Observations placeholder
Zoroastrian - Means of achieving spiritual experience - 05 Squash the big I am
Identifier
022343
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The need for humility is expressed and encouraged in a number of ways within Zoroastrianism, but one of the ways used to reinforce the puny nature of all mankind was via the sacred texts. The Yasnas did a great job at emphasising just how many Intelligences there are which are greater than man, by ensuring that all them were worshipped and mentioned frequently. Another way was to use the word sacrifice in the text, often.
Sacrifice in mystic thought does have a very specific meaning, but used in the more general way in which it is used in the Yasna, it simply means cultivating the idea that in the scheme of things you are not important, you can be sacrificed for the Great Work. The idea in general terms was reinforced to the general congregation by the literal sacrifice of an animal, which is a most effective way of bringing home to somebody that they are expendable in the general scheme of things.
There is an added rather wonderful little twist in this Yasna too in the line “of the thousand ears, and myriad eyes”, meaning ‘and they know everything that is going on, so don’t think you can get away with being full of yourself one minute and apparently humble the next’.
Immortals = Intelligences
Fire = the Element Fire, which is a ‘son’ of Ahura Mazda only in the sense that the Elements proceeded from the Ultimate Intelligence, just as everything else did.
A description of the experience
Yasna 6.
1. We worship the Creator Ahura Mazda with our sacrifice,
and the Bountiful Immortals who rule aright,
and who dispose of all aright.
2. And we worship the Asnya with our sacrifice,
and Havani, Savanghi and Visya,
the holy lords of the ritual order,
and Mithra of the wide pastures,
of the thousand ears, and myriad eyes,
the Yazad of the spoken name,
and we worship Raman Hvastra.
3. And we worship Rapithwina with our sacrifice,
and Fradat-fshu, and the Zantuma,
and Righteousness the Best,
and the Fire, Ahura Mazda's son,
holy lords of the ritual order.
4. And we worship Uzayeirina,
and Fradat-vira,
and Dahvyuma, the holy lord of the ritual order,
and that kingly Ahura,
the radiant Napat-apam, of the fleet horses,
and the water holy, and Mazda-made.
5. And we worship Aiwisruthrima and Aibigaya in our sacrifice,
the holy lord of the ritual order,
and Fradat-vispam-hujyaiti
and the Zarathushtrotema, the holy lord of the ritual order,
and the good, heroic, bountiful Fravashis of the saints,
and the women who bring forth many sons,
and the Prosperous home-life which endures without reverse throughout the year,
and Force which is well-shaped and stately,
and the Blow which brings the victory, which is Ahura-given,
and the Victorious Ascendency (which it secures).
6. And we worship Ushahina with our sacrifice,
and Berejya, and Nmanya,
and Sraosha (Obedience) the blessed
and the stately who smites with victory, and makes the settlements advance,
and Rashnu, the most just,
and Arshtat who makes the settlements advance and causes them to increase,
the holy lords of the ritual order.
7. And we worship the Mahya in our sacrifice,
the new moon and the waning moon
and the full moon which scatters night,
the holy lord of the ritual order.
8. And we worship the Yearly festivals in our sacrifice,
Maidhya-zaremaya, Maidhyo-shema, Paitishhahya,
and Ayathrima, the furtherer (or breeder), the spender of virile strength,
and Maidhyairya, the holy lord of the ritual order,
and Hamaspathmaedhaya,
and the Seasons (in which they are).
9. And we worship with our sacrifice
all the lords of the ritual order,
who are the thirty and three who approach the nearest around about us at Havani,
who are the lords of Righteousness the Best,
and whose observances were inculcated by Ahura Mazda,
and uttered forth by Zarathushtra.
10. And we worship Ahura and Mithra with our sacrifice,
the lofty, and imperishable, and holy two,
and the stars, moon, and sun, among the plants of the Baresman,
and Mithra, the province-lord of all the provinces,
even Ahura Mazda, the radiant, the glorious,
and the good, valiant, and bountiful Fravashis of the saints.
11. And we worship thee, the Fire,
Ahura Mazda's son,
together with all the fires, and the good waters,
the best and Mazda-made, and holy,
even all the waters which are Mazda-made and holy,
and all the plants which Mazda made.
12. And we worship the Mathra Spenta with our sacrifice,
the glorious and of a truth,
the law revealed against the Daevas,
the Zarathushtrian law,
and we worship with our sacrifice its long descent,
and the good Mazdayasnian Religion.
13. And we worship Mount Ushi-darena,
the Mazda-made, the glorious Yazad, shining with holiness,
and all the mountains that shine with holiness,
with abundant brilliance, Mazda-made,
the holy lords of the ritual order.
And we worship the mighty Kingly glory Mazda-made,
the mighty glory, unconsumed and Mazda-made,
and the good Sanctity, the brilliant, the lofty,
the powerful and the stately, delivering (men) with its inherent power.
Yea, we worship the Glory,
and the Benefit which are Mazda-made.
14. And we worship the pious and good Blessing with our sacrifice,
and the pious man, the saint,
and that Yazad, the mighty Curse of wisdom.
15. And we worship these waters, lands, and plants,
these places, districts, pastures, and abodes with their springs of water,
and we worship this lord of the district with our sacrifice,
who is Ahura Mazda (Himself).
16. And we worship all the greatest lords,
the Day-lords in the day's duration,
and the Day-lords during daylight,
and the Month-lords,
and the Year-lords.
17. And we worship Haurvatat (who guards the water)
and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and the wood),
and Sraosha the blessed and the stately, who smites with the blow of victory,
and makes the settlements advance,
the holy lord of the ritual order.
18. And we worship Haoma with our sacrifice
and the Haoma-juice.
And we worship the sacred Fravashi of Zarathushtra Spitama the saint.
And we worship the wood-billets, and the perfume
and thee, the Fire, Ahura Mazda's son,
the holy lord of the ritual order.
19. And we worship the good, heroic, bountiful Fravashis of the saints.
20. And we worship all the holy Yazads,
and all the lords of the ritual order at the time of Havani,
and Savanghi,
and all the greatest lords at their (proper) time.
21. The Ratu.
As an Ahu (revered and) to be chosen,
the priest speaks forth to me.
The Zaotar.
So let the Ratu from his Righteousness, holy and learned, speak forth!