Iranian Morals

The term "Iranian" derives from "Aryana," meaning "land of the Aryans," a linguistic and ethnic designation for the ancient peoples of Persia. "Morals" comes from the Latin "moralis," meaning "customary" or "relating to manners." The concept encompasses the ethical system developed over millennia in the Iranian cultural sphere.

The little work called Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals, compiled by Mr. Dliunjibhoy Jamsetjee Medhora, a Parsi Theosophist of Bombay, is an excellent treatise replete with the highest moral teachings, in English and Gujerati, and will acquaint the student better than many volumes with the ethics of the ancient Iranians.

Blavatsky's mention of "Ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian Morals" points to a rich ethical inheritance, one often overshadowed by more widely disseminated Eastern philosophies. Zoroastrianism, as the primary vehicle for these ancient Iranian ethics, posits a universe engaged in a perpetual struggle between Asha (truth, righteousness, cosmic order) and Druj (falsehood, wickedness, disorder). This is not a passive dualism, but a dynamic battlefield where human choice is paramount.

Mircea Eliade, in his seminal works on comparative religion, highlighted the active, ethical orientation of Zoroastrianism, emphasizing its role in shaping a worldview where individual responsibility for the cosmic battle is central. The good mind (Vohu Manah) is not merely an internal state but a directive for action in the external world. The "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" mantra, often cited, is not a platitude but a profound call to conscious ethical engagement, a daily practice of aligning oneself with the forces of creation and order.

This ethical system, as presented in texts like the Gāthās of Zarathustra, offers a powerful antidote to moral relativism. It provides a clear, albeit challenging, compass for navigating the complexities of life. The focus on asha encourages a rigorous self-examination, a constant striving for purity in intention and action. It is a morality rooted in cosmic purpose, where the mundane act of choosing truth over falsehood has reverberating consequences for the entire created order.

For the modern seeker, these ancient Iranian morals offer a framework for understanding the perennial human struggle between integrity and compromise, between the clarity of truth and the seductive allure of deceit. They invite a disciplined inner life that actively contributes to a more ordered and benevolent external reality, a profound testament to the power of individual ethical commitment.