What Zarathushtra is illustrating is the series of causes and effects in which ethics must be placed. And because THOUGHTS occur before WORDS which in turn occur before ACTIONS, Zoroastrian ethics is obsessed with THINKING. Thinking honestly, thinking constructively, thinking fully, thinking properly!
The Abrahamic gods punish people for not BEHAVING in the proper manner.
That is idiocy. Zarathushtra is much smarter and more realistic than the banal Abrahamic moralists. Whcih is also why our ETHICS has nothing to do with their MORALISM.
Muslim scholars who do not understand Zarathushtra should keep their big and loud hateful mouths shut!
Ushta
Alexander
2011/6/22 osred90
He is right that if Good Thoughts etc is just a slogan and you have no idea what it means then it is not enough.
Zoroastrians should look ultimately to a combination of Sarosh (your inner voice) and Chisti (wisdom/understanding) to help you understand what Good Thoughts etc are in any particular situation.
Getting in contact with Sarosh and Chisti requires personal development such as is provided by Sufi teachers as well as ordinary teachers and by the accidents of life.
In my view to be a good Zoroastrian you should be striving to develop your ability to tell what are Good Thoughts etc as well as your inclination to do them.
Osred.
--- In Ushta@yahoogroups.com, Bahman Noruziaan
> This is a sermon from a Iranian Shia Muslim cleric (in Iran), with English subtitles.
> Is having Humata, Houkhta and Hvarshta as the guideline enough or as he is claiming not?!
> See for yourself,
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljDR0wjQyos
> Regards
> Bahman
Dear Bard,
SvaraRaderaBefore you say something about Islam in general, I hope (and I wish I know) you thought about the different paths, like Sufism within it, well.
In Islam, God makes you responsible both of your thoughts and actions. Consciousness in Islam is collective. It is rather forgiving, but also demanding with the higher level of conciousness.
I also know that you know this thought. I believe you understand it perfectly, but you rather do not want to be a part of a collective "oneness", since your ego ("nefs", I believe you know)is superior to you. You do not want to do that consciously, since it is against all the marketing principles you applied to make your ego stronger. That is what I usually find in those religions who want to escape from collective responsibility and withbringing ethics. They can not give up what they own or created. They do not want to manifest that their role in those created is just secondary, if nothing. That is exactly what it is about your will: No will to a humble approach because of a rather strong and well-fed narcisism, which is aimed to be exterminated in "Oneness" in Islam.
What those who think like you do instead, is to compromiss, and find excuses to escape from responsibility. That is rather so even in Christianity, as Jesus bears the sins instead of the ego. It is then even easier to create an evil outside of one's ego, what is indeed repeated in western history. Zoroastrian "thought" is also a way of escaping from collective consciousness if not an easier one than the lighter Abrahamic beliefs. Come on Mr. Bard.. You are old enough to listen to the voice that speaks to you from "your right side", as Kur'an puts it. Surrender before the One and be One in It (Hû). I know it is difficult to leave yourself behind, but think about the gain you make spiritually.
Have a wonderfull and spiritual summer!