ZARATHUSTRA’S WORK: The Gathas - Yatha Ahu (Principle of Choice)

This second introductory passage, the Ahuna Vairya, commonly called by the two words in the beginning, the Yatha Ahu, is the Principle of Choice. 

It is the Zarathushtrian master formula for a spiritual and material policy making system in which one is free to choose a person as his or her lord and leader.

Both the lord and the leader are to be chosen

because of their righteousness.

These two appointments are made with good mind

so that acts of life are done for the Wise One,

and the dominion of the Lord is well established,

in which the chosen person becomes

the rehabilitator of the rightful who are oppressed.              

A lord is "the being" who is able to free the world from mental and physical evil, and a leader is a "proper guide" who can lead the world to truth, precision, progress, wholeness, and immortality. In other words, one is the remover of dysfunction and harm in human society.  The other is the promoter and the developer of the clean and free-from-harm world. 

It may be noted that the term lord used here denoting ahu does not convey the usual English meaning of one who holds a position of authority, but rather to “the being” who is democratically chosen to a position of trust because of his or her proven righteous record, the only criterion for the choice of such a person.  This criteria is based only upon his or her righteous record of competent service, the evaluation of which is based on a good mind, sound judgment, and discretion. 

Such a selection, being based on the righteous character of the leader would allow humans to act in accord with the will of Wisdom – an act which would transform the world into a divine dominion, chosen and established by the people themselves. It would be, in totality, the spiritual and material dominion of the people, by the people, for the people, selflessly and devotedly established in the name of the Wise Lord.  The chosen lord and leader would establish this divine dominion so that it is free from oppression or impoverishment, and would see to the rehabilitation and restoration of those in this world who have been wrongfully oppressed and had their rights taken away.

This short stanza encapsulates the spirit of the entire Gathas. It is a unique formula for a divinely inspired, sound democracy which ensures mental and physical peace and prosperity for all the living beings, including mankind.

The following terms and phrases are worthy of special attention and consideration: 

Both the lord and the leader are to be chosen because of their righteousness.

These two appointments are made with good mind so that acts of life are done for the Wise One, and the dominion of the Lord is well established, in which the chosen person becomes the rehabilitator of the rightful who are oppressed.

Chosen is to be worth of election based solely upon of righteousness and whose adherance to the Universal Law qualifies them for a position of authority.

Good Mind is by intellectual, rational analysis of the Universal Law, choosing the most beneficial way possible.

Acts of life is our existence in this living world, what "life" does on and to the planet.

The Wise One is, to Zarathushtra, the one source of all wisdom.  He named it Ahura Mazda or Lord Wisdom.  We recognize this as "God", but whatever name we choose.

The dominion of the Lord is what the Lord Wisdom rules over, i.e. everything.

Rehabilitator is one who works to make the world as it should be, the dominion of Lord Wisdom.

The rightful who are oppressed are the righteous who are wrongfully restrained through falsehood.

Keeping the above points in mind, we can realize the stanza is the basis for progressing to a peaceful world. It provides us with the freedom to choose our own spiritual and physical lord and leader, and therefore work with him or her to create the world which we have all along been desiring. 

What follows in the rest of the Gathas concerns the principles which lead to this rehabilitation – “the best life, the best righteousness, the best enlightenment."

Good leadership is to be chosen based on merit and no other criteria.

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

Next Installment (WHEN PUBLISHED): The Gathas - Song 1

Previous Installment:  The Gathas - Ashem Vohu (Truth, Righteousness, Cosmic Order)

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