PAPER 131: Section 5.
Zoroastrianism
P1449:4, 131:5.1 Zoroaster was himself directly in contact with the descendants of the earlier Melchizedek missionaries, and their doctrine of the one God became a central teaching in the religion which he founded in Persia. Aside from Judaism, no religion of that day contained more of these Salem teachings. From the records of this religion Ganid made the following excerpts:
P1450:1, 131:5.2
"All things come from, and belong to, the One God -- all-wise, good, righteous,
holy, resplendent, and glorious. This, our God, is the source of all luminosity.
He is the Creator, the God of all good purposes, and the protector of the
justice of the universe. The wise course in life is to act in consonance with
the spirit of truth. God is
all-seeing, and he beholds both the evil deeds
of the wicked and the good works of the righteous; our God observes all things
with a flashing eye. His touch is the touch of healing. The Lord is an all-powerful
benefactor. God stretches out his beneficent hand to both the righteous and
the wicked. God established the world and ordained the rewards for good and
for evil. The all-wise God has promised immortality to the pious souls who
think purely and act righteously. As you supremely desire, so shall you be.
The light of the sun is as wisdom to those who discern God in the universe.
P1450:2, 131:5.3
"Praise God by seeking the pleasure of the Wise One. Worship the God of light
by joyfully walking in the paths ordained by his revealed religion. There
is but one Supreme God, the Lord of Lights. We worship him who made the waters,
plants, animals, the earth, and the heavens. Our God is Lord, most beneficent.
We worship the most beauteous, the bountiful Immortal, endowed with eternal
light. God is farthest from us and at the same time nearest to us in that
he dwells within our souls. Our God is the divine and
holiest Spirit of Paradise,
and yet he is more friendly to man than the most friendly of all creatures.
God is most helpful to us in this greatest of all businesses, the knowing
of himself. God is our most adorable and righteous friend; he is our wisdom,
life, and vigor of soul and body. Through our good thinking the wise Creator
will enable us to do his will, thereby attaining the realization of all that
is divinely perfect.
P1450:3, 131:5.4
"Lord, teach us how to live this life in the flesh while preparing for the
next life of the spirit. Speak to us, Lord, and we will do your bidding. Teach
us the good paths, and we will go right. Grant us that we may attain union
with you. We know that the religion is right which leads to union with righteousness.
God is our wise nature, best thought, and righteous act. May God grant us
unity with the divine spirit and immortality in himself!
P1450:4, 131:5.5
"This religion of the Wise One
cleanses the believer from every evil thought
and sinful deed. I bow before the God of heaven in repentance if I have offended
in thought, word, or act -- intentionally or unintentionally -- and I offer
prayers for mercy and praise for forgiveness. I know when I make confession,
if I purpose not to do again the evil thing, that sin will be removed from
my soul. I know that forgiveness takes away the bonds of sin. Those who do
evil shall receive punishment, but those who follow truth shall enjoy the
bliss of an eternal salvation. Through grace lay hold upon us and minister
saving power to our souls. We claim mercy because we aspire to attain perfection;
we would be like God."