In Search of Freedom (by Parviz Varjavand)

In Search of Freedom

The key to proper choices in search of freedom we make needs as a tool proper labeling for the choices that we have available. There are many so called names of God in Zoroastrianism. Bogh is one, Ahoora, Mazda, Spenta Mind, Asha, Dey, all the names of the Ameshaspands and the 101 names in the Avesta are all God names. I chose two in order to make a very definite distinction in my choices; Mazda and Dey.

Dey is linguistically related to Deity and Devine (also Div, but let us forget that negative connotation). Dey means divine powers coming from the metaphysical realm and beyond the realm of our mental powers to decipher them. Mazda means "That which can Think" and refers to the realm of powers our mind can hope to decipher, now or some day soon. Asha is the name of laws Mazda can work with and try to decipher.

Yasna and Yasni (in Mazdaism) means to Celebrate (not to worship but to have a Jashn or celebration). As a Mazdean, my mind should know if it is engaging in celebrating the Mind or in celebrating the Divine (beyond the reach of the mind). We do Mazda-yasni work or we do Dey-yasni work.

My loved one is sick. I go to the temple and with all sincerity pray to Divine powers to make him/her well. Nothing to be ashamed of, my Dey-yasna part of the psyche needs it. Then I go to the doctors, I do the lab works needed, and give the patient the medications prescribed. I engage here in Mazda-yasni works. The patient gets well. I thank God and His Divine powers, because there was so much powers at work that I did not understand. I also thank and celebrate Mazda and all that worked by using the proper Asha that persons with minds did to make the sickness go away.

As a Mazdean, I am an Ashavand and Mazdayasni first; I trust and work with and celebrate the results given by Mazda to me. I am also not ashamed to do Dey-yasni works, because I know how small I am with the tiny amount of Mazda lodged in my head in relation to the enormity of the Asha that runs around in the universe. The key to my sanity is that I do not run around calling the Dey by the name of Mazda or Mazda by the name of Dey. I recognize the times I celebrate the Mind and times I celebrate the Dey or powers beyond the reach of my mind.

Ushta to us,
Parviz Varjavand