zurvan existed in the beginning (The word Zurvan ('Time') seems like a word which was known since the prehistory but had never been in the forefront until the Sassanian period). According to the Zurvanite theology Zurvan which was the personification of the endless time (Zurvan Akarana-Zeroana Akerne) made animal sacrifice for a 1000 years to have a child who will create the world. But the doubt he had whether this would bear a fruit at the end of this period landed him with an evil son - Ahriman (previously Angra Mainyu). At the same time due to the power of the sacrifices, the 'shining and perfumed' Ohrmazd-Ormuzd-Ormizd-Hormuz (previously Ahura Mazda) was created. These two shaped the world. Zurvan took no part. But as 'god of time and fate' he remotely influences human destinies, appearing under two aspects: As Limitless Time (eternal lord); and Time of Long Dominion (lord of the existing world).ZARATHUSTRA - WHO IS HE?
There is little on the life of Zarathustra in the Gathas which are believed to have been put together by himself. Gathas are different from the rest of Avesta. Gathas not only present the hopes and expectations, but also relate doubts, hates, and triumphs of a unique and an acutely different personality. Myths were spread, purporting that satans looking like humans were roaming about the earth and fled underground with the birth of Zarathustra and that the nature rose to meet the occasion with joy. Zarathustra was the role model for the priests, warriors, animal breeders. He excelled in medicine and all kinds of arts and crafts. He was sent by Ahura Mazda to preach in many kingdoms. He started ritual fires. He took part in a sacred war started by Hystaspes.. This is all written in the
Pahlavi Texts going back to the 9th century AD. These texts begin with the miraculous birth of Zarathustra and seem to suggest that Jesus tried imitating his (Zarathustra's) life, if we are to go by the narration on the life of Jesus in the Gospel of St Luke. But despite all the extraordinary events about him, Zarathustra was not deified.Zarathustra is supposed to be the teacher of Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Jews and Christians identified Zarathustra with their 'messengers' like Ezekiel and Baruch. But the greatest of mistakes was made when he was held responsible for astrology and sorcery. He was presented as '
arch heretic' in the Clementine Recognitions dated 4 th. century AD. Throughout the Middle Ages Zarathustra was known as a magician/sorcerer.TRANSFORMATION INTO SOMETHING ELSE, AND FINALLY THE PARSEE BELIEF SYSTEM
Following the death of Zarathustra his belief system spread southwards into the present day Afghanistan and westwards to the land of Med and Pers. There the remnants of the ancient belief system was still alive and Zoroastrianism had no choice but to bow to them. Magis began to incorporate some of their pre-Zoroastrian beliefs into the religion. The first thing they did was to bring back some of the old Gods. Sacrificing bull and presenting haoma to Mitra and Anahita (which are deities in Vedic religion) started again (this development, thought to have taken place in the late Achamenid period - 550-330 BC., shows itself in the last sections of the Avesta), then they turned various attributes of Ahura Mazda into beings. Ahura Mazda was still worshipped, he was mightier than the ancient supreme entities. But his power was limited, for he was identified gradually with Spenta Mainyu, and he became coeval (of the same age, antiquity or duration) with Angra Mainyu - no longer infinite. The final and most dramatic change came when Angra Mainyu - which was a state of mind originally - was turned into a being. It was given a new name - Ahriman, Ehriman. Thus Ahura Mazda's good creation became evenly opposed with an evil creation instigated by Ahriman, the evil being. Character of the Saoshyant was transformed as well, from a group of all the pious men who strive for the improvement of the world to a few messiahs who would come at the time of the final battle between good and evil. Today Zarathustra' s belief system is referred to as the Parsee-Parsi religion.
