the holy gathas 2009

8/9/2019 The Holy Gathas 2009

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INTRO TO THE GATHAS ( version 2, 2009 ):These are the words of the prophet Zoroaster. He is the earliest prophet known by name.There were others before him who are mentioned in the Gathas, but not by name. He lived in roughly 1200 BC (thoughsome believe 1700 BC), in a time known as the "Bronze Age, which was the age after the "Stone Age.This is normally considered to be the worlds oldest written monotheistic scriptures ("Monotheistic" means "One God").The word Gathas means songs, because they were originally put to music to help people remember them. The Gathasconsists mostly of doctrine and teachings about God, wisdom and how to live a righteous life. A very good case can be

made to support the position that the Gathas, despite its age, is also the most unaltered of all scriptures surpassed onlyby the Koran. It is considered by believers to be the very message of Almighty God to humanity, for their good.

THIS TRANSLATION:This translation is a paraphrased version, which means we are more concerned with getting the meaning across then theactual, most correct, literal wording. Translations of the Gathas vary greatly. This one is heavily reliant on the translationby Mr D.A Irani, but we have often strayed from his translation to translations done by others. Our basis for decidingwhich interpretation of a verse was to be used is as follows: Some translations of the Gathas look like lists of very plain,rather uneventful, random statements. Others run smoothly, taking into consideration the before and after topics, as wellas the basic assumption that Zoroaster really did have something important to say. Our scales of judgement were simple.We have chosen the profound over the rambling out of respect for the prophets wisdom.

WORDING LEVEL:We have also tried, wherever possible, to keep the wording simple. Larger words are introduced, but slowly and in acontext where their meaning is absorbable. No foreign words have been used in this translation, with the exception of thenames of people and the word daeva, which means spirit being (angels and demons). The normal Zoroastrian title forthe Supreme Being, "Ahura Mazda", has been replaced by the word "God", a difficult decision where the case on bothsides is obvious. In the end, it was familiarity for newcomers that was the deciding factor.It is certainly not, by any means, a perfect translation. Because of the three thousand year gap, it is not possible foranyone to make a perfect translation. This translation is certainly open to later review, but at present, we stand by it as noworse than any currently existing translation and believe it succeeds in all major ways to convey the prophets message.(The pictures are an experiment in this version. Some people say they can find things in a book more easily if there are

pictures accompanying the text. The pictures are of plants, animals and Gods general creation.) We have also includedYasna numbers for compatibility in cross referencing with other translations.

CURRENT EVIDENCE SUPPORTING DIVINE ORIGIN OF GATHAS:The Gathas stands apart from all other early religious texts.It contains no monsters, angelic battles, talking animals, adventures of heroes of war or magic.It also was born in a time when the world was truly a lawless place of raiding parties and oppression, yet has anunsurpassably high concept of righteousness and justice.Its concepts of Heaven, Hell, the Holy Spirit and debatably the Devil are the same as many later religions. This is seen bysome as proof of divine authorship on both parts and by others as "concept copying. Either way, if the Gathas wasmans imaginations, then all monotheistic texts would fall with it.The statement is made of some religious texts that no fault, error or wrongdoing can be found in them, but often this

proves false. The Holy Bible makes prophecies that dont come true (eg. Ezekiel: the city of Tyre will never be rebuilt,Paul: some of the Thessalonians wont die before Jesus returns), the Koran approves of the injustice of slavery (lettingthem go is optional, but not commanded), and the "Bhagavad Gita" approves of the caste system. The Gathas without anybias is the only true holder of the "fault free" label. It does not contain any future prophecies and so cannot be incorrectin their fulfilment. Its level of compassion is far higher than that of even modern human rights charters and it has nonumber or event contradictions, as the structure would not accommodate these.Despite its Avestan trailer, none of the Avestan concepts have leaked into the Gathas. If it were not true, we should surelysee some magic and a lot more adventure in its content.To some, this protection is believed to have come from the Gathas being put to music (songs are slightlymore difficult to change), and to others, this protection is considered divine.

(NOTE: The Avesta is a collection of later, man-made books about the life of Zoroaster and his friends. They areconsidered by most scholars to be purely religious fiction.)

From a scientific standpoint, the gathic belief that daevas are interfering in the affairs of man, are strongly held up thesecular reports of the highly irregular events at Fatima as well as a host of other scientifically documented butunexplainable phenomenon.

From a moral standpoint, whether invented or inspired, the writer has succeeded in moral guidance to the point where arighteous person would have to follow and admire it, especially in light of its time of authorship.

From an unbiased religious perspective, if we have ever received a message from God, this is what we would expect it tolook like.


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ASNA 30: chapter 1:

( ZOROASTERS INTRODUCTION )1) To all people who want wisdom,

here are the words that God, the wise creator, toldme. These are the songs of God Almighty.Learn their goodness so that your actions will bean offering to God.These words are true and they will last long after Iam gone. These words, to you, will be like a brightlight, that will help you see everything in the true wayit really is.

2) Listen, for there is no higher counsel than that givenby God. Stop and think about these words carefullyand judge them in wisdom and without bias.God has given you free will and everyone mustchoose the path they will walk; your religion andmorals are your own choice.I hope these teachings will wake up those who do notwalk on the right path.

( THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THEANGRY SPIRIT )

3) Long ago, in the beginning, there were two spirits:the Holy Spirit, which is the power andinfluence of good,and the Angry Spirit, which is the powerand influence of evil.They were twins, but they were opposites.They both offer a way to live, a way of thinking,a way of speaking, a way of acting. People see thesetwo ways and they choose one or the other.

4) When these two spirits came near to each other,there was a great struggle. The Angry Spirit existsto destroy and end all life.The Holy Spirit exists to enrich and spread life.These two will struggle until the end of the world.At that time, those who joined the way of theAngry Spirit will have a most terrible punishmentfor the evil they did, but those who joined with thegood and Holy Spirit will be rewarded by being broughtto a happy higher level of consciousness.

5) The Angry evil Spirit knows only wrong and theworst path. But the Holy good Spirit wrapped theimperishable reward of heaven around itself asclothing. All it knows is the truth and the right way.The righteous deeds and love of the truth that the

Holy Spirit and its followers produce are the sourceof joy for Almighty God.

NOTE TO TEXT:The above section is about the Holy Spirit and the AngrySpirit. The Angry Spirit is similar to the Devil of other religions. Why God would create the devil is debated, but one

popular, though complicated, theory suggests that because our universe is bound by the laws of physics, it is thereforecompletely predictable to God, and as such, the free will that God wished to create does not truly exist. In order to trulycreate free will, our universe must break free of mathematical, atomic predictability. The only way to do this is to addoutside elements to our world that are not bound to 3-dimensional, atomic law,

And so, because of this, God made the two opposing forces to be in conflict, in order to spread random factors into ourworld, thus truly creating free will, unpredictable to himself.


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The necessity of influence from the two beings would be only slight. Under such a theory, most thoughts of people wouldbe their own, but a small fraction of thought would be the offers from the two sides. Such offers could be accepted orrejected. Both beings are meant to be planning large scale events through small steps. Under this theory, the creation ofthe devil was necessary in order for free will to exist.

6) The pagan religions of this land could not pickcorrectly between good and evil, and so theyworshipped false gods, who were really daevas,

instead of the true God. At the time in their life whenthey made their decisions, they were deceived.They could not see that the evil way was wrong.They rushed into violence and the hurting of others.They are destroyers of life and the world.

Note to text:A daeva is a being from the spirit world, the world between men and God. Similar concepts exist in all religions.Most religions believe daevas are divided into two groups : angels and demons.

7) But the Holy Spirit has come to protect life and fightagainst them. It brings spiritual strength, goodthoughts, truthfulness and purity. The personchoosing these when passing through the test oflife, at the end, will live with God.

8) When the judgment comes, all evil beings will payfor what they did.

Then, at the command of God, our minds will be madefree of evil and the kingdom of heaven will be complete.But before this time,there are people who will try to save others.They will bring them from deception to truth;

9) they will work to bring the world towards perfection.God and the Holy Spirit will help them and guidetheir efforts, and wisdom will make its home withthose who invite it.

10) The time will come when evil is finally defeated anduntruth is ended; the time when good people willbe welcomed into heaven.Heaven is the home of purity, truth, wisdom andGod.

11) So now that you know all this,write this deeply into your mind:There will be pain and suffering for the evildoer,and there will be happiness and enlightenedunderstanding for the righteous,as well as eternal salvation."

ASNA 31: chapter 2:

( THE MESSAGE, WHICH IS LOVED ANDTHE MESSAGE, WHICH IS LOVED ANDHATED )ATED )

1) To all people who search for knowledge, I deliver toyou a message:There are those who destroy civilization bydistracting the peoples attentions to untrue and


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unrighteous things. Those people hate thismessage.But to people who say God is my master, thismessage brings joy.

( DISCERNMENT IS TO BE LEARNT )DISCERNMENT IS TO BE LEARNT )2) People do not naturally recognise the truth, and they

cannot tell the difference between the right path andthe wrong path, so God appointed me as ateacher, to show how to distinguish good fromevil. Once you know that, you will have discernment,and you will then be able to live in a true and rightway that will be pleasing to Almighty God.

