Continuous Improvement. A Zarathushti's sacred endevour

Of all religious philosophies, only the Zarathushti faith suggests a continuous renovation-evolution-improvement pathway towards the goal of Utopia.


Called Fra-var-ane, from the root Fr= to evolve, not surprisingly this faith that lays such emphasis on knowledge, reasoning and free choice would prescribe such a scientifically validated pathway to Ha-urva-tat or Perfection-Self Realization.


The first attribute of Ahura Mazda is identified in the Hormazd Yasht (the dedication to Hormazd-Ahura Mazda) as "Fra-kh-stya"- one who designs improvement-evolution in his creations.


Since humans are not perfect (by definition); one needs a pathway to healing, sort of like taking to a vegetarian or fibre rich diet when facing certain health problems.

Thus wholeness-healing of the soul is the same conceptual goal, along spiritual lines. 

Fradathai Ahurahe Mazdao                    

                               Renovate my attitude (disposition) O wise Almighty Creator,

Rae-vato khvare-nanghuhato 

               Enlighten me, with thy radiance & luster permeating my entire being  

Fradathai Ameshanam Spentanam*,  
 Grant Steady growth, as I purposefully carry out actions aligned to Thy Divine Immortal Principles,  

Fradathai tishtryehe  staro raevato khvare-nanghuhato 

 Infuse in me expanded powers of perception through Tishtriya the beacon of the Universe 

Fradathai nar-sh ashaono   
 Renovate the spiritual growth of us mortals aligned to Truth & Justice

Fradathai vi-spanam, 
 Spentahe Mainyeush damanam ashaonam   

      

Let this journey of continuous improvement be universal, wherever positive  and constructive thinking takes root (resides), based on a foundation of Knowledge-Truth-Reality (Asha). 

The Haz-an-grem prayer (Let there be 1000's of ways to healing-curing-improvement) comes to mind as an example.

Yasna 68.15: Hazangrem: By Dasturji Minocher-Homji

Haz-an-grem Bay-esha-za-nam, Bay-e-var-a, Bay-esha-za-nam 

(to be recited 3 times)

All my Blessings for that Worthy and Truthful person between this earth and heaven.

The Blessings of one thousand, nay ten thousand Healings of the Soul.

Note the root "Za" indicating an active, energetic orientation, like its cognate

Za-sto: reciting the mantra with energetic raising of arms.

A cognate term is "Zao" or holy waters that are said to flow down and purify  the being (see the translation of the Ah-mai Rae-ish-cha prayer).

The term "Isha/Esha" is blessed wish, with pure intent (without any ulterior motive).
The root word survives in modern times as "Hazara" a tribe in Afghanistan who unfortunately are no longer Zarathushtis.

Yasna 33.12:

 Uzmoi Arshwa Ahura        

                  Evolve my disposition (attitude), O Creator, along that soul purifying path 

Aramaiti Tevishem Daaswaa

                Armoured with  energetic determination, focus and steadfastness of purpose;

                                                            

Spenishta Mainyu Mazda,           

                   That positive mindedness, O Wisest Ruler, fueled by ethics & integrity, 

Van-gha-u-yaa zavoi aada

          To attain that treasured reward, achieved only through industrious dedicated effort,

                                                                             

Asha hazo emavat,                

                That effort, aligned to Ash-a, which forges (develops) strength & courage,  

Vohu manangha fesera-toom

          Achieving that blessed renovation of the self, that tranquility of self realization

                  

Word Philology:

Uzmoi: Uz + Moi: Purify me

Arsh-waa: (Uzar + ashwa) energize, invigorate

Ahura: Almighty Creator

Aaramaiti: energetic, enthusiastic, persistent, steadfast, resolute devotion of purpose

                  Ara= Energetic, Maiti = Devotion. Vedic Shakti.

Tev-ishm:  Senses (of the nervous system), that encompass the body

Daa-swaa: Ten

Spenishta: Spenta (pure, divine) + Ishta: (wish granter)

Mainyu: Mentality, Disposition, Intent

Mazda: (Maaz: Maah: Great + Daa: Dha*: Intellect granter/dispenser) Great Intellect

Van-ghu-yaa: the crucible/cup/challis of  Victorious love and goodness

Zavo: heartfelt, industrious offering, cognate: Zasto   

Adaa: reward (through conviction, not compulsion)

 Asha: The universal Law, instituted by Mazda which guides souls (through retrospection) along the path of integrity and justice

Hazo: vigour

Ey-mavat: full development/strong

Vohu Manangha:  heavenly minded; positivism, high mindedness (Love and Compassion)

Fesera-toom:  embrace of renovation

Vispa Humata:

All good, positive thoughts, constructive words and  selfless deeds, grounded in Truth and Ethics, help us grow spiritually, 

This spiral of continuous improvement lead us all to that prosperity; that heavenly  state called Self Realization or Perfection (Self Realization-Haurvetat).

