"We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, or the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die, nor do we choose the time or conditions of our death, but within all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live: courageously, or in cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or adrift. We decide what is important and what is trivial in life. We decide that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. But no matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed." - Joseph Epstein, Ambition the Secret Passion, page 298 [Choice of Zarahustra and Ormazd] http://www.zarathushtra.com/z/article/dgm/vol10.htm#volume10 "About your religion which is the best for all human beings..." (Y44.10 Sethna translation). http://www.zarathushtra.com/z/article/dgm/vol10.htm#volume10 ...for worship indeed choose ACTS of piety..." (Y53.2, Sethna translation). "...May divine wisdom...bestow blessings for DEEDS inspired by good thoughts." (Y43.16 Sethna translation). Choice and Free Will. "Thou gavest to all that live the choice of Paths --Whether to leave the Shepherd's sheltered side, Or else to turn aside from Shepherds False." (Y31.9 Taraporewala translation). "Since, O Mazda, from the beginning you fashioned for us physical bodies, discerning souls, and directive intelligence through your own mind. Since you infused life breath into mortal bones, since you granted capacities to act and true doctrines to guide so that one could choose beliefs at will." (Y31.11 T.R. Sethna translation). "And indeed Mazda has laid down a choice for all, the teaching that righteousness shall prevail and falsehood shall be frustrated. I would therefore ask for union with good thoughts and renounce all association with the followers of falsehood." (Y49.3 T.R. Sethna translation). "Hear the best (truth) with your ears and decide by your pure mind. Let everybody judge for his own self and find out what he ought to do. Before the great trial let all wake up to this my counsel." (Y30.2, T.R. Sethna translation). Good and Evil, Evil Persons. "I would now speak of the two ultimate principles of human mentality. One of them, the holier one, spoke to the evil one as follows: 'Neither our thoughts nor our doctrines, nor wills nor beliefs, nor words, nor deeds, neither our conscience nor souls agree.' " (Y45.2 T.R. Sethna translation). "Now in the beginning these twin mentalities revealed themselves in thought, word, and deed, as the better and the bad; and from these two the wise chose aright but not so the unwise." (Y30.3 T.R. Sethna translation). "Of these twin spirits he that is the false doth ever choose performing evil deeds, but righteousness doth choose the Holy One; He who would clothe himself in Light of Heaven, He who would satisfy Lord Ahura, Let him througn deeds of Truth choose Mazda's way." (Y30.5 I.J.S. Taraporewala translation). "The False Teacher Mazda's word distorts and through his words distorts the scheme of life. He turns away from us our heritage -- the precious love that flows through Vohu Man." (Y32.9 I.J.S. Taraporewala translation). "Such persons, in these ways defile our lives dazzled by worldly grandeur they regard the wicked as the great ones of the Earth; They hinder all fulfillment here below. O Mazda, from the highest Truth of Life they turn aside the minds of righteous men." (Y32.11 I.J.S. Taraporewala). "They through their teaching try their very best that men may leave the honest path of work. But Mazda sends them retribution just; with chants alluring they mislead all life." (Y32.12 I.J.S. Taraporewala translation). Where to get help in making your choice: Divine wisdom helps: "Therefore each lifts up his voice to proclaim his faith whether a liar or a truthful speaker, whether learned or unlearned according to his own heart and mind, but divine wisdom stands by to deliberate with the spirit of whoever is perplexed by doubt." (Y31.12 T.R. Sethna translation). Zarathushra will guide: "Since the better path is not clearly seen by the soul for her choice because of evil attractions I have come to you all as the prophet ordained by Ahura Mazda to guide the people between these two mentalities, so that they, one and all, live in harmony and righteousness. (Y31.2 T.R. Sethna translation). Ask God for help: "Therefore may we be those who shall heal this world! Wise One and ye other lords, be present to me with support and with truth, so that one shall become convinced even where his understanding shall be false." (Y30.9 Insler translation). Help from the enlightened and from God: "Which of the two paths does the follower of righteousness and the follower of falsehood choose as the better one? Let the enlightened one teach me who is willing to learn. Let not the ignorant lead men astray. O Ahura Mazda the revealer of the good... help us. (Y31.17 T.R. Sethna translation). Consequences of Choice. "And these are real facts, O ye men & women! No happiness can be yours, if the lie-demon drives the chariot of your lives; Cast off from your selves all evil bonds that may chain you to untruth; Happiness linked with dishonour, happiness that harms others is poison for the seeker. The evil-faithless who brings ruin to the righteous here, destroys for himself his spiritual life hereafter." (Y53.6 D.J. Irani translation). "Whosoever is the follower of Truth, the light henceforth shall be his abode. The wicked for age long reside in darkness uttering words of woe. To such life they are condemned by their own selves through their own deeds. (Y31.20 T.R. Sethna translation). "To those who are devoted to him in thought and deed, Ahura Mazda shall bestow self-realization and immortality with plenty of righteousness, moral courage and blessings of good thought." (Y31.21 T.R. Sethna translation). "Through the most holy mentality (Spenta Mainyu) the best life will be for one who with his tongue speaks in accord with good thoughts and with his hands performs the tasks of divine wisdom inspired by the one idea that Ahura Mazda alone is father (upholder) of righteousness." (Y47.2 T.R. Sethna translation). "And through thy Holy Spirit Mazda Lord, The righteous gaineth all that is the Best; The false one will remain far from Thy Love; From Evil Mind do all his acts proceed, His evil deeds darken and cloud his soul." (Y47.5, I.J.S. Taraporewala translation). "Then did I realize you as the Most Bountiful one, O Mazda Ahura, when I beheld you first at the birth of life. Since you have ordained that deeds and words shall bear fruit, evil comes to evil and good blessings to the good." (Y45.5 T.R. Sethna translation). "Now I shall proclaim what the holiest one revealed to me which is best for the mortals to hear. He who gives reverence to his conscience shall attain self-realization and immortality through deeds of goods thoughts and grace of Ahura Mazda also." (Y45.5 T.R. Sethna translation). http://www.zarathushtra.com/z/article/dgm/vol10.htm#volume10 *Y=Yezdi Antia. 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