( ZOROASTERS PRAYER BEFORE HEZOROASTERS PRAYER BEFORE HESPEAKS TO THE PEOPLE )PEAKS TO THE PEOPLE )

3) I pray to you, O God. Please make me understandthe ways of your Holy Spirit and your Holy Fire.Make me understand the blessings that will be givento those who live with discernment.Make me understand your holy laws of justice.

Make me teach the message as you would teach themessage, so that it will be said in a way that willaffect everyone who hears it.

4) You, O Lord, hear all our prayers.Make us see things in the true way that they reallyare. Fill us with the ways of the Holy Spirit, and let itguide and assist us.Make us think with a pure, clear mind, so that we willsee the way to win in the battle against the

spirit of untruth.5) Make me remember the good things you have done

for me. Give me the wisdom of humility.O God, help me to look ahead and understand thatthe things I do today will effect and change the future.

( SUMMARY OF HOLY WISDOM )SUMMARY OF HOLY WISDOM )6) A great reward will be given to you if you become a

teacher of holy wisdom. The main things we callholy wisdom are:

( Self Improvement )The teachings about perfecting yourself,

( Eternal Life )The teaching of eternal life for the righteous,

( Gods Kingdom on Earth )And the teachings about Gods kingdom, which growson earth by enlightened minds.

( TRUTH AND LIGHT )TRUTH AND LIGHT )7) It was God who, in the beginning, by his thoughts,

clothed the universe with light.He, in his great wisdom, also made the truth.Truth is another sort of light. It is the light that shinesin your mind. Our Great God, who stays the same,our Great God, who does not change,send your Holy Spirit to brighten the whole world.

Note to text:Truth is compared to light. Light makes us able to see things the way they truly are. If something is in the dark, we do notfully understand it, but when something is in the light, we can see it plainly.


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( ABOUT GOD )ABOUT GOD )8) I knew the qualities of God with my mind, but as life

went on, I saw them with my eyes.Nothing existed before him,There will not be a time when others exist but he is gone.He is the father of good thinking, the creator of truth

and right, the master of the Holy Spirit,9) the supreme judge of our actions in life, the one who

created all things with his wisdom. He is the ordainerof free will. We have been given the ability tochoose our own path; we can choose to be aprotector or a destroyer.

( PROTECTING CREATION )PROTECTING CREATION )10) Creation is like a gentle cow, who has chosen

pure-hearted, righteous people to be its master.When the environment is in danger, some peopleuse many deceptive words, but take no action.They do nothing to help or defend.Non-protectors are not fit to be Gods messengers.

Note to text:Many early cultures compared the earth to a cow. In comparison, people today use the term:Mother Earth. Both Mothers and Cows are known for there gentleness, care and peaceful nature.

( THE CREATION OF HUMANS )THE CREATION OF HUMANS )11) God used his perfect intelligence to make our souls

and our bodies.He thought about the creation of humans verydeeply. He gave us the power of higher thought,higher speech, higher deeds, and the ability tochoose religion in the way that we want.

Note to text:The above list: higher thought, higher speech, higher deeds, and the ability to create or choose a religion, is the samelist that modern science uses to distinguish humans from the animals.

chapter 2:

( A CONFUSING WORLD )A CONFUSING WORLD )12) There are many messages to listen to: People who

speak true things lift up their voice, people whospeak false things lift up their voice. People whoreally do know about something lift up their voice,and people who pretend to know about somethinglift up their voice.They all love their ideas. Their ideas are veryprecious to them.May discernment come to people who live in thisconfusing world.

13) There are people with religious ideas, and peoplewith plans about how things should be done,and people who like to put huge punishments on


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others for very small crimes, but God sees it all.Nothing is done that God does not see.

( QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT )QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT )14) I will ask questions, O God.

In this world, there are many things happeningbusily, which is the case for now and in

the future. But you will judge it all.

What will be the reward for the truthful righteous?What will be the punishment for the lying sinners?

15) I will ask questions, O God.What will happen to those who help rise liars topower ?What will happen to people who make moneyby stealing?And what will happen to good people who donot follow the untruth in this world?

16) I will ask questions, O God.The righteous man who lives an orderly life anddoes his duties; his first duty to his family,

his second duty to his community, and his third dutyto his country. His soul is synchronised with yours,O God.Do you see him and choose him as your servant forgreater tasks?What thing about his life pleases you the most?

( CENSORING THE MEDIA )CENSORING THE MEDIA )Note to text:Though some think of media as a modern word, very inappropriate for a Bronze Age text, it is correctly used here asreferring to publicly announced knowledge. In early times, speakers in town centres were a common source ofentertainment.

17) People who know are the people who should teach.The unenlightened should not be allowed the

opportunity to deceive the people anymore.It is clear which way is the best way. It is therighteous way, not the wicked way.O God, grant us wisdom.

18) You should not listen to those whoteach evil to the people. Their teachings bring trouble toour families, our relatives, our communities andour lands.Such people must be stopped.

Note to text:The above statement is about silencing free speech from wicked people.Oppression of opinion is often dangerous, as wickedness is in the eyes of the beholder.

But when combined with the Gathic call to unbiased truth, such media restrictionscould serve to profit the civilised world. Opinion is not always good for humanity.For example: If opinion on the joys of dangerous drugs, or the superiority of one race over another were publiclybroadcasted, I think most would call for oppression rather than open opinion.

19) Instead, let the things said to the public be:Things that could in any way bring healing,teachings of morality,things that spread enlightenment,true and accurate knowledge,and the powerful words of those who are filledwith Holy Fire, who win against evil.


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Note to text:Many will read the above text as a call to put limitations on the entertainment industry . It is worth noting that the abovetext does not condemn fiction, but rather is concerned about the morality of the content of the message. Removal ofglorification of wrong-doing is the Gathas main concern.

20) The follower of righteousness will live in light.But the person who teaches

good people to turn to wickedness;that deceiver will be thrown into the place ofmisery for a long time.What a woeful place that is, a place of darkness, aplace of despair.It is their own fault that they were sent tothis dark existence.

Note to text:Some may ask, What will happen when the long time is up? Later chapters of the Gathas tell us, at that time, the wickedare found not worthy to join there fellow human beings in blissful existence, and instead they are destroyed.

chapter 2:

( TREAT GODTREAT GOD LIKE A FRIEND )IKE A FRIEND )21) When people treat God like a friend, not only in

thought, but also in action, then they will be granted

many things.They will be given complete wholeness, EternalLife, highest truth, strength of characterand an unbiased wise conscience.

22) This message I have spoken to you is clearto people with wisdom, who think things throughcarefully. Remember the person who upholdsthe truth with all his might and power,the person who upholds truth with the strengthof his words and deeds.This person is called Gods Helper .

ASNA 32: chapter 3:

( GOD AND OTHER RELIGIONS )GOD AND OTHER RELIGIONS )1) There are communities who follow religions that do

not know the whole truth.They also pray just like we do. They ask for blessings


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and happiness for all people, just like we do.They worship, and spread a message in Gods name.But God does not support their message, because itis not pure. It is not pure because some parts ofthere message contains untruth and evil.

The real message of pure true religion is this:2) The one and only true God is wise. He is king;

he is the protector of truth and is completely good

and right.God says to the people of less pure religion:Because I want you to flourish and prosperI will accept your thanks as coming to me.I will also accept your good worship

( BIRTH OF EVIL RELIGIONS )BIRTH OF EVIL RELIGIONS )3) But these people are different to people who follow

evil religions.Such religions are born from the evil thoughts ofevil people.They start because a wicked person wants tobelieve he is more important than other people.Many people come to honour the wicked leaderswho create such religions.

And then, together, they do all sorts of evil things.There are many religions like this, some are veryold. Religions like this have appeared in all of theseven lands.

4) Such people tell lies that can change a persons mindso that they will think like them.These religions can take a person and change them,so that their worst desires control them.The people start saying terrible things, they speakwords about how they now love evil, and have

separated themselves from goodness and purity.These people are far away from the will of God.They have wandered away from the path of truth andright.

5) Such leaders have swindled humanity out of a life of

happiness and everlasting joy.

The evil preachers of these religions live evil lives,they say horrible things and they think about thingsthat should not be thought about. They pull people inwith lies and they promise that you are favouredand above other people. Teaching things like thisruins people.

6) Religions like this become famous because of the

violence they spread.But such people will definitely get what they deserveon the day that they are brought to stand beforeGod.God has the highest understanding. Heunderstands peoples lives completely and he hearsevery thought they think.He will honour rulers of lands who lead people intruth and righteousness. Those lands will be landsthat belong to God.

7) But people who live evil lives dont know what willhappen to them when they die.The time will come when a great flood that lookslike glowing liquid metal will come and destroy theirsouls completely. They do not know what awaitsthem in the end, but God does.


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( THE EVIL MAN, YIMA )THE EVIL MAN, YIMA )8) Beware of such sinners, and beware of Yima son

of Vivahvant.He teaches people to sacrifice cows.When God looks at humanity and seesall the people, God sees that I am separate frompeople like Yima.

