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Series:
Gathic Illustration
Theology
Source:
Author:
Bagli, Ervad Dr. Jehan
Subtopics:
Reference:
Related Articles:
Fire
of Aramaiti in Ethical Management
Related Links:
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The eloquent and
enlightening essay ‘Fire
of Aramaiti in Ethical Management’ by
Dr. Abreu brings to light the underlying purpose and practice that Spenta Aramaiti
commands. Amesha Spentas are the flagship of the Zarathushtrian values that
all humans must imbue. Aramaiti among them stands out as the most mysterious
one to interpret.
Dr. Abreu has used
serenity and tranquility as the guideline to explain Aramaiti in his essay,
a discourse that is mainly directed towards ethical management of an
organization. As a corollary, the theme is worthy of broadening to portray,
all humans as the managers, and the world as the organization.
It is an undisputed fact
that tempers, fear, anxiety, pressures from within and without mentioned in
the essay, abounds not only in an organization but also in the material
world at large. These chaotic forces continuously inflict upon Vohu Manah,
-that invaluable Gift of Mazda - to corrupt it. This is more true-to-life
today, then it was some 3700 hundred years ago when Zarathushtra, in his
innate wisdom, recognized it. It is prudent to acknowledge, that the great
Manthran, incorporated Spenta Aramaiti in the pantheon of these precious
attributes, as a sanctuary to turn to, in order to refresh and renovate -Ferashem
Kerenaun- the Mind, free it from the vices and degeneracy that surrounds it.
It is only through constant renewal from within, that humans can maintain
the mind, Good -- Vohu -- and be “among those who shall heal and refresh
Life in this world” (Ys 30.9, song 3.9).
Some in the scholastic
community has consistently referred to Aramiati as ‘Right-mindedness’ (Humbach/Ichaporia,
The Heritage of Zarathushtra, e.g. pg 23, 31, 36, 47, 49). Even the later
Zrathushtrian text of Dinkert (Dinkert, Bk.IX, Ch 12.25, 31.17, 43.2, 60.4)
interprets Aramaiti as “Complete Mindfulness” or “the Will”. As Dr. Abreu
has elaborated Holy or progressive Aramaiti is “a state of Mind that comes
from within”. It is through inner peace and tranquility, through communion
with the Divine, that one seeks for Right-mindedness. This frequent renewal
of Vohu Manah can come through meditation, be it silent or in the form of
invocation of Holy Mantra. It is through Aramaiti that we attain,
compassionate thinking, words and actions.
This is the state of
Mind that harmonizes:
The Human mentality with the Spenta Mainyu, the Holy Mentality,
The Human Will with the will of God.
Asho Zarathusht in his quest for piety proclaims:
Ys. 32.2 (song 5.2)…" We have chosen your Spenta Aramaiti, May it be ours"
Ys. 34.11 (song 7.11)…"The Holy Aramaiti promotes the Good Mind and Asha
that results in Wholeness and Immortality that serves the Wise Lord"
Early traditions have
recognized the importance of a clear and peaceful Mind that Asho Zarathusht
typifies as Vohu Manah. For example Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture of a
timeline in the vicinity of the era of Zarathushtra, tells us:
“Little by little
through practice, he should gain tranquility by means of purified reason,
and fixing his mind on the Self thinking of nothing else at all”
Bhagavad Gita (6,25)
“The unwavering firmness
by which through yoga one controls the functions
of Mind, life breath, senses, that firmness…is Saattivic.
Bhagava Gita
(18.33)
Over a millennium after
Zarathushtra, Buddhism declared the assertiveness of the importance of peace
and tranquility of Mind and its attainment through Transcendental
Meditation. We are at the point in time, where researchers in medical
profession are beginning to recognizes the importance of the Rightmindedness,
serenity, piety that Zarathushtrian theology recognize as Spenta Aramaiti.
Herbert Benson, a
researcher at Harvard medical School, and founder of Mind/body Medical
Institute at Boston’s Deaconess Hospital in his recent book, “Timeless
Healing” speaks of Relaxation Response. This response, he defines as the
opposite of the well known fight-or-flight response. In a two step process
for eliciting the Relaxation Response he says, “you need to repeat a word,
sound, prayer, phrase, or muscular activity. And when common everyday
thoughts intrude on your focus, passively disregard them and return to your
repetition” (H.Benson, Timeless Healing, pg 133-134). In describing the
results of the relaxation response Dr. Benson tells us, “people emerge from
mental focusing with clearer Mind and sharper thoughts”. He has obtained
some remarkable healing effects through this response, however that is
beyond the scope of this discussion and is a subject of a separate paper.
From the ventage point
of Zarathushtrian theology Dr. Benson’s ‘Relaxation Response’ is just
another way of refreshing, and renovating Vohu Manah through the practice of
Spenta Aramaiti. Dr. Benson says, “ Our bodies are engaged in a kind of
tug-of-war, stress on one end of the rope and relaxation at the other”. The
word ‘body’ in the above statement can be conveniently replaced with ‘Mind’
and ‘stress and relaxation’ as epithet for the two fundamental principles to
choose from, propounded by Asho Zarathusht (Ys 30.1,2; song 3.1,2), and it
will reflects the truth of the ethical dualism of the Gathas, to which the
Human Mind is continuously subjected.
Zarathushtrian theology
strictly denies an ascetic life, however a short period spent to attain
Rightmindedness (Spenta Aramaiti) before starting of the worldly chores, can
reap immense returns during the passage of day. It can elevate the Vohu
manah to Vahishta Manangha -Best thinking- which must enlighten the Path to
Asha Vahishta -Best Truth- and lead to the generation of Rule of Wisdom -
Khshthra Vairya. These are the values that in turn can earn the reward of
perfect harmony of the physical (body) and spiritual (mind) to bring forth
the Wholeness, and Completeness of Haurvatat to leave an everlasting legacy
of Ameretat.
Humans in the interest
of unconditional Love and compassion for the rest of the creation, have an
obligation to maintain the precious gift of Vohu Manah, Good and make it the
Best, in the spirit of Benevolence of the Creator. To be in harmony with
ones Self –Divinity- within, is primal, in order to be in concordance with
the creation without. It is up-to entire humanity to fulfill that
commitment, as Dina McIntyre has said, ( D. McIntyre, An Intro. to Gathas of
Zarathushtra No. 4, pg 1,) by “Making it happen”.
With Love and
Enlightenment of Mazda to all. |
