Spirituality

The Gathas: 6 key ideas

by Zarathustra (trad.)

The core ideas of The Gathas, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 6

   Good thoughts, good words, good deeds

   The heart of Zarathustra's teaching is simple: think well, speak well, act well.

   Goodness has to run through all three, or it isn't complete.

2. IDEA 2 OF 6

   Every person chooses

   Zarathustra taught that each person freely chooses between truth and falsehood, again and again.

   Life is a series of choices, and our character is the sum of them.

3. IDEA 3 OF 6

   Live in tune with truth

   Asha is the right order running through the world: truth, fairness and harmony.

   To live well is to bring your own life into line with that order.

4. IDEA 4 OF 6

   Care for the earth

   Keeping water, earth and fire clean and caring for animals and fields was treated as a sacred duty.

   Looking after creation is part of living rightly.

5. IDEA 5 OF 6

   Happiness comes to those who give it

   The Gathas teach that happiness belongs to the person who brings happiness to others.

   Joy is not taken from the world; it is shared into it.

6. IDEA 6 OF 6

   Fire as inner light

   Fire in the Zoroastrian tradition is a symbol of light, warmth and wisdom, not an object to be worshipped.

   It reminds us to keep the inner flame of goodness bright.