Note to text:Yima was probably a Mithralite. It was the most popular religion of the time.Mithras was a god who looked like a young man about 15 years of age. In Mithralite mythology, Mithras killed theheavenly bull, The bulls blood poured on to the dry earth and caused all life to appear. Plants, animals and people were allmeant to be born from the blood of the heavenly bull. Mithraism had two baptisms: One in water, for beginners, and onein the blood of a sacrificed bull, for people of advanced level. They also had a ceremony similar to Christian communion,where they drank wine to represent the blood of the bull, and ate bread to represent the body of the bull. After Zoroastersdeath, Mithras was added to the Zoroastrian religion as the son of God and the bull sacrifice that Zoroaster condemnedwas made part of Zoroastrianism.

chapter 3:

( DESTRUCTIODESTRUCTIO N OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITSOF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS

PEOPLE )EOPLE )9) He is a teacher of evil, who destroys understanding.

He destroys the designated running circle of life andsnatches away wisdom from people who startto find it.This problem pains me and I cry to God with thedeep words that I feel when I say them.

10) He hates and shuns the light of the sun anddoes not think deeply, in respect, about the livingcreation of God.

Note to text:He hates and shuns the light of the sun- some have suggested this is a reference to the smoke of fires hiding the sun.

He leads good people to the ways of wickedness.He turns forests and fields of green grass in to drydead ground.

Note to text:If Yima had any serious effect on the vegetation, it could only have been by the use of fire.It has been suggested that Yimas religion may havebeen burning down whole forests as a sacrifice to theirgods or as a hunting practice to force out animals.

His people let their weapons fly against innocentpeople.His religion is an enemy of our religion.

11) My lifes work is like a cloth that I weave, but hetears out the threads.The evil leaders of the surrounding religions are bothmen and women. They take away from people therighteous land and possessions that their ancestorsgave them.


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( MESSAGE TO EVIL PEOPLE )MESSAGE TO EVIL PEOPLE )Listen, you people who steal others away frompurity and wisdom.

12) Listen, you people who see men doing the rightthing, and so you redirect them to the wrong path.Listen, you people who make your hearts hard anddestroy without any compassion.Listen, you people who say to yourselves:selfishness and wickedness is better thanrighteousness and truth.Listen, you people who cry out to be ruled with liesthat please you.Listen, because Almighty God has something to sayto you: EVIL ARE YOU ALL.

13) You are all far away from the message that Godsent to me, his prophet. Your eyes cannot see thetruth. You live in the house of your evil mind.You hunger for things that belong to other people,because you are never happy or content with thethings that you already have. You destroy life, as ifit had no value at all.

( THE EVIL MAN, GREHMA )THE EVIL MAN, GREHMA )14) The evil man, Grehma, and the tribal chiefs

have been teaching The Great Lie for a long time.They sacrifice bulls and desolate the good livingenvironment.What is the wood that feeds the fire of their evilmadness?It is the intoxicating drugs they take.

Note to text:The pagan religion of that time used a drug called haoma. It was made from a plant and was taken in liquid form.

15) But Gods message will succeed. It will undo thework of the evildoers.The time will come when the evil priests and princes

of this land will no longer rule over righteouspeople.Instead, good people will be escorted to perfection,enlightened understanding and the eternal life tocome.

16) Following the enlightened doctrines is the mostexcellent way a person can live.May any remaining doubts be taken far from you all,so that you can truly speak with authority againstevil religions.

ASNA 33: chapter 4:

NOTE TO TEXT:The reason the Yasna numbers begin at 30 is because the Gathas was put in the middle of the Zoroastrian holy book, TheAvesta. The Avesta was written centuries after the Gathas and often contradicts the morals of the Gathas.

( GOD IS JUST )GOD IS JUST )1) This is the Supreme Law that the universe is built upon:


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The judge of the universe must judge with thehighest, most perfect justice,fairly, and without favouritism,

taking all knowledge into consideration.He will judge good people, who chose to

see things in the true way.He will judge evil people, who chose to

believe and do what pleases them.And he will judge people who area mixture of good and evil.

chapter 4:

( GIVINGGIVING OFFERINGS TO GOD )FFERINGS TO GOD )2) These are the offerings and gifts that God considersworthy for you to offer him, because these gifts are one

with Gods purpose:

Opposing evil:

Think about why evil is wrong andtell others about why evil is wrong.Do what you can to oppose eviland teach people the other path, the path of good.

Kindness and Generosity to others:

3) Be kind and generous to people who live righteouslives. Some might be rulers and some might be poorpeople; some might be children. Be good to them all.

Protecting the Environment:

Work hard for the environment; help to keep ithealthy and protect it. Think with truth and wisdomabout its needs.

Prayer and Worship:

4) Worship God and pray to God.Ask him to make you more obedient to his ways.Ask him to help you turn from any evil ways thatdisplease him.Pray also that circumstances might change, so thata person of good religion rules your land.Pray that distrust and slander will leave your

community.Pray that injustice will stay away and not stealthe things from which people make their living.

( ZOROASTER ASKS FOR A SIGN )ZOROASTER ASKS FOR A SIGN )5) I, Zoroaster, ask that God will give me many gifts of

good qualities.They will help me in this life, to gain a great rewardin the next.


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6) I have been a loyal priest of God and have learnedthe straight path.I have not been lazy, but have learned to wisely do thethings that need to be done.Look at my life, O God, and see how I have lived.And now, O God, I ask for you to visit me. I want tospeak with you; grant me a meeting with you.

7) But It must be in a way so that there can be no

mistake or question that it really is you.

Note to text:Zoroastrianism has the normal concept found in most religions of God communicating with people, but unlike somereligions, in Zoroastrianism, it is a rare event. The difference between Zoroastrianism and other religions is that when Godspeaks, it must be done in a way that the hearer cannot be mistaken as to whether it is truly God or their own head.

( ZOROASTER PRAYS )ZOROASTER PRAYS )Now let us pray:O God, let this message be heard beyond the limitsof this believing community.We long for the time when many lands bringbeautiful offerings of humble, reverent prayers to

you.8) You showed me the greatest good and final

judgement, and then you gave me the wisdomto bring it to others in the best way.May our lives be pleasing in your sight, so that youaccept our worship and our songs

9) and eventually grant to us your two great rewards:the present of eternal life, and the present of beingmade whole and complete.

Note to text:Some have asked the question:What will happen to babies or the mentally disabled when they die?Some suggest the above verse tells us that in heaven people will be made whole and complete.

( SUPPORT IN LIFE FROM KNOWINGSUPPORT IN LIFE FROM KNOWINGYOUR REWARD )OUR REWARD )

The thought of these two presents is like the comfortof a friend. If people truly considered these twoblessings, then all people would turn to Gods ways.All people would spread the cause of truth.All would run to the house of wisdom, saying,I will change my ways.Truly knowing what awaits you is the best support youcan have in life.

( HAPPY OCCASIONS ARE A GIFTHAPPY OCCASIONS ARE A GIFTFROM GOD )ROM GOD )

10) All the happy times we have known in the past,the happiness which we know now,and the happy times that the future will bring,all come to us because of your grace, for youplanned and created happiness.You also planned the eternal joy of heaven, which awaitsthose who are of good mind and follow the truth.

( FORGIVE US OUR SINS )FORGIVE US OUR SINS )11) Listen to my words, O Great God.


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Inspire wisdom, righteousness, good thoughts andmoral courage in us.And forgive us our sins, not because we arerighteous, but because you are generous.

chapter 4:

( BEING ABEING A GOOD LEADER )OOD LEADER )12) Arise, O God, and grant my prayer.

Make me more devoted to you; make me focuson the work I should do.Send the Holy Spirit to make me pure in goodness.Make me righteous, make me brave. Give me all ofthis, so that the people I lead have reason totrust me.

13) By your grace, O God, enlarge and sharpen mymind. Make your ways known to me.Help me to see clearly the reward for people wholive in your kingdom and your wisdom.And give to me the ultimate truth.

( THE CREED OF A RELIGIOUSTHE CREED OF A RELIGIOUSLEADER )EADER )

14) O God, I bring you an offering.It is the offering of my whole life.My life is not my own; it belongs to you.My thoughts belong to you; I will keep them as youwould want them to be.

I will live in obedience to the truth; my wordsand deeds will show this.And I will be responsible with the authority youhave given me as a religious leader.

ASNA 34: chapter 5:

( GOOD DEEDS DEDICATED TO GOD )GOOD DEEDS DEDICATED TO GOD )1) I dedicate all my good deeds to God,

for God was the one who taught me the right way:my worship, my words, my actions andmy eternal life that I will receive in his perfectkingdom. I am deeply aware that all of this is fromGod.

2) Wisdom leads the righteous person, and gooddeeds come from his goodness, only because hissoul follows the path of truth that God has made.So let us glorify God with songs about his goodness.


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3) We say this because we give to God the praisewhich he deserves. We look up to him and adorehim. All that have joined his kingdom will be madeperfect by purity and wisdom.

( ARE YOU IN GODS KINGDOM ? )ARE YOU IN GODS KINGDOM ? )Are you part of his kingdom?If your mind thinks right thoughts, then you can knowthat you are safely considered part of his kingdom.

( GODS HOLY FIRE )GODS HOLY FIRE )4) Your Holy Fire, O God, is mighty; it is filled with truth.

