Chapter 3
Maturation of Thought
Ten years passed---ten years of thought and of speculation. At the end of those ten years there came that rare moment: it was close upon the hour when the bird of dawn heralded the morn when Zarathustra dreamt an exceptional dream---he saw a furious army spur towards him headed by that atrocious sorcerer who had oft planned his murder when a boy. The army consisted of a horde of creatures with human form and wolfish visages threateningly advancing towards him. Suddenly from the horizon there appeared another army led by one cloaked in white with a countenance caught in a halo of light. As the army of light met with that of the dark the former lifted a torch and advanced upon its adversary. Within moments the dreaded army of evil dispersed and its creatures scattered upon the plains. Instantaneously the leader of this odious troop received an arrow shot into the pupil of his eye which caused him to lurch from his saddle into oblivion.
As Zarathustra lay entranced between a world of dream and one of reality there appeared before him a resplendent form dressed in white. Zarathustra arose to face this immaculate being:
“Oh most perfect divinity, tell me who you are and where you come from!
How have you entered this cloister which none has ever penetrated but I?”
That illustrious being smiled clemently and replied:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of Vohuman—deity of good mind which is in fact the personification of your own wisdom. I have come to interpret the message of your dream for I shall lead you to the Almighty. Rise, dress yourself in holy vestments, and follow me!
“Listen well for this is the message of your dream: Zarathustra, you shall arrive at His throne which is the realm of ultimate wisdom and of the forces of creation. You will come to learn the message of the divine creed of the Creator. In your wisdom, which is but a projection of the universal wisdom of the world, you will realize and comprehend the truth of your deeds. You shall return unto man and from the depths of your wisdom you shall reveal the message of the Holy Creed by renting asunder the heart of the thorn and by plucking out the bud of truth from within its breast.
The sinners and the sorcerers shall knowingly rise to oppose your benign creed for they have pledged your destruction. At this time your cousin, Medioumah, shall accept your creed and he shall join you in your war against these sorcerers. They will be unable to withstand the power of his courage and as they flee in terror the masses will embrace your tender religion.
Now tell me what you wish for in this world!”
Zarathustra answered: “I only wish for the truth and that I might be spared from delusion!”
“Rise, for you shall know the Creator, the total wisdom of being in your wisdom and you will learn from Him that which you wish to know.”
Zarathustra bid as the Amesha Spenta of Vohuman commanded him and thus, with eyes firmly shut, he at once felt his heart soar Godward and he arrived at the heavenly realm of ultimate wisdom and boundless thought. As Zarathustra gazed about him he could only see and endless stretch of light. He wandered light-footedly onward until he arrived at the Throne of Mazda Ahura that total brilliance, that ultimate knowledge of being, that wise force of creation.
“Oh purest Mazda Ahura,” cried the Teacher, "Tell me and let me know who amongst men is dearest unto You?”
The Sraosha of Mazda Ahura spoke from within Zarathustra’s breast: "Best among men is he who acknowledges truth, for only truth can bring about the complete spiritual liberation of man.
Blessed is he who bears a clement heart, kind to the forces of fire, water and to all the creatures.”
“Oh Mazda Ahura, who is the vilest among those who inhabit the earth?”
“Vilest among all creatures is he who tyrannizes men and inflicts pain upon them and he shall meet with Douzakh.”
“What is goodness and what is evil? How can one attain either?”
“Goodness takes its root in a good mind and evil arises from a malicious mind. Sorrow, pain and misery rise from diabolic contemplations and from falsehood, as benevolence and joy are united within the core of truth and divine speculation. Reward and retribution rule the world. The wicked shall meet with an accursed life as the virtuous shall be rewarded with a superior existence.”
Hence, two worlds took shape before Zarathustra’s eyes—the world of wicked thoughts and the world of blessed speculations.
In the latter he witnessed radiance, beauty, fertility, righteousness, joy, purity and progress. In the former he saw avarice, malignity, perfidy, chaos, torment and annihilation.
As Zarathustra contemplated his two-fold world Evil Thoughts arose from the pit of the darkness in a grotesque body, a dissolute countenance, a writhing psyche and a foul heart to address him:
“Oh Wicked one, you deserve this abominable abyss of evil! He whomsoever abides by you deserves nothing but this very inferno of scathing anguish!
I will never bend to thee for I have pledged my soul to the kingdom of Light, Truth, Purity and Blessed Thoughts. I shall eternally fight to uproot you from this world!”
As the Teacher wandered in the kingdom of Light he once again met with the wicked one and was confronted by a mount of raging fire. Yet, his wisdom led him past this hell-kindled blaze unmarked. Thus, Zarathustra continued his path unhurt to meet a stream of scalding lead. Many were they who attacked him to brandish his chest with the melted tongs of lead burnished in the heart of this stream of molten flames.
