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and spent 10 years in a mountain retreat, solving many extremes. Constant self-control is necessary. problems of life that baffled men. Then God revealed (v) He must be truthful and carry out all promises to him the Divine message of Purity, Uprightness, Truth and undertakings. He must discharge all obligations. and Light, against the cult of filth and falsehood.
(vi) He should show compassion towards innocent Fundamental Principles
animals that need care and protection. There are five basic principles inculcated by (vii) He must fight against thieves, robbers and Zarathushtra:
wrong-doers and be prepared to lose his very life in (i) One should always be good and should performing such a duty. practise one's faith through benevolence and (viii) He must keep all the elements of nature compassion; all traces of evil have to be eliminated undefiled and cause all contamination to be removed if from one's life.
he cannot prevent it. (ii) One should seek unity amidst diversity and (ix) He must treat fire as an emblem of God and conflicts of opinions. When a gulf separates the beliefs help to keep temple-fires burning day and night. No of two or more parties, a Zoroastrian should try to build corpse must be placed on fire. a bridge, and consider truth with its many facets, (x) He must, on retiring to bed, review, everyday, without bitter controversies.
his conduct for the day and resolve to avoid all sinful (iii) In matters of intimate spiritual convictions, no ways in future. Sincere repentance is ever helpful. force should be used to compel one along some fixed (xi) He must treat his possessions, children and line of belief or action. Non-violence and non- his very life, as held in trust and dedicated to God. resistance should be the attitude where inner faith is (xii) He must observe laws of purity, hygiene and concerned, because coercion can never affect the sanitation. repository of one's heart.
(xiii) He must be a centre of peace and avoid (iv)Every Zoroastrian should be utterly unselfish, aggression. He must practise tolerance and dedicating himself entirely to God. Surrender to God forgiveness. should be the guiding principle of one's conduct.
(xiv) Deceipt and falsehood are to be scrupulously (v) One should regulate one's life by the highest avoided and the family's reputation for honesty must standard of uprightness, truth and purity in thought, be enhanced. word and deed.
(xv) In times of trial, one must rely upon the inner Parsis are, in practice, Nature-worshippers and conscience and his innate wisdom, and seek inspiration Fire-worshippers in particular. When fire is adored, from God. there is a distinct declaration that it is a symbol of Vegetarianism, Compassion and the Zoroastrian God" and is the son of God". The sun is adored as Faith the most beautiful body of God. A Zoroastrian's praise In the Zoroastrian religion, 'Ahura Mazda' is the of Nature (oceans, stars, forests etc) is just an Supreme Lord. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and appreciation of its Creator. The four elements of Nature omniscient and the Creator of this Universe. (fire, air, water and earth) are the objects of special Prophet Zarathushtra developed in the scriptures care, lest any of them gets contaminated. Cleanliness (in 'Avesta' language), a unique concept of 'Amesha being next to Godliness is visually demonstrated in Spentas'. They are the spiritual entities (angels) of Parsi homes.
Ahura Mazda himself. They are seven in number, Some Duties of a Zoroastrian
including Ahura Mazda, as the first one. Each of these (0) He must praise all good thoughts, words and seven represents a divine and spiritual virtue, and deed and must have full faith in God's dispensation. presides over one of the natural creations in this world.
(ii) If he knows some aspect of truth, he must The 'Amesha Spenta' second in ranking is known by practise it and teach it to others.
the Avesta name Vohu Mana' or 'Bahman', and it means (iii) He must have proper control over his speech. "good mind'. The animal kingdom is placed under the (iv)He must practise moderation and avoid care of the good mind, which is the central seat of all
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પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવળ :અર્હિસાવિશેષાંક
- 2096