It is quick and powerful. May it come to help andbring its warm joy to good people. But when it findswicked people, may it put an end to the evil it finds.

( WHEN ARE MIRACLES GRANTED? )WHEN ARE MIRACLES GRANTED? )5) God has great power, and God owns everything in

all of creation. But is it right for God to show us

special treatment and protect us if he does not usehis power to serve others?If you live in a righteous and pure way, and youspread Gods message, even taking Gods messageto people who live evil lives or worship daevas, andyou have used your own power to help the weak andthe poor, then God would be justified in giving youspecial treatment and using his power to help you.

( GUIDANCE IN LIFE )GUIDANCE IN LIFE )6) Gods very being is made out of truth and wisdom.

I have asked him for guidance at every stage of myearthly life. May he help me until I have come safelyhome to him, singing songs of joy.

( TIMES OF GREAT TROUBLE )TIMES OF GREAT TROUBLE )7) Where are the people who are strong when things

turn bad? This is a way to tell if their religion wastrue to them:Strong people spread the light, even when thingshave turned to sadness in their lives, and theysay, I still accept no other way but Gods way.Great God, please help people during hard times.Comfort them with the truth.

8) But in times when men attack others and spread

fear;when people spread misery and ruin;when Gods commands are forgottenand those with power oppress the weak;

when such people do not stop to mourn the deathof truth and righteousness;when purity is far from them;

9) when men insult and mock the way of theHoly Spirit, causing pain to those who follow it;when wisdom is hated and ignorance is loved;

That is the time for the children of the truth to

run away like hunted animals !


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chapter 5:

( THE KINGDOMTHE KINGDOM OF WISDOM )F WISDOM )10) The person who understands all these things will

ask for wisdom to help him in all his deeds.Then his life will accomplish a lot; it will be like atree full of fruit.He will find strength to do right and follow the truth.He will be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.

11) It is the thought of perfection and eternal life that

keeps us going in hard times.Perfection and eternal life are equal;one is not better than the other.We will need strength and truth to keep the kingdomof wisdom alive on earth.May God give wisdom to us,the enemies of his enemies.

(( A PRAYER )A PRAYER )12) Pray and ask God these things:

What is your will, O God, and what are yourcommandments?How should we worship you?What should we bring to you as a gift?Speak to me, O Lord, so that I may hear you.

Tell us what pleases you; tell us what kind of peopleyou reward.Purify our minds to make us followers of thehonourable path of truth and right.

( THE PATH OF REWARDS )THE PATH OF REWARDS )13) God has shown me only one path to follow:

the path of wisdom.To walk this path, you must want only the truth,and you must listen carefully to the teachingsand guidance of more spiritual people.This path leads to rewards, and the rewardsare given by God.

14) God is the giver of precious rewards:He gives rewards to people with pure minds.He gives rewards to people who labour and workhard looking after the animals and the environment.He gives rewards to people who are guided by theHoly Spirit and have a true and deepunderstanding of our religion; who work to spreadthe message that will bring many people to joinGods great plan.

( CLOSING REMARKS )CLOSING REMARKS )


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15) O Great God, help us to understand your teachings,which are the best teachings.And help us to do your actions, which are the bestactions.These are the actions which come from wisdomand from seeing things in the true way that theyreally are.We tell others how much we love you, O God, by

singing songs of praise about you.For you, O God, are king, and it is you who, by yourpower, keep the cycle of life running,because you are generous and loving, O God.

( END OF BOOK ONE )END OF BOOK ONE )Note to text:What is the relation of the Gathas to other religions?

Judaism:In the Jewish bible, King Cyrus, King Darius and king Artaxerxes are three Zoroastrian kings found in the book of Ezra,

who all assist in building the Jewish temple and speak to the Jews in a manner which implies they acknowledge the Godof the Jews to be the same God as theirs. Yasna 30,3-5&8 was found in Hebrew among the dead sea scrolls and wasconsidered as scripture by the Essence (a Jewish denomination Believed to have been led by John the Baptist).

Christianity:The story of the birth of Jesus in the Christian bible has a passage about magi coming from the east with gifts. The wordMagi means Zoroastrian priest.

Hinduism:The Persian word for demon is DAEVA, which is what the Hindus call their gods. Some of the pagan religions and godsZoroaster opposes migrated to India. The earliest hindu book, the Rig Veda, and the Gathas are written in the samelanguage.

How does the Gathas view other religions?

The Gathas teach that God, in his mercy, accepts the worship of the people of other religions, despite them not havingaccurate knowledge about him.

The major difference between God, in the Gathas,and God, in the other monotheist texts, is that God, in the Gathas, is completely good, compassionate,just and can do no evil.In Judaism, God often commands the killing of races for sins their ancestors committed (1 sam 15). He also has lawsallowing rape (deut 21:10), and kills children (2kings 2:23). In Christianity, he creates some people as objects of wrath(Romans 9). He saves only those who have heard of and believe in Jesus (1 john 5:12) and sends others to eternaltorment in hell (rev 14:11). While the God of Islam is less cruel, he still allows slavery, which is a compassionless practice.

And In Hinduism Krishna approves of the social caste system.

In the Gathas, Zoroaster decides that the God who communicates with him is the only one true God, because all hisways are right and just. In this world, many voices speak of their interpretation of God. Jehovahs witnesses, Mormons,Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. all try to sell their version of God.I advise you to consider Zoroasters advice: If God, in a religion, does any wrong, then that religion does not have anaccurate picture of the true, supremely righteous God.

ASNA 47: chapter 6:

( THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRITTHE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT )


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HELPERELPER1) If you put in effort to do your very best:

your very best in good deeds, and your very best inright thoughts, then God will send his spirit to helpyou do your best. It will make you whole andcomplete, and will supply what you lack.And God will give you eternal life in the next world.

EMPLOYERMPLOYER2) The person who lives in this way is the worker of

the Holy Spirit.His mind will be purified, and the words that comefrom his mouth will be wise, helpful words.The Holy Spirit will use him as its tool, so that he willwork to bring peace.The strength that powers him is his knowledge thatGod is the father of truth.

3) God is the master of the Holy Spirit.

God used wisdom to make the world.He made the world to please us and bring us joy.If we all follow the Holy Spirit and right thoughts,we will live in peace.

PUNISHERUNISHER4) The Holy Spirit is a helper to righteous people.

But it is also sent to cause trouble to wicked people.Let us follow its good example: Whether you are richor poor, you can still work alongside righteous people,and work against evildoers.

GUIDEUIDE5) God also sends the Holy Spirit to righteous people to

bring them the way that is best for them.But the wicked live far away from Gods grace, Goddoes not guide wicked people who live in lies,Their lives are made by their own deeds and theirown deeds are made by their evil minds.

REMOVER OF OBSTICALSEMOVER OF OBSTICALS6) God also uses the Holy Spirit and his holy fire to

punish and remove the wicked, and give successto the righteous. He does this so that peace, justiceand righteousness will grow, and many people willhear his message.

ASNA 48: chapter 7:

( THE HEALED WORLD )THE HEALED WORLD )


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1) The time will come for all men to be rewarded;a time when truth has crushed all lies;a time when wrong ideas and religions of false godsare gone forever, and the secret actions of evil menwill be exposed. Then, at that time, every person willunderstand the power of God; every person will knowhow great his glory is!

2) O Great God,

will righteous people overcome evil and heal theworld before the time when you, our great God, takeover and rule in full? A world without trouble wouldtruly be a most wonderful thing.

( HOW TO BE A WORTHY SERVANT )HOW TO BE A WORTHY SERVANT )3) God is generous and he sees everything.

This is the sort of person that God considers worthyto serve him:One who not only has received this message, buthas also studied it and understands it;one who uses these teachings to enlighten his mindto goodness;and one who always has the base of his knowledge in

the truth.

( THOUGHTS ARE THE ORIGIN OF SIN )THOUGHTS ARE THE ORIGIN OF SIN )4) There are some people who try to keep their mind

on pure thoughts about right and good things.There are others whose minds are always thinking ofwrong things and sinful ways. The mind directs yourwhole body: where you think is where you will go.What you think about becomes what you do andsay. So it is your mind that will determine your life,and it is also your mind that will eventuallydetermine how you will be judged.The wisdom of God declares that all will be judged!

( GOOD RULERS AND PROTECTINGGOOD RULERS AND PROTECTINGTHE EARTHHE EARTH )5) Good rulers who rule well should stay,

but those who are evil rulers should be removed.The world needs wise and intelligent people to rule;rulers who are humble before God,and skilled before men;rulers who want to bring humanity to perfection;rulers who want to spread happiness;rulers who work hard and are active;rulers whose main ambition and highest goal is tocare for the land they govern, wanting people andanimals to be satisfied and prosperous.

chapter 7:

( GODS LOVE FORGODS LOVE FOR HIS CREATION )IS CREATION )6) For the earth is the good home God has made for

us. We should work hard and look after it, and in


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return, we will live in the peace and prosperity thatthe earth will give back to us.At the time when God made the world and causedall the plants to grow,at the time when he created the living animals,at that time he loved the earth, and it was his desireto see it prosper.

