Nietzsche and Zarathustra as Zarathushtra Part 2

Almost correct text!!!

However, I would prefer to change THIS quote:
"We should add that Nietzsche's description of the person of Zarathustra and the setting in which Nietzsche placed his Zarathustra are entirely a product of Nietzsche's imagination, though they do contain some interesting parallels which we note in our comments."

And instead phrase it this way:
"We should add that Nietzsche's description of the person of Zarathustra and the setting in which Nietzsche placed his Zarathustra are to a great extent a product of Nietzsche's imagination, though they do contain some interesting parallels which we note in our comments."

And as I have stated before, GERMAN anthropologists were far better versed in Sanskrit (and Avestan) literature than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts in the mid-19th century. Anthropology was very much a German and French endeavor and involved far fewer Anglo-Saxons. Which means British and American writers underrate how well the continentals understood oriental cultures already by 1850.

Ushta
Alexander

2009/11/28 Special Kain



And this one is about Nietzsche's understanding of Zoroastrianism:

http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/westernauthors/nietzsche.htm

'nuff said,
Dino

--- Special Kain schrieb am Sa, 28.11.2009:


Von: Special Kain
Betreff: Re: [Ushta] Nietzsche and Zarathustra as Zarathushtra
An: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
Datum: Samstag, 28. November 2009, 17:18



Here's even more:

http://www.vohuman. org/Article/ Zarathushtra% 20and%20the% 20European% 20Experience. htm

It seems that Martin Haug was the first to distinguish the Gathas as the first and original scripture in the 1860's.
Here's one of his essays:

http://www.heritage institute. com/zoroastriani sm/reference/ martin_haug_ essays.pdf

Another two cents,
Dino

--- Special Kain schrieb am Sa, 28.11.2009:


Von: Special Kain
Betreff: Re: [Ushta] Nietzsche and Zarathustra as Zarathushtra
An: Ushta@yahoogroups. com
Datum: Samstag, 28. November 2009, 17:04



Dear Ardeshir,

Kathleen Marie Higgins discusses the connection between the Gathas and Nietzsche's «Also sprach Zarathustra» in her book «Comic Relief: Nietzsche's Gay Science» based on Martin Haug's commentaries to the Gathas.
Formally and structurally, the Gathas and Nietzsche's philosophical novel are similarly composed, as if Nietzsche tried to formally and structurally copy the Gathas. I'm sure that Nietzsche read Haug's translation now, but - as far as I know - Haug's translation has been challenged and heavily criticized by German scholars. Martin Haug translated the whole Avesta and not only the Gathas, as did Bahram Varza who strongly believes that only the Gathas were the songs where the original Zoroastrianism (Mazdayasna as a philosophy rather than religion) is to be found.
More information on Haug's contributions and Nietzsche can be found here: http://www.gatha. org/english/ articles/ 000084.html

My two cents,
Dino

--- ardeshir farhmand schrieb am Sa, 28.11.2009:


Von: ardeshir farhmand
Betreff: Re: [Ushta] Nietzsche and Zarathustra as Zarathushtra
An: Ushta@yahoogroups. com
Datum: Samstag, 28. November 2009, 16:43



i concur, nietzche's idea about creating a superman corresponds CLOSELY with the gathic view of bringing the "superb jewel of beautiful thinking and genius/vohû manô" in our physical universe and thereby opening awesome new horizons through this "genial vast consciousness/ vohû manô." the idea is repeated many times in the gathic verses, and there is a clear exposition of the above theme in the varshtmanthr book of commentaries on Yasna 28.

the seer, wants the material manifestati on to be empowered by a superb mind and awesome mental abilities. this empowerment will eliminate many restrictions and interia currently present in our physical universe. it is worthy to explore the last line of ahunvar formula when the prophet/bard talks about nurturing and empowering "drigubyô."

adrigyu in the vedas is an attribute of the vedic gods which suggests "unrestrained and awesome power of the gods."

a quality that zarathushtra wants for mankind by illuminating ahuric virtues/ powers (asha, middle persian ahrayih) in humanity and turning us into superhuman godlike beings of good.

there were a number of german translation of the gathas before, including the great work of Martin Haug and the collections of Karl Frierich Geldner. i think Haug is the true scholar/forerunner in the gathic studies and deserves much credit for his works. also we have bartholeme,, who i dissent many times with his views.

it is important to distinguish between true scholars and missionaries whose sole purpose was to "save souls" and convert people. the latter group were fundamentally biased and at the end wanted only to prove the supermacy of the evangelical christianity over all else. this does not mean that they were not fascinated by the gathic wisdom, for they were.

hence the importance of ancient commentaries and avestan cross refrences over western academics.

Ardeshir