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Short write-up on Ard-e-behest - month of Ard-e-behest by the Shenshahi calendar
| September 18, 2008 marks the begining of the month of Ard-e-behest by the Shenshahi calendar. Here is a short write-up on Ard-e-behest, Asha to help us understand the concept of Ard-e-behest, Asha, so that, we can put it into practice in our daily life. With best wishes for an illumined community, Kayomarsh P. Mehta Zarathushti Learning Center of North America Burr Ridge, Illinois Ard-e-behest, asha BY Kayomarsh P. Mehta Ard-e-behest is an Amesha Spenta, the supreme quality of Ahura Mazda. The second month and the third day of the calendar are named after this important concept. Ard-e-behest means Truth-which is - the best. It is the same as Asha Vahishtaa. Asha is an Avestan word. It cannot be translated into a single English word. The word Asha is derived from Areta in Avesta, Rit in Sanskrit. Asha means: 1. Absolute Righteousness 2. Truth 3. Divine Order in the Universe Righteousness means several different things. Following are its dictionary meanings: 1. Doing that which is right 2. Acting rightly or justly 3. Conforming to the Divine or the moral law& nbsp; 4. Free from wrong, guilt or sin 5. A right relationship to God 6. Morally Right, Virtuous Righteousness is man’s best acquisition. In my Sudreh, I have the pocket of good deeds. One by one, I have to deposit my good deeds in it. Righteousness is the best possession that I can have. It is superior to any other form of wealth. It is superior, because, it is the only foreign exchange that I can take with me to the other world, when I depart from this=2 0world. I must tell the Truth at all times. I must be Honest, Straightforward and Frank. I must speak out and act against wrongdoing, who ever the doer. I must not resort to hypocrisy, duplicity, double dealing, cheating and fraud of any nature or deceit. My word is sacred, not to be broken, however, difficult the circumstances. What I promise, I must do. Asha is order, perfect balance and harmony. But, if there is disorder within me, how can I have order in my behavior? If I really want order in my daily life, I have to systema tically remove the disorder that exists in my mind within me. Then I begin to get the Divine Light, Ushtaa and my soul begins to experience Happiness. So, I need to be alert and aware of those elements that cause the disorder within me. I need to get rid of those elements from my mind, so that I can begin to follow the path of Asha in my daily life. If I do something wrong, I must be sorry for what I have done wrong. I must confess it to my soul and resolve that I never commit the same wrong again. I must do more Good to compensate for the wrong act. 0D I must recite an Ashem Vohoo first thing in the morning, as I am getting out of my bed. At night, before I go to bed, I must recite an Ashem Vohoo. If I recite Ashem Vohoo, each morning and night, with the proper understanding of its meaning, then I will program my mind to follow the path of Asha. I will Be Good and Do Good in my daily life without expecting any reward. I have to Be Good, because it is Good to Be Good. Only those, who are Righteous (Good) without the thought of any reward, receive the Divine Light. As I recite the Ashem Vohoo, I must think of Humata, Hukhta & Huvarashta -- Good Thoughts, Good Words & Good Deeds -- and must renounce Bad Thoughts, Bad Words & Bad Deeds. There are injunctions for reciting an Ashem Vohoo on certain special occasions: * When bad thoughts persist in my mind * When I am about to start an important activity or undertaking * On hearing the sad news of someone’s passing away & nbsp; * In the ear of a person who has passed away When I read the five Gathas, I find that the word Asha is mentioned most frequently out of the six Amesha Spentas (157 times). Thus I realize that Asha is therefore the most important Quality of Ahura Mazda that we must imbibe in ourselves. It is very important that I understand the meaning of Asha - Righteousness, Truth and Order. It is more important that having understood the concept, I follow20the path of Asha in my daily life. Every single thought, word or deed, which I generate, must be in line with the principle of Asha . I must do the right thing, at the right time, in the right place and with the right means to obtain the right result. Asha Vahishta, asha sraeshta, daresama thwa, pairi thwa jamyama, hamem thwua hakhma ! Yasna 60.12 Oh best Righteousness, Oh most splendid Righteousness, May we see you, May we approach you, May we unite with you! The last line of Yasna sums up the teachings of Zarathushtra: Aevo panthao yo ashahe. Vispe anyaeshaam apanthaam. There is but one path, the path of Asha ; All other paths are false paths. This information is from ZoroastrianMainstream Yahoo Group |
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Latest page update: made by kzamembers
, Sep 20 2008, 2:33 PM EDT
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