( AGAINST RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE )AGAINST RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE )7) Listen to me, all you people who have joined the

truth.Listen to me, all you people who are now chained towisdom.Never use anger or violence to spread the holycause, and never be filled with hate.Missionaries should be calm, to show that they arecitizens of heaven.

( ZOROASTERS ANGUISH )ZOROASTERS ANGUISH )8) O Lord, I wish I could understand what heaven is

like.I wish I knew the great joy that will be given to those

who live to serve God and who do the many gooddeeds, to which the Holy Spirit leads them.

9) O Lord, I wish I was already in the time where yourule, but I am not in heaven, but on earth.I am still among people who hate me,and people who look at me in fear and suspicion.O Lord, I would have comfort in these times, if only Iknew your full plan. If I am your appointed prophet,then wont you please tell me what your plan is forthe future ?

10) When will the good people join as one to spread thetrue message?When will they remove the evil of intoxication fromthe earth.

Note to text:

The priests in Zoroasters time were using a certain plant to make a drug called "haoma". Archaeological study of theirtemples found storehouses for it. Their religion was largely based around the use of this drug.Note 2: Despite the Gathas condemning the use of this plant, later Zoroastrians made its use a part of their religion. Theirlater writings teach that it is the plant that gives you wisdom about spiritual things (Yasna 9 to 11). They have even createdan angel of haoma, who is called Haoma. Reaching the divine through intoxicants is also a common practice in somestrands of the Hindu faith, as well as Rastafarianism, some Native American religions, and a number of other beliefsystems.

The people are mad with intoxication;The rulers are mad with intoxication .They sacrifice living animals to there gods,and desolate the land around them.

11) I want to know what will happen.When will there be many like us through out theLand; people like us, who live to serve God?When will the time come where people live inpeace, and fields are green, and everyone ishappy because we are ruled well?

( APPOINTED SAVIOURS )APPOINTED SAVIOURS )Who are the people who will overthrow wickedmen and bring us peace? Who are the people who


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will be known as "the wise ones"?12) These people will come to us. They will be the

saviours of the earth. They will be people whosethoughts and actions are one with the laws oftruth, and their focus will be justice. They willmake the world a better place. These are thepeople whom you will appoint to get rid of war andviolence. Thank you, O God.

Note to text:In the above section, the appointed saviours are not mentioned as being prophets or having divine knowledge, but rather,a God given conscience that wants justice and equality. It is credible to assume people such as Abraham Lincoln, Ghandi,Mother Teresa, Buddha, Martin Luther King jr., etc. may have been moved against injustice by Gods intervention.

ASNA 49: chapter 8:

( BANDVA, ZOROASTERSBANDVA, ZOROASTERSENEMY )NEMY )

1) There is a man who opposes me.His name is Bandva. He is a strong enemyand stops my plans from succeeding.He wants to keep the people from hearing mymessage. I turn to you, O God. Please have mercyon us. Wisdom is the weapon I want from you tohelp me fight this evil man.

2) He has worked against me for a long time now,He fell away from the path of truth and right, and nowhe is a man of violence. He opposes my message thatbrings happiness and prosperity. He tells people thatthey should not purify their minds, and when I plead with

him, none of my words ever affect him.Perhaps he has no conscience at all!

chapter 8:

( CHOOSING YOUR FRIENDS )3) Great God, this is the way to describe our religion:

If you choose right, then the time will come wheneveryone will see that you were right.But if you choose wrong, then you will becomeundone and have nothing.So always think only good thoughts,and dont be friends with evil, unrepentant people.

4) You should not be friends with people who gossip,slander and cause trouble,or people who are violent or encourage violence.If you are friends with people who live like this,God will see you as helping the spread of evil


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instead of trying to stop it.5) But if you love and cherish the way of the pure mind,

and think of it as a treasure, then you help to spreadmany kinds of goodness.Your closest friends should be wise people whofollow the true way, people who you know will be inheaven with you and God.

( A GROUP PRAYER )A GROUP PRAYER )Now let us pray:

6) I ask you, Great God, please help us understandwhat you want.Let us understand you in the wisest and mostaccurate way.Help us always to choose the righteous way of thepaths before us.Let us make the truths of our religion known to manypeople.

7) God hears our prayer, but so do you, who pray withme. My family, my friends, and people in the truthwith enlightened minds:Do you hear the things you pray when we pray

together,and do you mean them ?Do you fully mean it, when we pray as a group, to l iveby Gods laws and ask God to help us spread themessage?

( A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE IN THEA MESSAGE TO PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE )UTURE )8) Frashaoshtra, you and truth work together like a

team. God has made you like this, and I, Zoroaster,ask God to make me more like you in this way.I also ask God to make us known as

"The messengers whom God personally sent".May people who are in Gods kingdom in future timeshear about us.

9) I now leave a message to people who will be bornin future times, whose job it is to save the world fromevil:You who live long after me, please hear my words:do not ever compromise by working together withevildoers, and if you are a ruler, do not makealliances with people who follow evil ways.If you succeed in your mission, you have a trulygreat reward waiting for you at the judgment.

10) You are held by God, you rest in his care.Be pure minded, righteous people, but alsoremember to be humble before God, and knowthat he is unimaginably higher than we are.He is the one that sustains our eternal life, theexistence which will be forever and ever, withundying power.

11) But to you in the future who are wicked rulers,and all people of evil deeds, evil words and evilthoughts, you have low and twisted souls.After judgement, all of you who lived inthe house of the lie will be sent together to a newhome, a home called: THE DISGUSTING PLACE" .

( ZOROASTER PRAYS )ZOROASTER PRAYS )


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12) I, Zoroaster, ask for the truth to come and help me,and also for wisdom to come and help me.I feel your grace, O God, when I sing songs ofpraise to you.Please give me the best path.

ASNA 50: chapter 9:

( YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY )YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY )1) Whose job is it to keep me uninjured and healthy?

Whose job is it to protect my possessions ?

These things are my own responsibility, soI lean on making good plans by the wisdom Godhas given me.

To wisdom is where we should turn.We should be prepared for what may come.

Note to text:The above section on making careful plans and being responsible is rare among religious texts.Many, if not most, religions promise miraculous protection to adherents. In the Gathas,miracles seem to be in the form of divine influence rather than bending the laws of science. They are also not a promisedright, but rather, are a rare gift from God.

chapter 9:

( THREETHREE ACCEPTABLE WAYSCCEPTABLE WAYSTO LIVE )O LIVE )

( THE "DECENT" WAY )THE "DECENT" WAY )2) What is the normal way God intended for people to

live?How should people act and work?They should care for the world that God gave us tobring us joy with its beautiful green fields.They should live orderly decent lives under the sun,which comes up each new day with glorioussplendour.They should be in harmony with the good laws oftheir land. People who live like this do what God


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wants. They will be rewarded at the judgement.

( THE "RELIGIOUS" WAY )THE "RELIGIOUS" WAY )3) But there are some people who do more than that.

Some people may hear the teachings of Gods religionand be moved by them to do good deeds.So they live a life of helping others, teaching others

to do what is right, and helping to repair the landsthat evil men have destroyed. To those people, Godwill give them more, because they have done more.Gods wisdom has decided that they will havea reward according to their deeds in the kingdom ofheaven.

Note to text:Heaven, Hell, judgement day and many other Zoroastrian teachings do not appear in the Judaeo-Christian bible until theyare concurred by the Persian- Zoroastrian empire. The books of Genesis through to Esther do not contain a singlereference to the afterlife. There is solid proof that the bibles later writers had absorbed large amounts of Zoroastrianmorality from there neighbours.The Hindus also borrowed a great many concepts from Zoroastrianism.

And so, though Zoroastrianism, in its original form, ceased, Judaism, Islam ,Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism have allcarried on many of the moral teachings of Gods original perfect religion. As such, the above passage applies to 90% ofliving religions today.

( Because religious ideas form a tree beginning at Zoroastrianism, some have called this religion The Original Seed, thatGod planted . )

( THE "WALKING WITH GOD" WAY )THE "WALKING WITH GOD" WAY )4) But this is the way that I live:

I let truth be the master of my heart.I try to only think the very best thoughts.I love God with the highest love.I honour God.I worship God.I sing to God.For me, when I reach the gates of heaven,my joy will be the joy of coming home,and my soul will live in the house of songs forever.

( ZOROASTERS PLAN TO TEACH THEZOROASTERS PLAN TO TEACH THEPEOPLE THROUGH SONGS )EOPLE THROUGH SONGS )5) Great God, if you are pleased with the way I teach

your message, and if you are pleased with how I haveput your words to music, so that the people can betterremember them as songs,then please give me your hand of success,your grace, your help.

6) Lord, I sing songs to teach the people the path ofpraising you, and of wisdom, and of truth.Give me, Zoroaster, more skill as a musician, so that Ican do a better job of spreading your message.

7) Please send to me these three things:

the Holy Spirit, truth, and wisdom.Send them quickly to save me. Let them be to melike a horse that I ride through life, and then letthem carry me safely home to heaven.

(( PRAISE FOR WHAT GOD HASPRAISE FOR WHAT GOD HASDONE FOR US )ONE FOR US )

8) I approach you, O God, with loud songs of joy andmy hands raised high.I adore you; I am humbled by your righteousness.