All evil, degenerate thoughts ,  negative and destructive words and selfish, malicious deeds are expressions of folly, carried out through lack of intelligence and  result in a downward spiral leading to woe and  (self) destruction.

The Zarathushti Pledge of Faith

Ja-say may avan-ghe mazda



Jase me avanghe mazda; Jase me avanghe mazda ;  Jase me avanghe mazda


  I invoke thee Thrice, O King of Wisdom. Envelope me; Pour into me, Wake me up, inside


Mazda-yasno Ahmi Mazda-yasno Za-rath-ush-tr-ish

We declare ourselves to be worshipers, of The Creator who rules exclusively through wisdom, as elaborated by our Saviour Zarathushtra 

Fra-var-ane Astua-tas-cha Fra-var-ane-tas-cha
We pledge unconditional support and  unshakable faith for this existent (not mirage) vehicle (path-methodology)  to continuous improvement.


Astuye Humatem Mano
Through Well considered (Reasoned) ideas (thoughts) rooted in Truth & Reality;

Astuye Hukhtem Vacho
Flowing into well spoken words (discussions-plans-Goals) that are positive & constructive

Astuye’Hvarshtem Shyothenem 
and Culminating in well performed ethical Actions, aligned with the Truth,

Astuye Dae-nam Van-ghu-him ; 
That, is the real (not mirage) Victorious path that accumulates prosperity 

Mazda-yasnim, Fra-shpa-yao khedrum,  Nidha-snithi-shim

These wise actions, are in fact the invocation that we offer our Wise Creator.
Constructive actions (deeds) that promotes the learning process, through self correction. Actions that promote continuous improvement; Elimination of doubt, discord and  strife


Khetva-dhem; Ashao-nim

The path of performing deeds of Selflessness, while anchored firmly in Reality; to logic based on scientific validation;

Ya Haiti-nam-cha; Bush-yenti-nam-cha; 
This is what distinguishes this faith (philosophy) from others which are, which have been and which may arise in future


Maz-ishta; Vahishta; Sraestacha Ya Ahurish Zarathushtish 
The faith that is the Greatest, the most profitable and the most Inspiring;
The faith instituted by the Almighty Creator through his Holy Chariot of Light (Za-rath-ushtra)


Ahurai  Mazdai  Vispa  Vohu Chin-ahmi
That is the blessed, Love and  Truth promoting faith based on Universal principles, that we pledge our doubtless alliance to


Aesha Asti Dae-nyao Mazda-yasno-ish Astuitish
Such is my Open (Public) Demonstrative Pledge of faith in that philosophy that leads to one to prosperity and excellence.

Word Philology

Jasa:  envelope/pour onto

me' (pronounced as "may"): to me

Av-anghe:  assisting/supporting, my being

Maz-da: Great (Maz) dispenser/ruler (Da) through wisdom

Mazda-yasno: Praiser/Invoker/worshiper (Yas-no) of the Creator who rules through Wisdom

Ahmi: we are

Za-rath-ush-trish: as defined & elaborated by Zarathushtra (The divine chariot of Light)

Fra-var-ane: Ever improving/progressively evolving (Fra) + treasured Possessions(Var) +  breath/food (Ane); food that feeds the depths of my being.
Astua-tas-cha (of): existing foundation (of faith)
Fra-var-ane: Ever progressively evolving  Wealth (that forms) my  breath/food 
Tas-cha: un-shakeable faith (that seeps through my being)

Astuye : I praise, I loudly declare this fact
Huma-tem : Hu: invoke; + matem(mata-em) : past thoughts:  Well thought out (Intelligently Considered Goals)

Mano: (Sk. Manas): to think/thought

Hukh-tem’: Hu: invoke ; + ukhta: good speech: Well spoken Diction 

Vacho: (Sk. Vach): to speak/(truthfull) word

Hv-arsh-tem’: Hu: invoke (call); var-sh : well performed

Shyothe-nem: Acts,  Deeds that are selfless

Dae-nam:  the faith, that path  to that prosperity of enlightenment.

