“The nightmare and…”

Ervad Kersi Kapadia mentions in his letter ("The nightmare and…” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, July 21, 2010): "The soul may take this as experience in this incarnation. There are many incarnations to follow…” Yet Khojeste Mistree in his book Zoroastrianism — An Ethnic Perspective, pages 52-54, speaks extensively of reincarnation as a Zoroastrian heresy. He even goes as far as to quote J. E. Sanjana: "A little thought should show that faith in this dogma (reincarnation) is so incompatible with the letter and spirit of traditional Zoroastrianism, that it can be said without any exaggeration and with the most perfect justice, that a man who believes in reincarnation is no true Zoroastrian...”

I do not accept the suggestion that Kapadia is not a true Zoroastrian; he simply exercises his freedom to choose his creed and what he considers is good as declared by Zarathushtra: "Listen with your ears to the best things. Reflect with a clear mind — man by man for himself — upon the two choices of decision… and choose good…” or as per another translation "Let each person choose his creed, with that freedom of choice which each must have at great events (Yasna 30).”

I also do not accept that a child can be born impure (as suggested by Kapadia) for purity is in the mind, not in the body. Nor do I see anything good about discriminating between a man’s right to choose his children’s religion while a woman is denied the same.

JEHANGIR SAROSH

London

jehangirsarosh@btconnect.com

This is in response to Ervad Kersi Kapadia’s letter ("The nightmare and…” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, July 21, 2010). I wish to compliment Parsiana for publishing Kapadia’s letter. It will keep Kerfegar Antia and his tribe satisfied.

Kapadia calls children of interfaith married couples aradhiyu (half-caste). He also claims that a mixed breed cannot become a pure Mazdayasni Zarathushti and if the booniyad, the tokham and the aulaad is contaminated, the offspring are half-caste (aradhiyu).

Doesn’t Kapadia realize that if the so-called enlightened priests have been merrily performing navjotes of the children of Parsi fathers and non-Parsi (often dubri) mothers for nearly 1,000 years, a large number of Parsis will fall in the category of aradhiyas (half-castes)? By closing his eyes to such navjotes, performed over centuries, whom is he trying to fool apart from himself?

I am not debating on who is a renegade priest and who is not, since I really do not know the constitution of their tolas, their office-bearers, their authority and their responsibility as well as how they can really implement their decision on any member not following their diktat.

Kapadia also states, "The high priests, on the basis of their deep study of our pristine Mazdayasni Zarathushti religion and after giving the issue considered and mature thought have categorically stated: ‘The children of a Parsi mother married to a non-Parsi cease to be a Parsi and therefore cannot be initiated into the Zoroastrian faith.’”

What "deep study” is Kapadia talking about? Some of us have been crying hoarse for last few years, "Please show us the scriptures which supports your stand. Please tell us why any human being voluntarily wanting to follow the religion of Asho Zarathushtra cannot be initiated into Zoroastrianism” and in reply we have only received a stony silence! Will Kapadia use his personal influence on the so-called high priests to break their silence and come out with their response, if any?

Perhaps Kapadia needs to study the science of biogenetics and blood chemistry before he can discuss "spiritual genes” (whatever that is supposed to mean) booniyad, tokham and aulaad!

One question that comes to my mind is: Whatever Kapadia has written, is it based on the training and education imparted in our madressas where young ervads are groomed? I earnestly request those in charge of running the madressas to explain. Because, if it is so, no one, not even Ahura Mazda can help this small community called Parsis.

KERSEE KABRAJI

Poona

kerseekabraji@gmail.com