MAZDAISM.

I.

PRAYER FOR GRACE.

With venerating (desire) for this (gift) of gracious help, O Mazda, and stretching forth my hands (to Thee) I pray for the first (blessing) of (Thy) bountiful Spirit; (that is, I beseech of Thee that my) actions (toward) all (may be performed) in (the Divine) Righteousness; and with this I implore from Thee the understanding of Thy Benevolent Mind, in order that I may propitiate the Soul of the Kine (our herds and flocks, which cry so bitterly to Thee).

And therefore, O Great Creator, the Living Lord! (inspired) by Thy Benevolent mind, I approach You, (and beseech of Thee) to grant me (as a bountiful gift) for both the worlds, the corporeal and (for that) of mind, those attainments which are to be derived from the (Divine) Righteousness, and by means of which (that personified Righteousness within us) may introduce those who are its recipients into beatitude and glory!

O (thou Divine) Righteousness, and thou Benevolent Mind (of Deity)! I will worship you, and Ahura Mazda the first, for all of whom the Pious ready mind (within us) is causing the imperishable Kingdom to advance. (And while I thus utter my supplications to You), come Ye to my calls to help!

(Yea, I will approach You with my supplications, I) who am delivering up (my) mind and soul to that (heavenly) Mount (whither all the redeemed at last must pass), knowing (full well) the holy characteristics and rewards of the (ceremonial and moral) actions (prescribed) by Ahura Mazda. (And) so long as I am able and may have the power, so long will I teach (Your people concerning these holy deeds to be done by them with faith toward God, and) in the desire (for the coming) of the (Divine) Righteousness (within their souls).

And, thou Righteousness! when shall I see thee, knowing the

Good mind (of God), and (above all the personified) Obedience (of our lives which constitutes) the way to the most beneficent Ahura Mazda (asking this, I thus beseech thee, for) with this holy word of supplication we must hold off with tongue the flesh-devouring fiend, (the very sign and power of all spiritual foulness)!

And do Thou, O Lord, the Great Creator! come to me with Thy Good mind; and do Thou, who bestowest gifts through Thy Rightcousness, bestow alike long-lasting life on us. And (that this life may be spent aright, do) Thou by means of Thy lofty words (bestow) the needed) powerful spiritual help upon Zarathustra and upon us, whereby we may overcome the torments of the tormentor.

(And) do thou, O (Divine) Righteousness, bestow (upon me) that sacred blessing which is constituted by the attainments of the Good Mind (within my soul); and do thou also, O Piety! grant unto Vistâspa and to me our wish; (Yea) may'st Thou grant (us), O Mazda, ruler as Thou art! that grace) whereby we may hear (with understanding) Thy benignant words.

That best (of gifts therefore) do I beseech (of Thee), O Thou best of beings) Ahura! who art one in will with (Thy Divine) Righteousness within us, likewise), the best (of spirits), desiring it (as I now do for the (heroic) man Frashaostra, and for me, upon whom also may st Thou bestow it (not for time alone), but for all the ages of Thy Good mind (that reign of Thy Benevolence which shall be to as as Heaven)!

And impressed and moved) by these gifts of strengthening grace which thou may'st give in answer to these prayers may we never anger You, O Ahura Mazda! (nor Thy) Righteousness (within us), not yet Thy Kindly mind (toward us), since we have most earnestly made effort (helping to advance Your cause) in the (chanted) offering of Your praisers, for most easy to be invoked (are Ye). (Yours are verly both) the desire for (spiritual) blessings (for us), and the (Divine) Possession (of their power).

And therefore do Thou, O Lord, the Great Creator! fill up and satisfy (my) desire with these attainments (of the grace) of Thy Good Mird, which Thou dost know to be derived from Righteousness, (and) which (are verily) sublime, for I have known Thine instructions to he never void of their effect (in the struggles) for our (daily) food, and therefore worthy objects of desire.

Yea, I approach Thee with my prayers, I) who by these (great gifts of grace) will protect (Thy) Divine Righteousness, and (Thy) Good mind (within us) for ever. And do Thou therefore, O Ahura Mazda' teach me from Thyself, yea, from Thine own mouth of

spirit, that I may declare it forth to (these Thy waiting people) by what (powers and according to what laws) the primeval world arose !

II.

THE DOCTRINE OF DUALISM.

And now I will proclaim, O ye who are drawing near and seeking to be taught! those animadversions which appertain to Him who knows (all things) whatsoever; the praises which are for Ahura, and the sacrifices (which spring) from the Good Mind, and likewise the benignant meditations inspired by Righteousness. And I pray that propitious results may be seen in the lights.

Hear ye then with your ears; see ye the bright flames with the (eyes of the) Better Mind. It is for a decision as to religions, man and man, each individually for himself. Before the great effort of the cause, awake ye (all) to our teaching!

Thus are the primeval spirits who as a pair (combining their opposite strivings), and (yet each) independent in his action, have been famed (of old). (They are) a better thing, they two, and a worse, as to thought, as to word, and as to deed. And between these two let the wisely acting choose aright. (Choose ye) not (as) the evil-doers!