Van-ghu-him: Victorious arena

Mazda-yasnim: Yasna (invocation) to Mazda, the great wise Lord, knower of all

Fra-shpa-yao khedrum: Evolution-Improvement (of attitude) that throws out  discord/strife/doubt

Nidha-snithi-shim: that eliminates strife

Khetva-dhem: Self sacrifice 

Ashao-nim: based on the natural Law of Truth & Justice

Ya: which

Haiti-nam-cha:  of those amongst the existing

Bush-yenti-nam-cha: of those to be devised in future

Maz-ish-ta-cha : Greatest

Vah-ish-ta-cha: most profitable

Sra-esh-ta-cha:  most inspiring/stimulating/enlightening

Ahu-rish:  devised by the Creator
Za-rath-ush-trish: Via Zarathushtra; as concentrated & codified by Zartahushtra.
Ahu-rai: the glory (radiance) of the Creator
Maz-dai: the Great one, who rules through wisdom

Vis-pa: All encompassing (like the atmosphere)
Vohu: Beloved

Chin-ahmi: I ascribe

Aesha: Such

Asti: that is (the reality)

Dae-nayao: path/faith/religion of Light (Dae/Day)

Astuitish: actual (real) invocation (the invocation through actions, not homilies; through free purposeful intent, not blind submission )

Vegetarianism: The Zarathushti world view

The Zarathushti faith being a promoter of Science and Knowledge recognizes Man as the only being empowered with a "Mun"; (pronounced to rhyme with "bun") the ability to Reason. This exclusive gift of mental capability is balanced with an advisory to act like an honest Trustee of the Earth, its bounty and its other life forms.

Summarized in the Gathic dictum: 
That action is GOOD, the Most Enlightened; that results in Good outcomes for ALL;

The advisory is to avoid any or all activities that mistreat or hurt animals.
Zarathushtra preached respect for all forms of life and environment
Bahman, Mohor, Gosh, and Ram as well as, the whole month of Bahman  are days established in the Zoroastrian calendar to eat exclusively vegetarian meals.

Yasna 32-12:

"Welfare protection of animals, is enshrined in the original advisory “Geush Morendan”,

Slaughtering animals by painful, non-enlightened methods is forbidden.

According to Dr. Pallan Ichaporia,in his writeup "Vegeterianism in Zoroastrian Teachings", "edict against beef eating from High Priest Atrupat-e Emetan in Denkard Book VI written in the 9 century circa. .......

"ku.san enez a-on ku urwar xwarishn bawed shmah mardoman ku derziwishn bawed, ud az tan i gospand pahrezed, ce amar was, eg Ohrmaz i xwaday hay.yarih i gospand ray urwar was dad."

"They hold this also: Be plant eaters (urwar xwarishn) (ie vegetarian), O you, men , so that you may live long. Keep away from the body of cattle (tan i gospand), and deeply reckon that Ohrmazd, the Lord has created plants in great number for helping cattle (and men)." "

 For those who opine thoughtlessly that Asho Zarathushtra had recommended in the Gathas to eat meat; read before spouting garbage.

“O ye men! You partake of a vegetarian diet so that you may have a long life.-"Din-kard"

- Dinkard Book VI Prof. S. Shaked, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1979.”"

Further Reading-Eduljee (Heritage Institute)

The Relevance of the Vandidad to the Zoroastrian scriptures

Scholarship of the last century, using the meager resources salvaged by Parsis and Iranian Zarathushtis, had attempted to translate the ancient scriptures, only to be caught in a web of European bias[1] and  Christian pre conceptions[2]. Conjectural meanings based on these pre conceptions were arbitrarily built into Gathic verses and Avesta scriptures, resulting in historical traditions of the Avesta being disparagingly referred to as barbaric sacrificial liturgy. Facts ended up as poor relations to fantasies; whether in dating of the times and  geographic location of Zarathushtra; the archeological sites in Balkh-Margush-Khorasan, or the translations of the scriptures; through efforts that can only be defined in statistical terminology of  “forcing data to fit the predetermined curve” of a narrative not based on documented fact.

Since the times of Kanga, Jeevanji Modi, Macdonnel, Monier Williams and Taraporewalla, very little effort has gone into original translation and  Philology; with most translators of our scriptures not being conversant with the giant strides made in the language studies of the Avesta as well as its sister Arya dialect known as Rig Vedic Sanskrit

See: http://vyoman-wwwzblogcom.blogspot.com/2009/12/common-heritage-language-of-avesta.html

---

[1]  The Bible, arbitrarily  dating the earth at 4500BC  was a big mental block for Christian scholars faced with older chronologies.