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I look up to you, always thinking only good of you.9) I praise you in songs, but I also worship you with

deeds. I do good deeds done in wisdom,and I try to live a righteous life.I choose to follow you of my own free will.

10) Great God, you are glorious. You have givenus so much:

The love in the world and the kind deeds thatpeople do for each other,the love that people will show, and the kind things thatwill be done in the future.All the things in this world that are so beautiful toour eyes,and all the things that are so pure and pleasing toour minds.The greatness of the sun that rises every morningwith splendour, to begin a new day of new things.

All of this and more you have given us, and so I praiseYou, O God.

11) People call me "the singer of Gods praises",and I will do what I can to keep this reputation,for as long as my power will last.

May God, the creator of the world, use me in his planto renovate the world.

(( END OFEND OF BOOK TWO )OOK TWO )

ASNA 43: chapter 10:

( REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTSREWARDS AND PUNISHMENTSAT THE JUDGEMENT )T THE JUDGEMENT )

1) If you bring happiness to others, then God will bringhappiness to you.I pray for God to keep my body healthy and strong.I also pray that my mind would be sharp and clear, sothat I will be able to focus on truth.Please send your spirit of right-mindedness to me, so

that my mind may become enlightened. Then I will beblessed and happy, because I will walk in the lifeguided by wisdom.

2) God will bless those who strive for righteous, higherpurposes. They will receive the Holy Spirit. Then theywill have good days, and know contentment.

3) Now about teachers:The teacher who directs people to the path ofrighteousness, truth, and the spread of happiness,is actually leading them along the road to heaven,the home of God. When a teacher does this, he is


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called "Gods helper" and will be greatly rewarded.4) You, O God, are the highest help to

which we can turn.You will give to the righteous what the righteousdeserve, and you will give to the wicked what thewicked deserve. Your good ways are like a warm firethat keeps me satisfied.

5) You, O God, are the highest and most supreme being.You are greatly above all others.You were the original source of all that is created.I was shown that in the beginning, you decided, inperfect wisdom, that actions would be treated by youwith justice, and at the end of the world, you will dealwith people according to what they have done.

6) Then, at last, you will come to us in full, O God.You will rule all with the most righteous, wise mind.All will live in abundant prosperity. The one eternal,wise law will be taught, and this law cannot betwisted by deceit.

( ZOROASTER IS QUESTIONED )ZOROASTER IS QUESTIONED )7) A wise, pure minded angel came to me, and it asked me

some questions :Who are you? Who do you belong to?What is your plan to enlighten the people?How will you answer the questions people ask?

I gave these answers:"My name is Zoroaster. I do all in my earthly powerto stop people doing evil and shun all that is wrong,but I put much effort into being a true friend ofthose who do good.While ever I am alive to sing songs to my beautifulGod, so, too, shall I teach the people to awake, see,and understand Gods eternal power over all."

9) Then the angel said to me, "Who will you

worship?I replied, "In the presence of the fiery light of theglory of God, for as long as I live, I will cherish andlove the great gift of knowing and following Godsrighteous ways."

Note to Text:The Gathas is vague on the topic of angels. This is the accepted tradition of most religions: God created the race ofspiritual beings (called daevas). Some turned evil and came to the earth as tricksters and false gods, while others stayedgood and live in heaven with Almighty God.The word translated as angel here is the Persian word for supernatural spirit being.

10) I beg you, O God, please help me to be righteous.I beg you, O God, please help me to be right-minded.Teach us what questions to ask, becausequestions lead to answers, and answers are whatenrich us.I ask this especially for people in leadership,for they are the ones with the responsibilityof guiding the people.

11) You, O God, are the highest and most supremebeing; you are greatly above all others.

Then right-mindedness enlightened me. Godswords entered me. I knew then that the task aheadwould be difficult and that hardships would comemy way.But this will not stop me from speaking Gods


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message. Though it is hard I know this road is best.

12) God taught me righteousness. He commanded meto "go forth and proclaim his ways". Of the thingshe revealed to me, I did not ignore even thesmallest detail. Rather, I cherished them all.He greatly enlarged my conscience, and my focuswas always on the great judgement.

13) My mind was made good, and I made a request ofGod: "Great God, I ask for something that no manis ever able to give me. I ask you for a long life,because I see I have much work to do, for thegood of others.

14) I know you give as a man gives to his friend,and so I ask also for the gift that fills me with joy:the gift of wisdom. Clothe me with authority.Send to me your righteousness. May I stand withall those who have ever followed you,and proclaimed the message of your holy creed.

Note to text:A creed is a list of the most important beliefs that a religion holds. For example, the creed of the Gathas is: I believe inone God, who is creator and sustainer of all. I believe he is completely good.I believe in the resurrection from death.

I believe in the day of judgement, where good people will be rewarded with eternal life insplendour, but evil people will be punished, according to the pain they have caused others, and

after this they will be destroyed.

chapter 10:

( THE TWO BESTTHE TWO BEST POSSESIONSOSSESIONSAND A PRAYER )ND A PRAYER )

15) You, O God, are the highest and most supremebeing. You are greatly above all others.When my mind was purified to goodness, I clearlysaw that the two best possessions a person canhave are these: the ability to think deeply about things,and the ability to be content with what you have.

If you are a leader, remember never to compromisewith evil doers, for they are bringers of harm tothose who live good lives.

16) Now let us pray! O great God,I, Zoroaster, and those who choose to follow the

most Holy Spirit, ask of you these things:May righteousness live inside us with full strength.May right-mindedness shine from us like the sun.

May our mind be purified to goodness.May we remember that good people will berewarded for the amount of work they do.



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( QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT )QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT )Note to Text:Chapter 10, verse 10 says:Teach us what questions to ask, because questions lead to answers, and answers are what enrich us.

( EASY QUESTIONS )EASY QUESTIONS )1) I will ask questions about life, O God:

What is the right and pleasing way to worship you?Would you not reveal the truth to your friends?The truth is also our friend; it gives us help bypurifying our minds.

2) I will ask questions about life, O God:What is the best way to live?What is the reward that the righteous will receive?Are holy, righteous people healers of the world?Do they have value to all; are they true friends tohumanity?

3) I will ask questions about life, O God:In the beginning, who created logic?Who is its father?Who decided which path the sun and starswould take?It is none but you who does these things.You cause the moon to go through its cycles, monthby month.I know it was you, O God, but you are too great forany person to comprehend.

4) I will ask questions about life, O God:Who holds the up sky?Who created water?Who made the plants?Who gave speed to the winds?Who gave motion to the clouds?

Who is the one who brings our minds tothe good way?

5) I will ask questions about life, O God:What great artist made light and darkness?What great artist made a time for sleep anda time to be awake?Who ordained sunrise, midday and night,so that decent people have divided times to goabout there duties in life?

6) I will ask questions about life, O God:Are these next statements true?Do our actions help to spread the truth?Does the kingdom of heaven rest on thefoundation of wisdom?Tell me who this richly supplied, beautifulworld has been created for?

7) I will ask questions about life, O God:Who was the creator of goodness?Who decided fathers would have sonsto honour them?Let us understand God by the power ofhis Holy Spirit.

( MEDIUM QUESTIONS )MEDIUM QUESTIONS )8) I will ask questions about life, O God:

Do we reach enlightenment by purifying our minds?Does truth teach us the purpose of life?


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How do we purify our souls so that they areperfect in goodness?

9) I will ask questions about life, O God:Because God has made clear to us that religionis very important,How can we see religion with correct eyes?Religious people will live together with truthand wisdom in Gods house.

10) I will ask questions about life, O God:Is the true religion the one that teaches truthand prospers all people?Is the true religion the one that encourages justiceand humility?Is the true religion the one that intelligentlyunderstands God?

11) I will ask questions about life, O God:What plans must be made to be a successfulmissionary.I know, O Great God, that you called me to be amissionary, and I know that missionaries of otherreligions will be competing against me.

12) I will ask questions about life, O God:How do we tell righteous people from wickedpeople?To which of the two do lies belong?

If someone opposes good, does that makethem evil?

chapter 11:

( DIFFICULTDIFFICULT QUESTIONS )UESTIONS )13) I will ask questions about life, O God:

How do we remove the spirit of untruth fromamong us?Its home is with the unfaithful and rebelliouspeople, people who work hard to be anenemy of truth; who do not want tolisten to wisdom at all.

14) I will ask questions about life, O God:How do the righteous conquer and rule over evil?What holy teachings can we use to disarm eviland take away its power?How do we trap the evil ones in frustration,So that their hope of success is gone?How do we make evil extinct?

15) I will ask questions about life, O God:If God is going to protect me, then answer this:

When the two forces go into battle over me,the one fighting to stop Gods holyreligion, and the other fighting to spread it,which force is stronger?Which force will win?

16) I will ask questions about life, O God:What should a person do to succeed in givingteachings that lead to the protection of creation?

Show me a vision or sign, so that I know that youhave chosen me to give judgements that will heal


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the world.Let obedience and intelligence be on meand everyone else who wishes to be your servant,regardless of who they may be.

17) I will ask questions about life, O God:How shall I reach you?How can I be perfect?How shall my voice be effective?

