Dear Friends, Peace And Love,
All religions are beautiful. But, it is the devil in man that pushes him away
from his beautiful religion and turns him into an ugly ogre, a vicious demon,
who devours humanity and human values. The followers of that great faith
of Zarathustra has always respected different Faiths and Beliefs, even though
they were persecuted and exiled from their homeland.
"I who am Zarathushtra will make the heads of the houses, the villages,
province and country to follow and think about this world religion, thinking
in conformity with, speaking in conformity with and acting in conformity with
this religion as revealed to Zarathushtra by Ahura Mazda."
It gives me pleasure to share with you some of the teachings avout my faith.
With love for all and malice towards none, Dr Homi Wadia
RELIGION OF ZARATHUSHTRA IS FOR ALL MANKIND
Cyrus P Mehta
In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century, it was a common belief within the Parsi community that "A Parsi is a Zoroastrian and a Zoroastrian is a Parsi." At that time most Parsi boys and girls attended Parsi Schools. The community lived in large numbers in towns like Bombay, Surat, Navsari, Karachi and a few others. As such it was natural for it to accept the belief quoted above.
Time has marched on since those days. The Parsi community now lives in smaller scattered groups in the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other counties. It is anxious to preserve its traditional way of life and the communal-cum-religious identity.
With the passage of time, interfaith marriages have increased within the community. So far no concrete proposals have been considered as to how the non-Zoroastrian spouses and their children can be partially or fully integrated within the communal fold.
One of the main reasons why this difficulty has arisen is due to the fact that a large section of the community has not understood or is unwilling to accept the basic fact that Prophets address their messages to the whole of mankind and not necessarily to a group of people or a community. Once this fact is understood and accepted, the community will be in a much better position to accept certain socio-religious changes within the communal structure.
As to how this can be brought about is a matter for consideration by local and larger Zoroastrian bodies in different parts of the world. It may be that no single course of action will be possible because of cultural and political circumstances prevailing in different countries.
Below are some passages from GATHAS and other Zoroastrian scriptures and prayers, together with the comments of scholars of the Zoroastrian religion, on the above-mentioned subject.
Gatha Ahunavati 4.3 (Yasna 31.3)
What Thou hast through the Inner Fire disclosed
The Bliss through Asha promised to us all,
The Law Divine for the discerning soul; --
All that to us, Mazda clear explain,
In words of inspiration from Thy mouth,
To help us to convert all living men.
(Dr. I.J.S. Taraporewala?s translation)
Commenting on the above verse, Prof. A.V. Jackson wrote:-
"Zoroaster?s religion was active and vigorous, seeking and gaining converts, as we see from many passages in the Gathas. ("A Hymn of Zarathushtra ? Yasna 31" by Jackson. Page 27)
About the same verse, Prof. Lawrence Mills wrote:-
"And he (Zarathushtra) declares that this is the doctrine which should be proclaimed for the conversion of mankind. Here we observe that Zarathushtrian Mazda-worship was aggressive and missionary in its spirit, and in a proselytising sense by no means indifferent to the final destiny of the Gentile World. (Sacred Books of the East "Vol.XXX1, The Zend Avesta, Part III, Page 37)
Gatha Ushtavaiti 3.1 (Yasna 45.1)
"Now will I speak; give ear and mind as well, All ye who come from near and far to learn, Remember well these clear Truths, I teach;-- Never again shall Evil Teachers seek Life to destroy, nor offer unto dupes with specious words the pleasant paths of wrong."
(Dr. I.J.S. Taraporewala?s translation)
Here Zarathushtra clearly gives out his message to people, not only to Iranians but also to those who may have come from distant lands and were not Iranians.
Commenting on this verse, Prof. Wilhelm Geiger wrote:-
"The conclusion that Ahura Mazda himself sent Zarathushtra into this world for the purpose of announcing the new doctrine to mankind, and that God stands always by his side as his adviser or guide, comes out prominently in the Gathas. The Prophet directly expresses it in Yasna 45.5* when he says that God communicated to him the Word which is the best for man."
("Zarathushtra in the Gathas", Dastur Dorab P. Sanjana?s translation, Page 21)
Cyrus P Mehta
In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century, it was a common belief within the Parsi community that "A Parsi is a Zoroastrian and a Zoroastrian is a Parsi." At that time most Parsi boys and girls attended Parsi Schools. The community lived in large numbers in towns like Bombay, Surat, Navsari, Karachi and a few others. As such it was natural for it to accept the belief quoted above.
Time has marched on since those days. The Parsi community now lives in smaller scattered groups in the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other counties. It is anxious to preserve its traditional way of life and the communal-cum-religious identity.
With the passage of time, interfaith marriages have increased within the community. So far no concrete proposals have been considered as to how the non-Zoroastrian spouses and their children can be partially or fully integrated within the communal fold.
One of the main reasons why this difficulty has arisen is due to the fact that a large section of the community has not understood or is unwilling to accept the basic fact that Prophets address their messages to the whole of mankind and not necessarily to a group of people or a community. Once this fact is understood and accepted, the community will be in a much better position to accept certain socio-religious changes within the communal structure.
As to how this can be brought about is a matter for consideration by local and larger Zoroastrian bodies in different parts of the world. It may be that no single course of action will be possible because of cultural and political circumstances prevailing in different countries.
Below are some passages from GATHAS and other Zoroastrian scriptures and prayers, together with the comments of scholars of the Zoroastrian religion, on the above-mentioned subject.
Gatha Ahunavati 4.3 (Yasna 31.3)
What Thou hast through the Inner Fire disclosed
The Bliss through Asha promised to us all,
The Law Divine for the discerning soul; --
All that to us, Mazda clear explain,
In words of inspiration from Thy mouth,
To help us to convert all living men.
(Dr. I.J.S. Taraporewala?s translation)
Commenting on the above verse, Prof. A.V. Jackson wrote:-
"Zoroaster?s religion was active and vigorous, seeking and gaining converts, as we see from many passages in the Gathas. ("A Hymn of Zarathushtra ? Yasna 31" by Jackson. Page 27)
About the same verse, Prof. Lawrence Mills wrote:-
"And he (Zarathushtra) declares that this is the doctrine which should be proclaimed for the conversion of mankind. Here we observe that Zarathushtrian Mazda-worship was aggressive and missionary in its spirit, and in a proselytising sense by no means indifferent to the final destiny of the Gentile World. (Sacred Books of the East "Vol.XXX1, The Zend Avesta, Part III, Page 37)
Gatha Ushtavaiti 3.1 (Yasna 45.1)
"Now will I speak; give ear and mind as well, All ye who come from near and far to learn, Remember well these clear Truths, I teach;-- Never again shall Evil Teachers seek Life to destroy, nor offer unto dupes with specious words the pleasant paths of wrong."
(Dr. I.J.S. Taraporewala?s translation)
Here Zarathushtra clearly gives out his message to people, not only to Iranians but also to those who may have come from distant lands and were not Iranians.
Commenting on this verse, Prof. Wilhelm Geiger wrote:-
"The conclusion that Ahura Mazda himself sent Zarathushtra into this world for the purpose of announcing the new doctrine to mankind, and that God stands always by his side as his adviser or guide, comes out prominently in the Gathas. The Prophet directly expresses it in Yasna 45.5* when he says that God communicated to him the Word which is the best for man."
("Zarathushtra in the Gathas", Dastur Dorab P. Sanjana?s translation, Page 21)
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