(Yea) when the two spirits came together at the first to make life, and life's absence, and to determine how the world at the last shall be (ordered); for the wicked (Hell) the worst life, for the holy (Heaven) the Best Mental State.

(Then when they had finished each his part in the deeds of creation, they chose distinctly each his separate realm.) He who was the evil of them both (chose the evil), thereby working the worst of possible results, but the more bounteous spirit chose the (Divine) Righteousness; (yea, He so chose) who clothes upon Himself the firm stones of heaven (as His robe). And He chose likewise them who content Ahura with actions, which (are performed) really in accordance with the faith.

And between these two spirits the Demon-gods (and they who give them worship) can make no righteous choice, since we have beguiled them. As they were questioning and debating in their council the (personified) Worst Mind approached them that he might be chosen. (They made their fatal decision). And thereupon they rushed together unto the Demon of Fury, that they might pollute the lives of mortals.

Upon this Aramaiti (the personified Piety of the saints) approached, and with her came the Sovereign Power, the Good Mind, and the Righteous Order. And (to the spiritual creations of good and of evil Åramaiti gave a body, she the abiding and ever strenuous. And for these Thy (people) so let (that body) be (at the last), O Mazda! as it was when Thou camest first with creations!

And (when the great struggle shall have been fought out which began when the Devas first seized the Demon of Wrath as their ally, and when the (just) vengeance shall have come upon these wretches, then O Mazda! the Kingdom shall have been gained for Thee by (Thy) Good Mind (within Thy folk). For to those, O living Lord! does (that Good Mind), utter his command, who will deliver the Demon of the Lie into the two hands of the Righteous Order as a captive to a destroyer).

And may we be such as those who bring on this great renovation, and make this world progressive, (till its perfection shall have been reached). (As) the Ahuras of Mazda (even) may we be; (yea, like Thyself), in helpful readiness to meet (Thy people), presenting benefits) in union with the Righteous Order. For there will our thoughts be (tending) where true wisdom shall abide in her home. And when perfection shall have been attained) then shall the Now of destruction fall upon the Demon of Falsehood, (and her adherents shall perish with her), but swiftest in the happy abode of the Good Mind and of Ahura the righteous saints shall gather, they who proceed in their walk (on earth) in good repute (and honour). Wherefore, O ye men! ye are learning (thus) these religious itations which Ahura gave in (our) happiness and (our) sorrow. And ye are also learning) what is the long wounding for the ked, and the blessings which are in store for the righteous. And when there (shall have begun their course), salvation shall be your portion)!

III.

EULOGY OF PRAYER.

1. Zarathustra asked Ahura Mazda: "O Ahura Mazda, most benificent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One!

"What is the only word in which is contained the glorification of all good things, of all the things that are the offspring of the good principle?"

2. Ahura Mazda answered: "It is the praise of Holiness, O Spitama Zarathustra!

3. "He who recites the praise of Holiness, in the fulness of faith

and with a devoted heart, praises me, Ahura Mazda; he praises the waters, he praises the earth, he praises the cattle, he praises the plants, he praises all good things made by Mazda, all the things that are the offspring of the good principle.

4. "For the reciting of that word of truth, O Zarathustra! the pronouncing of that formula, the Aluma Vairya, increases strength and victory in one's soul and piety.

5. "For that only recital of the praise of Holiness is worth a hundred Khshnaothras of the beings of Holiness, when delivered while going to sleep, a thousand when delivered after eating, ten thousand when delivered during cohabitation, or any number when delivered in departing this life."

6. "What is the one recital of the praise of Holiness that is worth ten others in greatness, goodness, and fairness?"

7. Ahura Mazda answered: "It is that one, O holy Zarathustra that a man delivers when eating the gifts of Haurvatât and Ameretât, at the same time professing good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and rejecting evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds."

8. "What is the one recital of the praise of Holiness that is worth a hundred others in greatness, goodness, and fairness?,"

9. Ahura Mazda answered: "It is that one, O holy Zarathustra! that a man delivers while drinking of the Haoma strained for the sacrifice, at the same time professing good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and rejecting evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds."

II.

10. "What is the one recital of the praise of Holiness that is worth a thousand others in greatness, goodness and fairness?" Ahura Mazda answered: "It is that one, O holy Zarathustra! that a man delivers when starting up from his bed or going to sleep again, at the same time professing good thoughts, good words and good deeds, and rejecting evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds."

12. "What is the one recital of the praise of Holiness that is worth ten thousand others in greatness, goodness and fairness?" 13. Ahura Mazda answered: "It is that one, O holy Zarathustra ! that a man delivers when waking up and rising from sleep, at the same time professing good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and rejecting evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds."

14. "What is the one recital of the praise of Holiness that is worth this Karshvare of ours, Hoaniratha, with its cattle and its chariots, without its men, in greatness, goodness, and fairness?"