It is through the words of these holy songs, whichwere received from the truth.May we be carried up to the presents which are given tous by God: the present of eternal life, and the presentof no pain.

18) I will ask questions about life, O God:How do we earn the final reward?How do we learn to control our senses, so thatthey take in only what we want?What is the best way to bring the teachings ofeternal life and wholeness to the world?

19) I will ask questions about life, O God:What will the penalty be for the one who does notpay his workers or give to people what he rightfullyowes them, mistreating even righteous people?

What should be his penalty in this life?For we already know what he will suffer inthe next life.

20) Do Daevas make good rulers?This is my question to those who become friendswith them. By the help of demons, the priests ofthis land and the priestly family of Usig haveoffered up the world to violence.By the help of demons, the princes, who help thepriests, grows strong in destruction.If only these people could see that the worldis like a field, and it would grow an abundantcrop, if it were given truth, law and order.

ASNA 45 : chapter 12:

( GOOD AND EVIL )GOOD AND EVIL )1) I am calling a meeting.

Come to me, all who live near and far away.Listen to what I have to say.Think carefully about all my words; think aboutthem with a clear mind,for I am trying to save your souls.Do not let false teachers pull you back to the pathof wickedness; the path you used to follow,but now have been set free from.


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For now, your eyes are opened; you can seethat the words of the false teachers are lies.

2) Now I will tell you what happened at the timecreation began.

There were two spirits, the holy oneand the evil one.The Holy Spirit said to the Evil Spirit,

We have nothing at all in common,neither in thoughts or wisdom,neither in our intentions, or our choices.Our words are not the same,our deeds are not the same,our consciences are total opposites.There can never be any agreement between us.

3) Regarding evil, there is a very important thing thatyou must remember: God (who knows every thing)spoke to me and said,You have been given holy words,and the right way to interpret those holy words.Any person who does not live by these righteousguidelines, in the end, will suffer misery andsadness.

chapter 12:

( GOOD AND EVIL )GOOD AND EVIL )

4) But regarding good and the right way to live,remember always to treat truth with respect,

and honour it, for it is one of the greatest ofGods creations.God created right-mindedness.God created persistence and the strength to dowhat needs to be done.God sees everything and watches over all.No one can escape or deceive God.

5) God also said to me, These are the most importantwords a person can hear:Those who listen and obey me and do goodwill be given eternal life, and I will make themperfect."This is the word of the Lord.

6) Now, I will tell you about the greatest of all things.I will sing with truthful words, about my beautiful

God, who is good to all.Gods Holy Spirit will hear my song. My purifiedmind speaks to me, saying, "Know Him.Gods wisdom will guide me safely home.

7) This is the great law, which is enforced by the authorityand power of Almighty God:Those who are now alive,those who are alive no longerand those who have not yet been bornwill all receive judgement; they will be given


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what they deserve.The righteous will be given eternal life, surroundedby supreme beauty,but evil people will be given great misery.

( ZOROASTERS JOY AT BEING FULLYZOROASTERS JOY AT BEING FULLYCONVINCED )ONVINCED )

8) I am filled with songs of praise.I want the acceptance of this God who came to me,for I have carefully watched his ways:they are right thoughts, right words and right deeds.And now I have realized the full truth,that he IS the true God, the highest God, and thesupreme God.And so, because I now know this, I fall down beforehim and worship.I am so filled with joy and worship,that my soul now lives in the house of songs.

Note to text:Zoroaster realized that the way to distinguish Almighty God from false gods is by his standard of justice, goodness andcompassion.Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are founded on the man Abraham whos loyalty was tested by God commanding him to

sacrifice his son. The major difference between Zoroastrianism and the Abrahamic faiths is that hada god asked Zoroaster to sacrifice his Son, Zoroaster would have dismissed the god as a demon, because God is purelygood and can do no evil.In Zoroastrianism if a god constantly wants death, blood, suffering, and sacrifices, then that is considered a mark that heor she is a daeva and not the supreme creator and sustainer of the universe.Note to Note:(In the story of Abraham God stops Abraham from murdering his son at the last minute, and tells Abraham he has passedthe test (Genesis 22). By Zoroastrian standards the whole event only tested wether Abraham was able to suffer and evenkill for his god ).

( THE EIGHT TEACHINGS )THE EIGHT TEACHINGS )9) Our purified mind tells us to preach these things

about God to the people:

First Teaching: "Free Will"

It is God who gave us free will, to choose right orwrong and receive the happiness or sadness thatcomes from our decisions.

Second Teaching: "Prayer"You should pray to God and ask him to bringhappiness to the people and animals in your land,pray for the prosperity of the world and its living beings.

Third Teaching: "Learning Gods Ways"Ask God to purify your mind and teach you his lawsand his truth and work to establish justice and goodlaws in your land.

Fourth Teaching: "Worship and Telling Others"10) Sing worship songs to God, and spread his fame.

Let everyone know that he is the supreme God, thewise creator.

Fifth Teaching: "Heaven"God is completely righteous and good, and he hasordained heaven.Heaven is a place where nothing can die.Everything is perfect there.There is eternal strength there; no weakness,tiredness or sickness of any kind.It is the house of God.


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Sixth Teaching: "Shun Evil"11) You must learn to say "NO!" to evil and evil-doers.

Seventh Teaching: "Reverence"Treat God in a holy way. Honour and reverehim who is called "the most high".

Eighth Teaching: "The Love of God"

If you follow these words he gave me to speak,then Gods love for you will be higher than that ofa friend, even higher than that of abrother. He will, in fact, love you like a true father.


( REJECTION IN HIS HOMELANDREJECTION IN HIS HOMELANDAND GREAT SADNESS )ND GREAT SADNESS )

1) I will look for a new land.It is time for me to go from this place,because my family has turned against me.

The teachers of my youth despise me.The people reject me as an outcast.The rulers of this land are very wicked.But all I live for is to serve God.

( ZOROASTERS GRIEF )ZOROASTERS GRIEF )2) My hopes and wishes have been smashed

to pieces.Look at me, O God. I have only a few followers,and very little wealth. How will I support them,when we go to do your work?Look at me, O God. I call up to you; I appeal to you.You are my best friend. Grant me your help.Greatly increase my wisdom; multiply my truthful

Understanding.Show me the path to success.

3) The sun has gone down. When will it rise againfor the cause of truth?When have you planned for me, and those with me,to succeed in our preaching?I have chosen you as my teacher, O God.Teach me the right words to say.

4) Evil people have held back our chance of success.They are stronger than us.Only when evil people are driven from thiskingdom can the path be clear to bring these


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people to ideal life.

( DUTY TO THE REPENTENT )DUTY TO THE REPENTENT )5) When an influential righteous person meets an

evil person, it is the righteous persons duty to tryto turn the wrongdoer from evil to good,so that the evil person can be saved fromdestruction.

6) But if the righteous person doesnt want to save the

evil person, then God shall see thatoncerighteous person in the same way that hesees those who live in the house of lies.For he who tolerates evil, is evil,and he who wants to be righteous, must work tobring others to righteousness.

This law is to be obeyed.It was made by God at beginning of creation.

( EVIL PEOPLE PLOT AGAINSTEVIL PEOPLE PLOT AGAINSTTHE PROPHET )HE PROPHET )

7) When evil people mark me in their minds as a targetfor attack, where can I and others turn to forprotection?I know that you are always thinking of me. I turn toyour holy fire.I know that, in the end, truth and righteousness willovercome. Help me to have faith and always realizethis.

8) When anyone marks us for harm,may God keep their plans from reaching us.May God make the evil they wish upon us, comeback upon their own heads.

May their evil actions keep them far away fromhappiness in life, but not far from misery.

( WHERE ARE ALL THE GOODWHERE ARE ALL THE GOODPEOPLE? )EOPLE? )

9) Lord, where are the people who come to us, saying,"Please teach me"?Where are the people who care about the verywords of Almighty God? You gave me the highesttruth, the way to blessings, the truth from thesupreme creator.

10) Where are good men and good women?Where are people who live good lives?Where are those who do the right thing, because itis the right thing?

Where are the people in authority, who govern withenlightened minds?

I want to bring them to you, to sing your songs ofpraise. I want to be with such people when I crossthe judgment bridge.


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( THE FATE OF THE PRIESTSTHE FATE OF THE PRIESTSAND PRINCES OF THIS LAND )ND PRINCES OF THIS LAND )

11) The priests and princes of this land are tyrants overthe people. Their evil ways are so great, theychoke life itself. But when people are sorted asthey cross the judgement bridge, they will be sent

to the place where the pain they feel will be thepain of their own conscience tormenting theirsoul, as it remembers their deeds,because these people have always lived in thehouse of lies.

Note to text:Being in the "house of lies" refers to the state of believing what makes you happy, at the expense of others, over theactual truth.

chapter 13:

( ZOROASTER ARRIVES IN THEZOROASTER ARRIVES IN THELAND OF TURANIAN AND GIVESAND OF TURANIAN AND GIVES

THEM THIS MESSAGE )HEM THIS MESSAGE )12) To the tribe of the people of Turanian, the

descendents of the great man, Fryana:God says that if you will turn to goodness and bepersistent and do what needs to be done,he will illuminate your minds and bringregeneration to your people for what you havelost.

