ZARATHUSTRA’S WORK: The Gathas - Ashem Vohu (Truth, Righteousness, Cosmic Order)

This second introductory installment of the Gathas establishes the main principle of Zarathustra’s teachings.  Ashem Vohu is the central concept representing truth, righteousness, cosmic order, and the right way to live.  

This portion of the Gathas is translated and presented as:

Righteousness is the best good. It is radiant happiness.

Radiant happiness comes to the person to whom

righteousness is for the sake of the best righteousness alone.              

Righteousness is the universal law that stands for order, evolution, progress, and perfection as established by the Creator for creation. One becomes righteous by doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right place, and with the right means to obtain the right result. 

It means precision in every thought, word, and deed as to the perfect, ideal, ordering of things; it means constant improvement and continuous renovation. It brings enlightenment and radiating happiness, a happiness so wonderful that it naturally spreads to others. This is righteousness for the sake of righteousness.

This Avestan couplet is the “main motto” of the entire Zarathushtrian teachings. Righteousness is the basic principle.

Zarathushtra  observes that humanity has basically congregated into two camps: the ashavan (adherents of asha righteousness, the universal law) and the dregvant (adherents of druj, the lie/the deception). 

The ashavan are, in effect, the righteous who promote human society and the living world.  In contrast, the dregvant are the wrongful who have been deceived and therefore deceive others into doing wrong against the righteousness of the universal law. 

The main goal of Zarathushtra and his companions was to promote asha to such an extent that the darkness of druj is overshadowed by the light of righteousness.  The desired outcome is to completely establish an ashavan society that radiates enlightening happiness to all.

Righteousness radiates health and happiness.

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We invite your comments on these Gathas so that our insights might teach one another.

Next Installment (WHEN PUBLISHED): ZARATHUSTRA’S WORK: The Gathas - Yatha Ahu (Principle of Choice) 

Previous Installment:  ZARATHUSTRA’S WORK: The Gathas (An Introduction)

Source: The Gathas - Zarathushtrian Assembly  See the index on the left of the page for the Song labeled in the title of this article.