Historical baggage in the form of the Christian Church arbitrarily choosing the contents of 4 gospels (which even between themselves, differ in content) while discarding the other 26; caused a predisposition towards a flawed theory that the message of Zarathushtra was similarly usurped and  contaminated with foreign ideas by his followers.

[2] Max Müller. A paid employee, who translated the Rigved in a demeaning style. The hidden secrets of his life.Copyright © 1999 - 2001 H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati

  
The Vandidad is a code of Rituals composed in the Avesta language about 100-200 years after the Gathas were composed.
According to Dr Martin Haug ("The language of the Parsi scriptures")

The Gatha dialect is therefore, only one or two centuries older than the ordinary Avesta language, which was the standard language of the ancient Iranian empire.]

Due to various reasons it has become a sort of favorite whipping boy by segments of non Zarathushti scholars who have often managed to hoodwink the devotees in the West.


A common refrain goes as follows: 
According to Vandidad, death, disease, injury and so on are acts of Ahriman (Devil). The Vandidad also prescribes certain punishments for certain types of mis-deeds. Apparently and according to literal translations of such passages, some of those punishments are very harsh (such as lashing for so and so many times) which could certainly result in severe injuries (which is according to the same source is a work of Ahriman). Do we have a contradiction here? A righteous person punishing an unrighteous one for a misdeed but committing an evil act himself? I must be missing something here? Could somebody explain.

The problem here is 2-fold.

1. Incorrect Translations. 

Example:.The word “Muthrem” has been wrongly, mischievously and  maliciously translated by some translators as urine,  to show Hoama (the elixir to immortality) in poor light. 

However, according to Dr Stanley Insler [The Gathas of Zarathushtra, Dr Stanley Insler, 1975, P290-291]

 “Two things stand in the way of   interpreting this word as urine. The word means solid excrement and “Maresma” is the word for urine in the Avesta. “Therefore I attribute the word to the root “mu”, to be deluded, foolish, appearing as “mura”,  dumb; and  posit, therefore the meaning “Folly” for “muthra”.”

2. Incorrect interpretation. : 

Making literal translations without reference to the context. 

Example: Relegating Zarathushtra to pastoral times on the basis of translation of spiritual concepts as cows, horses and camels; while ignoring the context of the verse. Never mind that the technique of mantra composing, involving specific meter, specific sound vibration and  scientific observation has not yet been matched by modern science. These so called liberal arts scholars, lacking a grounding in science and logic, have no explanation how this "pastoral society" made astronomical observations of far flung planets like the Sirius twins that were reconfirmed by modern science barely a 100 years back.

Lets not forget the creation hymn which refers to matter being created through a primordial sound (Man-tra); with a burst of energy (heat and  light);    a reality only recently attested by science.
[Scientific Validation: Science magazine (March 8 2002, pg 1868-1873): E=mC²

Blasting liquid acetone with ultrasound, scientists Rusi Taleyarkhan and Richard T. Lahey Jr. forced acetone bubbles to absorb this sound energy, expand and  then burst, creating high temperatures (like those on the Sun’s surface), fusion of atoms (creation of matter) & emission of light.]

Recent archeological advances clearly validate that the Avestic society was well settled, lived in constructed buildings (not tents) with infrastructure including roads and drainage. 
See Dr.Mary Settegast's "When Zarathushtra Spoke" 

Modern science has thus confirmed the assertion in the Rig Vedas that their enemies lived in constructed houses and used metallic implements.


According to James Newton Powell[1] (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA).:
"Among the accomplishments of the grammarians can be reckoned a method for paraphrasing (Vedic) Sanskrit in a manner that is identical not only in essence but in form with current work in Artificial Intelligence.” 

“Modern metaphysicians are rediscovering the fantastic powers released through spoken words. By certain arrangements of words, such as in Mantras, a tremendous vibratory force could be set upon in the invisible mode, which profoundly affects physical and metaphysical substance in the body of man.”

---

[1] `Mandalas, the Dynamics of Vedic Symbolism'.

  

Whereas the Yasnas & Yashts, are hymns in praise of Mazda and/or his attributes, the Vandidad is a code of conduct; a ritualistic code so strict that historians believe it was composed at a time of great political adversity.

Initially they erroneously assumed its composition after the Islamic invasion.

Modern archaeological finds on the other hand confirm the Balkh-Margiana (dated to the same time as the Harappa civilization) complex to have been built hurriedly, clearly indicating the geo-political realities during the antique time scale of its Avestic composition.