Wondrous strange it was how the Leader passed this stream unscorched by the lashing tongs of hell for they left not the slightest trance on his gentle skin.
Zarathustra went meditatively onward lost in the contemplation of the meaning of these trials when from the core of his being a voice proclaimed: “What you witnessed was the various guises and contours of human life. Your creed will prevent these horrors from dominating the world. The trials you faced were warnings as to how you must rise and strengthen yourself in order to withstand these calamities. This strength can only be realized in you through the power of truth.”
While Zarathustra walked in the kingdom of heaven he asked the Creator:
“How are the virtuous followers of Thy creed to worship Thee?”
“Through Light—all that is pure and brilliant comes from holy spirit and illumination. There is nothing in this universe to compare with its illumination and splendor. Virtue is born of light and vice is born of dark. Wheresoever there is light darkness flees. Radiance is the fruit of brilliant thoughts and of cleansed hearts while darkness takes its seat in the crevasses of satanic conniving and putrid souls.”
Zarathustra continued in the wake of his musings when there came a radiance carrying the six Amesha Spentas. Abruptly the Amesha Spenta of Vohuman once again addressed the Teacher:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of peace and of divine thoughts. I bid thee tell men to abandon their enmities and their vengeance and to turn instead to goodness and to charity. Tell them to leave the company of the Evil One and his evil ways. Men are to seek knowledge and wisdom in order to spread culture. They are to spread the world and to forsake vice. They must meet their foes with justice and their friends with love. Bid them watch over those animals that are most beneficial to man. Bid men to be wary of extremes.”
Then the second Amesha Spenta stepped forth—the Amesha Spenta of Asha:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of purity and of truth. Bid men keep their bodies and souls forever pure. Bid them avoid corruption and pollution, but to praise purity and truth for the only true road in life for men is that which follows these commands. Strive to be good in words, deeds and thoughts. Forsake falsehood, sorcery and oath taking. Speak to thy brethren only in honesty and forsake the devil worshipers and the sorcerers. Guard the fire of love, truth and purity and taint it not with corpses and filth.”
At this time the Amesha Spenta of Shahrivar spoke:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of Shahrivar, guardian of responsibility and strength. I invite men to strive to achieve mastery and strength. Bid men to obey and love just leaders. Lead them to prosper in wealth built upon righteousness and honesty.
Toil under the banner of honesty and responsibility. Beware of idleness, irresponsibility, poverty, envy and greed. Do not tarnish gold, silver, copper, zinc or bronze but keep them free of rust.”
Next Amesha Spenta of Esfand spoke:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of humility and love. Bid men hold one another dear and replace pride and self—centeredness with hope and generosity. Look kindly upon needy relatives and help them attain their desires. Strive to build schools, sanatoriums and other charitable homes. Toil to be as fertile as the earth. Uproot the dwelling places of savage beasts and reptiles and be wary of bloodshed, filth and of the deceased!
Remove excrements to a place where no running streams flow and away from the place of harvest. Fertilize the earth and turn to its cultivation for it shall bear you forth much happiness and benefit.”
Then came the turn of the Amesha Spenta of Khordat to speak:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of Khordat—guardian of fertility and of cultivation. Tell men to keep their bodies clean and their hearts joyful for purity of body brings purity of soul. Beware of ingratitude and sorrow. Look at the world with kindness and accept the justice of Ahura Mazda with gladsome heart. Strive to cultivate the land and to rejoice. Keep the limpid waters clean and do not pollute them with excrements. Wash neither vestments nor bodies in running streams but lead them to the cultivation of arid land. Men must learn that their strength comes from water for water resuscitates and revives the living. Eat of that which is unpolluted for the polluted can bring you plagues.”
The last Amesha Spenta to speak was the Amesha Spenta of Ameredad:
“I am the Amesha Spenta of Ameredad—guardian of health and of long life. Men must strive to keep their bodies in good health and strong.
Beware of chicanery!
Keep your homes and your vestments clean. Dry the stagnating waters and in their stead cultivate the land. Do not cut off the growing sapling; do not pick the unripe fruit!
Heal the needy and give to the poor in charity that they too may be cured. Men must learn that that which grows brings peace to them and to all creatures. All men must wear the kusti and they must hold dear the four jewels of water, fire, air and earth for it is these jewels which keep all beings healthy. All men must spread the world of this creed of benevolence, invite others to herald this religion and to keep men free of all manners of deception.”
