What pleases God?

Fellow Zoroastrians I ask you:

When a Parsi priest spreads messages of good thoughts, words and deeds without himself practicing them, is he serving God?

When a Parsi mother-in-law visits the fire-temple and prays all day, but later bullies her daughter-in-law instead of helping her with household work, is she pleasing God?

When a Parsi father scolds his daughter for wanting to marry a non-Parsi without explaining why it is wrong to marry outside the community, is he bringing happiness to God?

When a Parsi friend wears a prayer cap all day but proves to be a traitor to those who trust him, is he making God proud?

When I commit sins and later pray all day to wash my sins away, is God going to hear my cry? Perhaps he would, if I only changed the way I prayed! If only I would pray by helping the needy, by planting more trees, by creating a better world for you and for me!

It is not just I, but all of us who need to change the way we pray... We don’t need to pray through words and rituals. If we spread happiness as we walk, we can pray in every step we take!

FARZAN B. MAZDA

Dahanu