Chapter 9
The Glad Tidings of the Harbinger
“What news do you bring us? We have been waiting a long time for your return.”
“Where did you go?”
“Whom did you see?”
“Whom did you speak to?”
“What did you learn of the spread of our benevolent creed among men?”
“I bear good tidings. I travelled far and wide and I saw numerous people and various lands—I met with the most curious things the world has to boast.
In many places did I witness the same form of cruelty and injustice as we have here. I encountered misery, greed and wretchedness. Men are ignorant and many are there who use this ignorance to their own advantage. I beheld those who are harnessed and chained down by their own shallowness. They are as the oil presser’s mules—bound to blindly circle the rod they have been chained to without a single aim in life but that which their master has trained them for, namely the pressing of oil. The master oil makers blindfold their mules in order to extricate from them the utmost obedience. Without the use of its eyes the mule will neither see nor comprehend aught but the pull of the chain about its neck and thus is it robbed of any form of visual and mental temptation.
The oil-pressers of society use conjuration and fear to blind their flock with terror, hope and the flight of fancy. Thus, do they harness men to the poles of their own profiteering. Hence, men are eternally bound to these fraudulent masters of deception and they are stripped of the ability to set a step outside of the ring which has been predetermined for them. Many were there who lived in this manner, but fortunately I did meet men a people who did live differently. They inhabited the orient and lived close to the Hilman River in the city of Bactria. I met Vishtaspa and his two wise ministers: the wise Djamaspa and Frashushtra.”
“Who are Vishtaspa, Djamaspa and Frashushtra, and what are their beliefs?”
“Vishtaspa, son of Lohraspa, is the ruler of the orient. Though he is by nature quick to anger he is a lover of knowledge. At his court the wise, the learned, the philosophers and the artists have gathered from all corners of the earth. Vishtaspa is the champion of the true for he is acute, thoughtful and eager to accept new ideas, beliefs and knowledge. That which is of greater interest at his court is the presence of the two wise men—the learned Djamaspa and Frashushtra. Of particular interest is Djamaspa, the minister without whose advice and consultation, Vishtaspa never undertakes any task. Djamaspa is a wise sage who knows the unknown and he is able to foretell the future. Frashushtra too is very keen minded, thoughtful and knowledgeable.”
“What wonders did you see at Vishtaspa’s court?”
“There were many wonders but that which I found most particular was his dream. People said that Vishtaspa had seen the strangest of dreams. He had dreamt that he would embrace a new religion and that he would thus attain salvation. In his dream the Amesha Spentas and Ahura Mazda were revealed unto him. They led him to embrace the benevolent creed. Another time he dreamt that a righteous one had come to him from the heart of Garvosman . He came in a magnificent chariot from the heavens to bid him reject the wicked creed and to turn instead to accept the benevolent religion and to strive to spread this belief among men.”
Zarathustra and his disciples heard the news of the messenger with gladsome hearts. The Leader thought hard and announced:
“Friends, it is time for us to begin our migration. We must leave this place in which our enemies can so easily attack us at their convenience. We must turn to the orient, to Bactria and to Vishtaspa. It appears that he and his two wise ministers are prepared to accept our creed. Let us rise and prepare to leave for the time has come to spread the message of this divine creed. In order to achieve this aim I must first convert Vishtaspa, Djamaspa, Frashushtra and their other followers.”
He whose aid pleases the holy Zarathustra upholds goodness.Mazda Ahura will endow him the radiance of divine thoughts.
Men will know him as the benign friend of truth.
(Gathas, chapter 46, verse 13)
Zarathustra told his followers and friends that the greatest achievement of man is to set out upon the path of knowledge that he might distinguish between the wise and the ignorant for the fount of knowledge is truth.
Thus said he:
O ye children of the blessed Hayechatasp .
I say unto you:
Hearken that which is best for you!
That you might recognize the wise and the ignorant through it.
Turn unto good deeds and you will embrace truth
which is the essence of Ahura’s creed.
(Gathas, chapter 46, verse 5)
Zarathustra recalled the evil of the kavis, the karapans and of his other enemies and said:
“I am not one to suffer vice nor will I make peace with the wicked.No, never!
I am the friend of the good and a bitter enemy of the wicked. I shall befriend he who walks in the light of truth and blessed thought but I will wage an uncompromising war against he who opposes me. I will never forsake truth, which is the way of Mazda and the root of the benevolent creed; regardless of what harm may come to me I will continue in its radiance.”
I am the best for he who joins me.
I shall bear him the finest tidings in the light of best thoughts.
But he who fights me I shall undo.
O Mazda,
I shall fulfill Thy wishes through truth!
For it is the way of mine wisdom and thoughts!”
(Gathas, chapter 46, verse 18)
Zarathustra that most brilliant of all wisdoms, saw human life rooted in sagacity and he saw knowledge as the only true guide of man. This noble leader sought to comfort his followers for he knew how difficult was the trial which rose to confront them. He said:
The wise say:
Do that which divine thoughts dictate!
Uphold righteousness for it is the essence of truth!
All these will reappear in Mazda Ahura’s kingdom.
(Gathas, chapter 34, verse 1)