This is very much in agreement with the documented victory of the Vedics in Hapta-Hendu (Sapta-Sindhu) 

See:

http://vyoman- wwwzblogcom. blogspot. com/2009/ 11/historic- zarathushtra. html

&

http://vyoman-wwwzblogcom.blogspot.com/2009/12/zarathushtra-in-historical-perspective.html

However, it should also be noted that the fulcrum of  objection to the Vandidad is centered on the use of the word “Charana” which has been wrongly translated by missionary translators (based on biblical sensibilities) as “whip”; the implication being punishments meted out for non conformance.  
These so called scholars seem to have ignored references to the Creator as  Vohu-Manah or Ocean of Love; one who rules through education, not instruction.

Whereas these Liberal Arts translators have taken the root as "char" meaning Car/chariot/ locomotion, and proceeded to extrapolate the meaning of this word as a tool of the same and therefore "whip", without a shred of proof reconciling the context. 

They ignored the term "Ana" [attached to "Char"] meaning breath or source of sustenance.

Translating "sustenance/food" for whip, an externally wielded tool defies all logic.

The fact remains that "charana" is a word by itself meaning,   "Acting, dealing, managing, (liturgical) performance, observance.. ......... ......behaviour, conduct of life, good or moral conduct,.... ......... ..... consuming, eating". 

[M. Monier Williams, Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

 As such "charana" therefore means feeding the Cow with a morsel of fodder. Since the spiritual concept of the Universal Soul (Geush Urvan) is represented in the physical world as the self sacrificing Cow, in the Gathas, is it not logical that these "morsels of fodder" are in spiritual terms good deeds that must be performed to erase our bad deeds. After all carrying out good deeds continuously like a ritual, after retrospecting is self correction/purification/evolution to a higher spirituality; A primal theme of Zarathushti philosophy.

 I believe therefore (as Dr Irach Taraporewalla has averred), that Avesta language must be understood from the philology and cultural context, not through preconceived assumptions rooted in unsound or literal interpretations.

We see this spiritual concept reflected physically in the outer sacrifice of feeding the holy Atarsh 5 times a day. This ritual  guides the faithful (by its own example) to a requirement of an inner sacrifice of Aeshma (the negative emotions/attitudes/mentalities of: envy, greed, malice, anger, sloth, and ego) to the flame of cosmic consciousness, with Ghee (Gao: butter made from cow) being the highest form representing self sacrifice.

Thus each "Charana" represents an exercise in self sacrifice,  empowered by genuine remorse with a goal to correct previously committed wrongs. 

Continuous improvement or Fra-var-ane is the hallowed road of self improvement.

Literal Interpretations, especially with pre-conceived notions has no place in a religious philosophy whose foundation is based on Reality and Science (A-sha: See: http://vyoman-wwwzblogcom.blogspot.com/2008/10/asha-algorithm-of-universe.html


This "whipping" obsession was a Roman past-time which had obviously influenced the middle east areas that they historically ruled.

Little wonder then that translators inclined to fundamentalism and steeped in the torment and tribulations portrayed in sections of their own scriptures decided to force-fit this degenerate behaviour into the Zarathushti faith.

It is high time therefore for Parsis to stand up for our heritage instead of being defensive against attacks from followers of a violent and intolerant ideology that preaches mindless conformance blind submission.
We are the upholders of "Reasoning" [Mun-yush Maz-daa Por-vu-em: The  power to Reason is the first and foremost] as opposed to the Druj (evil) who insist on blind obedience and conformance under threat of violence.

In the Zarathushti faith, there is self inflicted consequence for ones own actions. (A-sha).

One reaps what they sow.

There is NO Punishment, harsh or otherwise as that is the path of Evil (Druj). Druj/Droha  is after all not a religion, but a totalitarian political philosophy.

In summation, there is no discrepancy between the Gathas, the Avesta and the Vandidad.

Ahura Mazda is the Great Wise Creator, who is a patient teacher (not a vengeful, punishing task master). He guides devotees to a life of continuous improvement through logic and life experiences.

His 1st Attribute or immortal principle of functioning is Vohu Manah (Love). These are represented as reins (cords)  that control everything in the universe.

He is "the wise teacher" who educates, not Instructs. There is no demand for obedience, conformance or submission against threats of punishments.

 Thus in the Zarathushti faith there are no "commandments"

The threats, hell-fires and tribulations prescribed in other philosophies is replaced with Advisories to guide the devotee; leaving the right to "choose" above compromise.

This is the Unique feature of the Mazda(Wisdom) Yasni (worshiping) faith and that is why our pledge of faith declares it as:

Maz-ish-tem: The GREATEST

Vah-ish-tem: The Most Profitable.

Sra-ish-tem: The Most Inspiring.