As Zarathustra continued his journey in the kingdom of Light he forthwith felt the temperate breeze of the valley stroke his face. He heard the harbinger of aurora resound the break of morn in rapturous minstrelsy and from the distance rang the chime of the cow bells as the first rays of light pierced the heart of the night. Thus, Zarathustra knew that he had never left the shelter of his haunt and he knew too that the realm of the Amesha Spentas was that which lay about him and excited his thoughts. The leader had found His kingdom in the wild flowers which dressed the valleys, in the interlocking poplars which lined the streams and ponds, and in the various fruit trees which adorned the hem of the mountains as their undulating limbs bowed to the whimpering zephyrs. In the distance the toiling oxen cultivated the land and sparrows burst into song as they lighted upon the foliage of the diversities of life and he recalled the events of the previous night. At once his soul was flooded with a need for change as his mind was illuminated by light. He gently lifted his quill and wrote down all he had seen and heard.
A sea change had taken place within his mind, his heart and his soul:
O Mazda Ahura
At that moment did I verily know Thee when Vohuman
came unto me and cried:
“Whom art Thou and from whom cometh thee?
Which path wilt thou take to answer all thy endless
Probing of life and of thyself?
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 7)
I first did reply unto him: “T’is I Zarathustra. I shall strive to fight the Evil One. I shall be the impregnable fortress of the true!”
O Mazda,
Guide me to remain Thy ever adoring disciple that I might
find strength in Thee!
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 8)
O Mazda Ahura,
At that moment did I truly know thee
When Vohuman came unto me and cried:
“Whom dost thou adore?”
I did retort:
“I adore the illuminated Mazda!
For I shall strive to relentlessly uphold the truth.”
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 9)
O Mazda,
At that hour did I know Thee
When Vohuman came unto me
For then did I know how difficult it is to spread Thy word
amongst men.
Yet I shall strive to do Thy will.
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 11)
Then did you address me in word unheard before.
I turn to truth that I might be granted wisdom!
I shall strive to keep Sraosha forever singing within my
breast!
In His light I know both the wicked and the virtuous shall
be rewarded.
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 12)
O Mazda
At that hour did I truly know Thee when Vohuman came
unto me.
I said unto him that to achieve my destiny I need long
life—a life which only You can give. A life which in only
possible in Thy kingdom.
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 13)
O Mazda Ahura,
At that hour did I truly know Thee when I did Thee behold
in my primal hours of life.
Thou hast allowed rewards and retribution for words
and deeds.
Evil for the evildoer and goodness for the benevolent!
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 5)
O Mazda,
At that hour did I truly know Thy strength when I realized
That Thou didst grant us our desire in Thy strength.
I knew that Thou didst meet the wicked and the good with
punishments and retributions.
Thou doth warm all hearts with Thy light which stems from
Truth.
Grant us the power of good thinking!
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 4)
O Mazda Ahura,
At that hour did I truly know Thee when Vohuman came
unto me to guide me.
It showed me the best manner of divine growth in tranquil
thoughts.
For a leader must never consider the happiness of the
wicked for they endlessly wage war on the good.
(Gathas, chapter 43, verse 15)
Then shall I sing in eternal laudation of truth.
Through blessed thoughts,
Through Thy love,
Through Thy will,
I shall guide men.
O Mazda Ahura,
How I long to behold Thee and to speak with Thee!
(Gathas, chapter 33, verse 6)
Then
Shall I hold to Thy greatest hymns to aid me in fulfilling my
aim to attain Thy kingdom of blessed thoughts.
For I shall attain the kingdom of Mazda Ahura through
righteousness and truth.
(Gathas, chapter 33, verse 5)
O Mazda Ahura,
Enlighten me that I might choose that creed which is the
Finest truth and divine speculation that I might know its
joyous reward!
O that I might know that which will and will not be!
(Gathas, chapter 31, verse 5)
O Mazda Ahura!
O truth!
Love Thy adorer who sings Thy thought inspiring hymns!
Turn to him!
Guide and succor him!
That he might come to guide men to the light!
(Gathas, chapter 50, verse 5)
Now Zarathustra offers his body, soul and the fruit of his thoughts to Mazda!
He dedicates his deeds, his words, his enlightened heart
and his divine powers to the goal of Truth!
(Gathas, chapter 33, verse 14)
Zarathustra left the domain of the Amesha Spentas with a keener wisdom and a more radiant heart for he now carried a new sentiment in his bosom. He had to rise to spread the pure word of the king of Light among men. This word was the profundity of divine thought, Mazda Ahura’s teachings and the instructions of the holy Amesha Spentas. He was to show men the way of the truth, the path of wisdom and the manner of contemplation. The wicked were to be destroyed that Zarathustra’s mighty arm could support the people. The time had come for Zarathustra to descend from his haunt, return to men and to hear their dirge of pain and anguish. He saw the new path which had opened before him—he was bent and ready to step out into the radiance of truth.