A Popular Dictionary of Shinto Book

"WHEN Gibbon wrote of the religion of Zoroaster, he apologized lest 'the studied obscurity of a prophet, the figurative style of the East, and the deceitful medium of a French or Latin version, may have betrayed us into error or heresy in this abridgement of Persian theology.' Anyone who tries, no matter in how humble a way, to describe a religion not his own, owes a like apology."

"The writer feels that the Christian heritage through Judaism has been enriched by the Prophet of Iran, who, many centuries before the coming of Jesus Christ, prepared the way by proclaiming One God whose demand is ethical."

"GREAT religions are often the children of great geniuses. Zoroastrianism is no exception."

"Yet the name Zarathushtra, or Zoroaster, may have borne a similar connotation to the modern Parsi term 'Dastur,' which signifies the spiritual overseer of a large community."

"Of the name Zarathushtra itself, etymology can make little, except that the latter half of the word, -ushtra, means 'camel,' whilst zar may mean 'to be old,' or 'to be fierce."

"The Prophet was an historical character, who lived something like a thousand years before the advent of Christ."

"The Pahlavi writings record that a divine light shone round the house at the nativity of Zoroaster, just as the Apocryphal Gospels tell how the cave in which they claim Jesus to have been born was filled with supernatural light."

"The Zartusht Namah further tells of a king, by name Duransuram, who having heard of the wonders and miraculous powers of the child, determined, like Herod, to put to death a possible rival."

"But bitter disappointment marked the early preaching of Zoroaster. Men were indifferent to his message, and it was ten years before he made his first convert, strangely enough one of his own family, Maidyoimaongha his cousin, who has been called 'the St. John of Zoroastrianism.'"

"The favourite horse of the king fell sick. None of the wise men or physicians of the court were able to restore the creature to health, but Zoroaster, released temporarily from his cell, achieved a seeming miracle on the animal, and obtained a high place in the palace."

"The chief foes of Vishtaspa were the Turanians, under a famous leader Arjasp, or in full, Arjat-aspa."

"The Prophet was not, it seems, a man of great learning, but a man of great vision and practical understanding. He related religion to everyday life, and had a message for all."

"The Gathas show the original struggle between the two factions of the ancient Aryan people, the nomads and the would-be settlers. In fact, the whole Avesta is a commentary on a conflict which did not cease for many centuries."

"Zoroaster, unlike many Easterns, felt that the universe must be essentially rational, that the mind of man was capable of comprehending something of the sure purpose, waiting to be revealed to the creation, in the mind of its creator."

"Thus Zoroaster rises to his heights when dealing with such things as social oppression and the abuse of husbandry."

"The art of overcoming evil with good remained unknown to him. He declared on the contrary that he who is good to an evil person becomes evil himself and worthy of punishment' (Ys. XLVI, 6)."

"Although Zoroaster did unique work in linking ethics with religion, he had assumed for the most part the ethics of his time."

"For example, Zoroaster accepted the axiom of the day, that force must be met with force: he did not realize the power of love to cast out wrong."

"The derivation of the term 'Avesta' is uncertain. It is possibly akin to 'Veda,' i.e. Knowledge, 'vista' being the past participle of the Sanskrit root 'vid,' to know."

"The Avestan, in which the majority of the Books is written, is a very rich tongue, making especially effective usage of compound words which add colour and charm to the narrative. It belongs to the Aryan family of languages, and consequently has affinities with Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and Teutonic forms. Of these, it is perhaps closest to Sanskrit, as it is merely a different dialect of the Sanskrit in which the Vedic books are found."

"Haug maintains that the two dialects are as close as, for example, the Ionic and Doric dialects of Greek: 'As the Ionians, Dorians, Aetolians, &c., were different tribes of the Greek nation, whose general name was Hellenes, so the ancient Brahmans and Parsis were two tribes of the nation which is called Aryas both in the Veda and Zend-Avesta; the former may be compared with the Ionians, and the latter with the Dorians . . . There can be no doubt that classical Sanskrit was formed long after the separation of the Iranians from the Hindus.'"

"The Gathas are the most important part of the Yasna. They have been described as 'metrical sermons' and contain most of what is known of the teaching of Zoroaster himself."

"First, however, the name Zoroaster used for God must be considered. Ahura Mazdah, originally two dissociated words, was the name given, and signifies 'the wise lord."

"Inasmuch as the primary test of any religion is in its doctrine of God, Zoroastrianism stands very high. Moulton used to tell his students that Zoroaster taught nothing about God which a Christian would not endorse, though there is much that a Christian should add."

"In a notable account of the warlike Persians of his day, Herodotus remarked, 'They teach the boys, from five years old to twenty, three things only'to ride, to shoot, and to be truthful. . . . Most disgraceful of all is lying accounted."

"Next of the Amesha Spentas is Spenta Aramaiti, 'Holy Harmony' or 'Devotion,' who is called the daughter of Ahura Mazdah. Aramaiti signifies the God-given bond of union between the worshipper and the Deity."

"The name Aramaiti occurs in the Brahmanic Rigveda, meaning 'Earth,' but Aramaiti personified represents a maiden who brings daily offerings to the god Agni. Aramaiti as a term for the Earth is found in the Gathas. The Yasna XXX, 7, says that 'Aramaiti gave continued life to men's bodies, and indestructibility."

"The first man, says the Pahlavi tradition, was born of the sweat of the creator, and was slain by Ahriman. On his death, his seed which had been miraculously preserved produced the first human pair, Mashya and Mashyoi, from whom originated the whole human race."

"For Zoroaster himself, the term Saoshyant included his disciples, who with him were called 'Saoshyanto.' The Prophet thought that through his own work and his followers a new kingdom of righteousness would be brought in, and all evil overcome. But the kingdom did not come: the Parsis therefore taught that three Deliverers would have to come in succession to the Prophet before the consummation could be accomplished. The first of these would be named Ukhshyat-ereta (Increaser of Right); the second, Ukhshyat-nemah (Increaser of Worship), would prepare the way for the third, Astvat-ereta"

"The ordinary priesthood is divided into two classes, Ervads and Mobeds, but priests of the highest grade are known as Dasturs. The chief priest is called Dastur-i-Dasturan."

"We have considered, all too briefly, the great religion of a great people, who in time past offered their rich treasure to the child Jesus."