Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) A Philosophy for Life
An artistic representation of Asho Zarathushtra
Zarathushtra, known to the Greeks as Zoroaster, is considered one of history's earliest philosophers. Though our understanding is based on limited surviving texts, his core philosophy revolves around these key principles:
- Free Will: The Freedom of Choice!
- Asha: The pursuit of truth and righteousness, embodying cosmic order.
- Mazda Ahura: The Great Wisdom!
- The Two Entities: The fundamental struggle between good and bad.
- Progressive Thinking: An emphasis on forward-thinking and personal development.
- Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The practical application of ethical principles.
- Equality: The belief in the equal moral standing of men and women.
- Respect for Nature: The importance of nurturing and preserving the natural world.
These concepts are most profoundly expressed in his hymns called Gathas (which literally means Songs) and those are only 17 chapters of the 72 Chapters of the book called Yasna and those Songs are hidden in Yasna (i.e. starts from Ch. 28 goes to Ch. 34, then stops, and then continues from Ch. 43 goes to 46, etc.).
The Avesta, the sacred text of Zoroastrianity, is comprised of the Yasna and four other major collections. While some might be valuable, it's important to approach these texts with discernment. Tradition suggests that subsequent authors may have added to the original teachings over the past 3700+ years on behalf of Zarathushtra.
As Zarathushtra himself urged:
"Hear the Best and use your own good bright mind and clear heart to choose between Good and Bad!"
Zarathushtra's enduring influence is evident in his recognition as the 1st philosopher in the chronology of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2005)1,2
He also expressed a powerful call for universal positive action:
"May We be one of the People who Refresh this World!"
Further Exploration:
- New Thinking Allowed! "The Persian Influence on Western Civilization with Prof. Jason Reza Jorjani" (YouTube): A 26-minute introductory video.
- Domain of Belief "An Interview with Prof. K.D. Irani - Part 1 of 4" (YouTube): Insights from a student of Albert Einstein with expertise in Zarathushtra's philosophy.
- An Introduction to the Gathas of Zarathushtra edited by Dina G. McIntyre – A series of papers starting with "Human Behavior and Good Thinking"
Additional References:
- 1Blackburn, Simon (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-873530-4.
- 2Frankfort, H., Wilson, J. A., & Jacobsen, T. (1964). Before Philosophy. Penguin, Harmondsworth.