Book Title: Glimpses Of World Religions
Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

Previous | Next

Page 136
________________ Zoroastrian Religion 111 rank to Dharma or religion, next to this, they praise karma or action. They have faith in the trinity of good thoughts (Manasni'), good speech (Gavasni) and good behaviour (Kunasni). Thoughts and speeches may be pure, but if they are not translated into practice or actions, they have no value. It is karma or action only which is the real test of a man's character. Man surely gets "good fruits of his good acts and bad results of his bad acts”. Such is also the belief of Zoroastrian Dharma. A man has to do, of course, routine, daily duties, but he should specially perform holy deeds and acts of kindness. To transform an enemy into a friend, to show the pious way to some wicked person - these are best religious acts. The chief commandments of Zoroastrian religion are - kindness, doing good to others, service to mankind and charity (Alms). One's true duty is to do selfless karma of 'the good' (duty for the sake of duty – karma) and to perform good acts. Life is a battle-ground for fighting against the sins, and to run away from it is a cowardice. The Jarthustri religion is averse to renunciation of worldly life and life of recluse. No one has a right to leave worldly life (for Sannyāsa) and yet, this Dharma (religion) is not against the ascetics or saints. The way to approach God is surely the way of human welfare; because service to humanity is service to God. God is not someone aloof or different from the people. This religion teaches : “Be a recluse mentally, or in heart, lead a life of temperance or self-control and live a holy life – live in the world (lead a worldly life), perform the duties of a householder and lead a life full of love for God.” Life is not a dream, it is a golden opportunity for doing mutual good. This religion hates inactivity, regards laziness a foolishness. The industrious men consider idleness a disease, a sin. We have

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228