( ZOROASTER ASKS IF ANYONEZOROASTER ASKS IF ANYONEWISHES TO ASSIST HIMISHES TO ASSIST HIM

IN HIS WORK )N HIS WORK )13) Does anyone from this land wish to assist me,

Zoroaster, in the task that God has given me,the task of preaching true religion?God will give you a good lifeand the wisdom to succeed and flourish,if you honour the truth like a friend.

( FINALLY, AFTER MUCH GRIEF,FINALLY, AFTER MUCH GRIEF,ZOROASTER IS SUCCESSFULOROASTER IS SUCCESSFULIN FINDING RESPONDENTS )N FINDING RESPONDENTS )

14) I, Zoroaster, have found a person who wishes toserve the great cause. It is the king of this land;King Vishtaspa.He wants me, Zoroaster, to teach his people.I will speak to them with the right words,so that they will be destined for heaven, the homeof God.


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( THOUGH FINDING SUCCESS INTHOUGH FINDING SUCCESS INTHIS NEW LAND, ZOROASTERHIS NEW LAND, ZOROASTER

MOURNFULLY REMEMBERS HISOURNFULLY REMEMBERS HISHOMELAND )OMELAND )

15) Though sometimes I think of my own tribe,the tribe of Spitamas.We descended from the great man, Haechataspa.If only my people would distinguish between rightand wrong, and serve the right way.If only they would follow the laws of God.

( WITH THIS NEW SUCCESS,WITH THIS NEW SUCCESS, ZOROASTER GIVES A SPEECH TO HISOROASTER GIVES A SPEECH TO HIS

ELDERS AND NEWFOUNDLDERS AND NEWFOUNDFOLLOWERS )OLLOWERS )

16) Now, about my first disciple and friend,

Frashaoshtra, of the tribe of Hvogva,who leads our converts, which he helped me to teach.Together, we taught those converts the ways thatheal the world.

So now, go forth, Frashaoshtra, andbring our converts to devotion for God,bring them to the worship of God,bring them to the highest truth.Let them obey the purified part of their mind, asthough it were their king.Bring them to the day when they see the splendourof God.

( COMPLIMENT TO JAMASPA )COMPLIMENT TO JAMASPA )17) And as for Jamaspa, the cousin of Fraoshtra ofthe tribe of Hvogva,

you, also, were one of my first disciples.I will speak to you in a poem rather than ordinarywords:

O, to you who often prays,

perfectly obedient in all your ways,Gods protection is granted to you.

For he deals with the wicked,but honours the true.

18) And to all those who are with me and share acommon goal to serve the highest purpose,I, Zoroaster, will do the best in my power to do yougood, and will think deeply about what will serveyou best.

But regarding those who try to stop us andoppress us,God will certainly bring them trouble.

Now let us pray:O God, your spirit in us is pulling us forward to doyour will.We are one in agreement with the spirit and we say,

"Your will be done".

( THE GREAT RENOVATION )THE GREAT RENOVATION )


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19) And to all of you who work with me, Zoroaster,I say this.You are servants of the great renovation.It is Gods plan to rebuild things in a better way.Serving this cause will bring you times of honour inthis world, and you will find contentment in servingthis cause. You will also have a great treasure in the

next life.

These are the words of all-knowing God.

( END OF BOOK THREE )END OF BOOK THREE )


( A RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT )A RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT )1) Of everything we could want or pray for, the thing we

should want most is a righteous government for theworld and its people;a government that is guided by Gods true law andways; a government that is aware of what needs to

be done and has strength and a love of justice.Come to us, O righteous rulers, carrying gifts ofplenty and happiness for all people.For when the best order is planted,it blossoms and opens into a flower of heavenon earth. I, Zoroaster, will work to help bring about thiscause now and evermore.

( KING VISHTASPAS PRAYER )KING VISHTASPAS PRAYER )2) King Vishtaspa prayed and said:

Grant to me, O God, the ability to rule inrighteousness. Let me rule in your name as a leader

whom you have accepted, give me a spirit ofright-mindedness, and let me not grow weak inserving the people. Bless all the people in my care,who live good lives of service to your holy cause.

3) Great God, bless these people who have worked forwhat you want, bless the people who have donegood things with their strength, and bless thepeople who have used kind and encouraging words.Bless the people who chose to accept the good path youoffered, and to be your helpers.


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( NATIONAL DEFENCE )NATIONAL DEFENCE )4) These are our needs, O God:

What are we going to do if we are attacked?What land will have compassion on us and come torescue us?When will the truth be heard in other lands?Please use your power to alter our circumstances.

O God, please give us the brightest wisdom for ourprotection and show us your power.

( THANK-YOU FOR THE GATHAS )THANK-YOU FOR THE GATHAS )5) We ask for your assistance,

because now that we have received the truth,all we want to do is work for the good of creation.We have learned to be wise in our plans and alwaysrighteous in our actions.We fully accept that Zoroaster was the teacher thatyou chose and sent to us, to do us much good.Thank-you, O God.

( REMINDING THE PEOPLE OFREMINDING THE PEOPLE OFJUDGEMENT DAY )UDGEMENT DAY )

6) At the end of the world,

this is what will happen to the person who,when faced with a choice, normally took the right path.God, the highest judge and master,by the use of his great power that no one can stop,will give to them a reward, better then any good thingon earth. But to him who wants to make the worldworse instead of better, God will give to that persona punishment, which is worse than anything on earth.

This will happen at the end of the world, at the timewhen the cycle of birth, life and death for created thingshas come to an end.

( VISHTASPA PRAYS FOR DETERMINATION IN TEACHING )VISHTASPA PRAYS FOR DETERMINATION IN TEACHING )7) O God, who designed and made the world,

O creator of the oceans, waters, trees andplants;Great God, you are the most generous gift giver.You give more than any other being.Please give this gift to me,give me the gift of being strong in determination,so that I can bring all my people tounderstand what you are like,and how you want us to live and act.

And also, give me wisdom to complete this job.

( GODS SIMPLE MESSAGE )GODS SIMPLE MESSAGE )8) I, King Vishpaspa, will speak Gods message.

I am one who knows, and I will teach those whowant to know. Wise people are filled with joy whenthey hear this message:

"Evil people will go to a very sad place,but righteous people will go to a very happy place."


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( FINAL DESTRUCTION OFFINAL DESTRUCTION OFTHE WICKED )HE WICKED )

9) What will be the final judgement forthe two groups, who are enemies:the good group, and the evil group?The final judgement will be like a fire: it comes to

destroy things that can burn, but i t doesnt harmthings that cant burn. God will show that there is abig difference between being a good person andbeing an evil person. The evil person will bedestroyed and gone for ever.They will not live in happiness like the righteous.

chapter 14:

( VISHTASPAVISHTASPA PRAYS TO GOD BECAUSE HISRAYS TO GOD BECAUSE HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER )IFE IS IN DANGER )10) O God, there are people who want to kill me.

Not because I have done anything unkind to them,but because they are wicked men who have learntwickedness from their fathers.They go from place to place, killing the people.I am a truthful man, O God,please remember this and reward me.

11) Is there any other king who has been a friend toyour prophet, Zoroaster?

Is there any other king who has humbled himself andsaid, I will sit at the prophets feet and learn the truth?Is there any other king who worked hard, like I did,who purified his mind to goodness, like I did,who tried to make himself worthy to spread yourmessage?

12) On this side of the bridge of life, I see no good kingsbut me. The people in the kingdoms ruled by wickedkings do not please Zoroaster Spitama, yourprophet. I am your servant, O God.I want to do big jobs for you, not little jobs.When wicked people push for evil,I will push back for good.

( VISHTASPAS PRAYERS AND WORDSVISHTASPAS PRAYERS AND WORDSTO THE PEOPLE END HERE ANDO THE PEOPLE END HERE AND

ZOROASTER BEGINS NEWOROASTER BEGINS NEWTEACHINGS )EACHINGS )

( THE WICKED WILL TASTETHE WICKED WILL TASTEHEAVEN )EAVEN )


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13) The wicked person will be judged, and all therighteous will see it.The wicked person will stand on the judgmentbridge between this life and the next.His soul will taste the good and wonderfulsplendour of heaven and the reward that the righteouswill receive. But then he will be overcome with fear,and sink in dread, because he knows that he has

failed the test of life.The cruel things that the wicked person did andthe evil words he said are like chains around him,that keep him from this beautiful place.

( EVIL PRIESTS )EVIL PRIESTS )14) The evil priests of the old religion do not teach

people the right sort of laws.Good laws teach people how to live in peace witheach other and be settled and productive.But these priests teach wrong ways.Their ways cause suffering to the earth and itscreatures.Their deeds and their doctrines are those ofpeople who live in the house of lies.

Note to text:Being in the "house of lies" refers to the state of believing what makes one happy, at the expense of others, over theactual truth.

( PEOPLE TO WHOM THE HIGHESTPEOPLE TO WHOM THE HIGHESTOF ALL JOYS WILL BE GIVEN )F ALL JOYS WILL BE GIVEN )

15) There is a joy above all joys,I call it the house of songs.God was the first being to know this joy.I, Zoroaster, have spoken to you all and promisedyou that you will

the holy gathas 2009

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