“What distinguishes us”

I have seen Ervad Kersi Kapadia’s letter "What distinguishes us” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, January 21, 2008) and would like to respond. Regarding my comment: "To me the entire write-up and the hypothesis (in D. Wadia’s and Mehlli Bhagalia’s letters) seem to have been originated by the priest class to commercially exploit the laity and have control over them. This is not unique to us; perhaps in all religions this is prevalent,” I do not see how I have insulted our athornans and similar persons in other communities. All that I have been trying to say is that Asho Zarathushtra has proclaimed "an enlightened way of life” through the religion as one understands from his Gathas.

Most of our priests, with a few exceptions, are propagating "blind faith,” which was exactly what Zarathushtra was fighting against. How can one explain someone’s health improving by our priests praying Tandorosti for that person? If health can be improved by a priest chanting something (in a language of which he does not understand a word) we may have to close down all nursing homes and hospitals!

To quote from Dastur Maneckji Dhalla’s Autobiography (Foreword, page xiii): "After the Prophets depart, their disciples turn everyone into the blind followers of the faith. Religiosity replaces religion… socioreligious customs take the place of pure ethical and devotional faith and turn it into tradition-ridden religion as a result of which men quibble and quarrel constantly.”

Practicing tarikats, mantras and kriyas is following "religiosity,” and not "religion.”

Kapadia also refutes my understanding of Vohu manah. I would like to mention that there is no standard translation of the Gathas. Different translators (or shall we say interpreters?) of the Gathas have different views on some aspects. Vohu manah has been interpreted as "love” by Dr Irach Tarapore­walla. Some of us believe that Vohu manah means a logical mind, a rational mind. Many of the stanzas in the Gathas start with: "Listen with your Best Mind;” "Pray for the bounteous Words of Reason;” "Think over what I say giving supremacy to Reason;” "Choose what ye will….”

The "righteous” part of thinking, as claimed by Kapadia, is already covered under Asha and is therefore not intended to be duplicated in Vohu manah. To me, Vohu manah certainly means intelligence or common sense as a divine gift given by the Almighty to all of us, though some of us, followers of blind faith, do not want to use it.

Kapadia suggests that I should read the book Lost Atlantis and Aryan Civilisation. I may read the book once he certifies its authenticity. In my opinion most such books are what may be described as "conjectural history” not based on facts, since hardly any hard core fact is available concerning those ancient days. I also suspect What a Parsee Should Know by Ervad Jal Rustamji Vimadalal is perhaps preaching "religiosity” instead of "religion” and in that case I wish to be excused from reading it.

I do not agree with Kapadia that "Zoroastrianism is a complete spiritual system comprising tarikats, mantras and kriyas for furthering our evolution and progress in the spiritual world.” Nowhere in his 238 stanzas of the Gathas has Zarathushtra given the slightest hint of this. Is it not rather strange that if Zarathushtra believed in these or suggested following them, he should be totally silent about it?

Does Kapadia believe that a person who has religiously followed good thoughts, good words and good deeds in life but not followed any of the tarikats, mantras and kriyas will not progress in the spiritual world? Conversely, does he believe that a person who has practiced bad thoughts, bad words and bad deeds but has scrupulously practiced tarikats, mantras and kriyas will progress in the spiritual world?

I look forward to his honest answer.

KERSEE KABRAJI

Poona