5 Spiritual Truths

5 Spiritual Truths Er. Dr. Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia (Came in Jame as Spiritual secrets for success on 2nd jan 2011.)

The word spirituality is a subjective term, and hence may have different connotations for different people. Spirituality from a Zoroastrian viewpoint is the understanding and acceptance that we are essentially spirits /souls (Av. urvan), that we have come from the spiritual world and have to return to the spiritual world, and that while living in this world we should always maintain contact with the divine spiritual world in its different manifestations, in the manner specified by the religion.

The Zoroastrian religion tells us the above concept in four words in our beautiful Nirang- e-Kasti Bastan prayer, where it asks us to pay attention to our actions pertaining to tani ravaani, geti minoaani “body and soul, material and spiritual worlds.”

Spirituality makes religion more meaningful. Our religion considers almost every aspect of life as spiritual, but one has to make an effort to view the same from a spiritual viewpoint. Given below are five spiritual truths, gleaned from our religion, which can help us lead a higher, purposeful, meaningful and fulfilled life.

1. Awareness: To be aware of the immortal (Av. amereta) aspects of life – the soul within and the divine beings and energies outside. This has to be done through the colossal powers of the mind and its allies, which has the power and potentiality to lead us to the spiritual aspects within, as well as without.

2. Divine Purpose of the Universe: Ahura Mazda created the Universe with a Divine Purpose (one of the understandings of Av. asha vahishta) and us humans with a definite plan and purpose. We need to have unflinching faith in the wisdom of God. After all our efforts, if we are not able to achieve what we want, our faith should lead us to believe that this is not within the Divine Plan. Whatever comes to us after our efforts should be accepted with utmost cheerfulness and gratitude, which two are definite proofs of our faith in Ahura Mazda

3. Ethics: Ethics are imposed and obligatory during childhood, but then they become a part of our moral fabric and belief system. They are unavoidable for living a spiritual life. They help us to be sincere and true to ourselves, and keep our mind peaceful and relaxed. To love (Av. Armaiti) and to serve (Av. Khshathra) are two basic principles which come out of an ethical approach to life. They lead us to the mindset of not hurting or harming fellow creations and creatures. Having an ethical life also allows us to be focused in the present moment, without guilt or remorse for the past or undue worries about the future. 4. Health: A healthy mind can function only in a healthy and radiant body (Av. khathravitish tanvo). A healthy body is the greatest ally of man on spiritual path, as it helps one augment goodness and keep away evil. In fact, for a person on spiritual path in the initial stages, the body’s contribution to spirituality is much more than that of the mind and the soul. That is why, maintaining health through proper exercises and diet and lifestyle forms an important aspect of spirituality.

5. Practices: For spirituality, the disciplining of the body and the mind is very necessary. This is mostly achieved through practices like prayers, tarikats (daily religious practices) and rituals. It needs to be noted that these practices, though very essential, are means to a spiritual life and not spirituality itself. There are several other adjuncts and supplements to these practices, like knowledge, ethics, love, service and goodness.

Real spirituality is said to have dawned when divinity is experienced in each every atom of the good creations. For a Zoroastrian this may not be difficult, since an Ameshaspand presides over, and hence, by default, is connected to each and every good creation.