Zarathushtra - and his three western interlocutors

For those who are interested in understanding Nietzsche, the best book on Nietzsche I ever read is Gilles Deleuze book on Nietzsche (google Deleuze and Nietzsche together, and you will find the book at amazon.com). Not only is the book an excellent introduction to Nietzsche, but also to Deleuze´s own 20th century philosophy. Two great thinkers in one and the same book! Deleuze has also wirtten two brilliant introductions to Spinoza for those who are interested. And there together we have the three western thinkers who are most closely related to Zarathushtra's thinking - Spinoza, Nietzsche and Deleuze, and in that order - as Arthur Pearlstein and I have repeatedly pointed out here before.
Ushta
Alexander

2008/11/6 Special Kain

Dear Dina,

There's nothing wrong with that, although I'm still new to Zoroastrianism and not too familiar with the Gathas. There are historically accurate readings - and I'm not too familiar with them, either -, but we happen to make new experiences. Thus, we learn more about our existence. This learning process is likely to entail new readings.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend any good English translations, because I speak German fluently.

Ushta,
Dino

--- DINAMCI@aol.com schrieb am Do, 6.11.2008:

Von: DINAMCI@aol.com
Betreff: [Ushta] 2d reply to Dino
An: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
Datum: Donnerstag, 6. November 2008, 23:19

Dear Dino,

The trouble with my reading Nietzche is that I do not know German, so I cannot read it in the original, and I have no confidence in the two translations which I have, which speak of a superman, etc., which Alexander (some time back) assured me was a mistranslation.

Besides, right now, all my time is taken up with studying the Gathas. This may surprise you -- that it could require so much time and effort. But indeed it does, because, like the art form of certain Vedic hymns, it's art form is a poetic collection of multi-dimensional puzzles, many layered meanings. I know that this is not a popular approach. Many folks including some on the ushta list scoff at the idea that the Gathas are multi-dimensional. I can only say that I have found them to be so. And until I plumb their depths, I find any kind of comparative study (whether in comparative religions or comparative schools of philosophy) hugely unsatisfactory. Sorry, but that is just my take.

Wishing us the best,

Dina G. McIntyre.