Zoroastrianism and Taoism

Dear Courtney

Yes, you are absolutely on the right path here. Zoroastrianism and Taoism are very closely related ideologically and metaphysically. We could go so far as to say that Taoism is "Chinese Zoroastrianism". Basically it is most of al an aesthetical choice whether you choose to become a Zoroastrian or a Taoist. Both positions are perfectly agreeable and acceptable intellectually and many of us would even consider us both as Zoroastrians and Taoists. And just like the concepts of "Ahura" and "Mazda" are more important than any other duality in Zoroastrianism, so it is Tao or Dao which is the central concept in Taoism, with yin and yang merely a consequence of Tao rather than the other way round.

Ushta
Alexander

2010/3/18 rory12001

I'm sure everyone is busy with Nau Ruz preparations,
but I've been thinking about what everyone wrote & then rereading some posts, and if I'm not mistaken Asha -cosmic order is very like the Tao [ Eastern philosophy is what I am familiar with] and the duality not dualism that you were all explaining is similar to Yin-Yang?
Perhaps I am mistaken, but I think I understand. The comparison of Jainism to Gnosticism was very helpful indeed.

Anyway, I contacted the local university which has a Zoroastrian student association & they kindly invited me to join them for Nau Ruz ;so I am looking forward to it.
And thank you all for your generous help & discussion,
Courtney

> This was a one off affair which led to an historic legal battle.
>
> Lala is the official chronicler of the House of Tatas. He is more of a story teller than an historian. I know of one of his books which is totally inaccurate.
>
> Yezad
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: rory12001
> To: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:38 AM
> Subject: [Ushta] Re: Zoroastrianism and Jainism
>
>
>
> Fascinating Yezad! Was that the tenor of the times or a special case?
>
> my library has 2 biographies of Jamshedji Tata: one by R.M Lala For the Love of India, the other Horizons by Aman Nath. Do you know either?
> Courtney
> >
> > Incidentally Jamsetji came from a priestly family from Navasari, the hotbed
> > of orthodoxy, and fully supported the conversion of the wife of his cousin -
> > the mother of JRD Tata - a blue blooded, blue eyed French lady - minutes
> > before her marriage!! Almost all the High Priests, at that time - had
> > supported the conversion.
> >
> > How times have changed!!
> >
> > Yezad
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 4:07 AM, rory12001 wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Alexander or any of the knowledgable people in this forum;
> > > can you explain the difference between Jain and Zoroastrian beliefs in
> > > regard to dualism?
> > >
> > > I was quite attracted to Jain philosophy due to its strong ethical content
> > > after being very disenchanted with Buddhism, which I seriously practiced for
> > > about 10 years.
> > > hmm, as to Jain vs. Iranian food, I dont know:) I am veg too.
> > > thanks
> > > Courtney
> > > Yezad, I will check my local university library, they have a very fine
> > > collection for South Asia and library loan and then get back to you. Thank
> > > you very much.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > - In Ushta@yahoogroups.com , Alexander Bard
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Jainism is AGAINST the caste system. This is actually its main difference
> > > > from Hinduism. So anybody can convert to Jainism. Which proves that you
> > > do
> > > > not have to adher to the caste system to surivive in India (a common myth
> > > > among Parsees). Jainism has managed to prosper in India outside of the
> > > caste
> > > > system for 2,500 years. Jainism is by the way a Pantheistic religion,
> > > like
> > > > Zoroastrianism and Taoism. But Jainism has a strong dualist streak, a
> > > kind
> > > > of sophisticated new age belief. That's its main difference from
> > > > Zoroastrianism.
> > > > Ushta
> > > > Alexander/is a great fan of Jainist cuisine, which is 100% vegetarian...
> > > >
> > > > 2010/3/13 rory12001
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you both Alexander and Yezad for explaining. Is this the case for
> > > > > Jains as well?
> > > > > Frankly the only answer for a dwindling gene pool is out marriage and
> > > > > conversion. American Jews have finally woken up to this and finally
> > > actively
> > > > > support conversion. I am one, and I can tell you our gene pool is very
> > > > > small, riddled with birth defects & the only hope is for newcomers.
> > > > >
> > > > > I wonder if Parsis who married out, had their spouses convert to
> > > > > Mazdayasna, if this couldn't be the modern trend. I'm going to look for
> > > the
> > > > > biography of Jamshedji Tata, that blend of ethical religion and
> > > industry is
> > > > > just what we need!
> > > > > Courtney