What is Good?

[gita]

Dear Les and all,

What is Good?

help me!!!

I like to learn from you

gita

feart...@mac.com

Dear Ali A. Jafarey, Les and all

Ali A. Jafarey wrote, "Righteousness is the best good."

When Ali A. Jafarey is comparing Righteousness to unRighteousnes that he can say Righteousness is best Good. Ali A. Jafarey has accepted the best Good as the basis of his Judgment about the Righteousness. He who had been created the best good, who can permit us to know Righteousness is good.

Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” 

What is righteousness?

help me!!!

I like to learn from you

my humble opinion

gita

Good Thought, Good Word, Good Deed

What is Good and Bad/Evil?

    But since God created Satan, and then Satan was found to have evil in him, one has to wonder how we could create believe with darkness in it since God has no darkness in Him.” 

Good and Bad is firmly imbedded in our subconscious that we have accepted the Good and Bad as the basis of our religion and of our theories about the cosmos. It is when we are comparing things to goodness that we are able to recognize the opposite of it (evil), it is mankind that creates the good and bad (evil) in this world. 

It is mankind that creates the good and bad (evil) in this world, “One’s concept of "good" is a relative term, and in fact relies upon the existance of its opposite.” 

Thank you Les for joining http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goodthought/ I learned from you 

  

Why do we Judge?

my humble opinion

gita

Hello All,

I'm the founder of the determinism group. Thanks for the invitation to join with you all; of course, I reciprocate the offer. As for thoughts controlling behavior: we have no evidence for that; we merely have correlation. In otherwords, what came first, the thought, or the behavior, or for that matter, the neurological sequence specific for initiating action?

In famous studies originated with neuroanatomist, Benjamin Libet, and since replicated, it has been demonstrated that the neurological "command" to behave--in Libet's experiments, this typically involved a raising of a finger--actually preceded the subject's awareness of the

deed by a few milliseconds. But Libet's findings have been used by both sides of the FW vs. Determinism debate; ironically, Libet himself is a "freewillie".

As for the "I" or "Self" initiating something, that's a bit in the domain of begging the question, since if one accepts such a definition of I or self, then one is essentially already conceding or claiming the point as fact.

Steve is right, a thought cannot initiate a thought because there must have been an initializer of that thought, and the one before that, and so on. In any event, the concept of I or self is ultimately a metaphysical one. It's no fair to mix scientifically based reasoning with terminology that is based entirely upon faith or of what merely "seems" like is going on.

With Warm, Humble, and Determined Regards,

Les

THE ZARATHUSHTRIAN ASSEMBLY

CELEBRATES

AYATHRIMA GAHANBAR, THE AUTUMNAL FESTIVAL

 

Ali A. Jafarey

 

"We announce and we perform the exalted festival of righteousness, we who observe the festivals on their days, months, the year, and the season. We announce and we perform the season's righteousness festival. We announce and we perform the Ayathrima Gahanbar of righteousness which introduces a new turn in the season and which is the mating time for domestic animals. We praise, glorify, feel happy, and celebrate the Ayathrima Gahanbar." It was with these words chanted in Avesta by Mobedya Bahram Deboo that the Autumnal Festival began at the Zarathushtrian Assembly Headquarters yesterday at noon.

 

"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.

 

Let us pray to Ahura Mazda.  Wise Lord, we thank You for seasons that impart changes to our life.  A life without change would be too monotonous, too boring.  We as students, teachers, and parents; we as those on summer jobs with more earnings, we as any other citizens of the land, have enjoyed the long days of summer late into its short nights.  We have had all a great time.  We are now back to our schools and work, and work to make our world an ever-fresh, ever-good to live and enjoy.

 

At this Ayathrima Gahanbar, we have gathered here to meet, pray, and enjoy the Autumn season.  Grant us more strength to serve You and Your creation.  Give us the true happiness which radiates to make the world around us happy.  Help us to be better citizens.  May the new season bring us soundness of body and vigor of mind. May the mellow rays of the soothing sun soothe our hearts.

 

 We are grateful to You for all Your kindness.  We thank You, we love You, Wise Lord!”

 

The translation of the prayer and the significance of the festival were given by Behdin Lori Ash in English and by Behdin Fahim Shamloo in Persian. Here is what they said:

 

“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.

 

Let us pray to Ahura Mazda.  Wise Lord, we thank You for seasons that impart changes to our life.  A life without change would be too monotonous, too boring.  We as students, teachers, and parents; we as those on summer jobs with more earnings, we as any other citizens of the land, have enjoyed the long days of summer late into its short nights.  We have had all a great time.  We are now back to our schools and work, and work to make our world an ever-fresh, ever-good to live and enjoy.

 

At this Ayathrima Gahanbar, we have gathered here to meet, pray, and enjoy the Autumn season.  Grant us more strength to serve You and Your creation.  Give us the true happiness which radiates to make the world around us happy.  Help us to be better citizens.  May the new season bring us soundness of body and vigor of mind. May the mellow rays of the soothing sun soothe our hearts.

 

We are grateful to You for all Your kindness.  We thank You, we love You, Wise Lord!"

 

Next the six-year old beauty Aryana Ash recited Ashem Vohu and said the English translation from memory. The audience were thrilled. She was followed by Jafarey who gave the following explanation in English and Persian:

 

"Righteousness is the universal law that stands for order, evolution, progress, and perfection as ordained by the Creator for the 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, words, and deed. It means constant improvement and continuous renovation. It brings enlightenment, true radiating happiness, provided that this happiness is shared with others. It then becomes righteousness for the sake of righteousness.

 

The above Avestan couplet frequently repeated in prayers, is popularly known by the name of 'Ashem Vohu', the two words in the beginning of the text. It is, in fact, the "main motto" entire Zarathushtrian teachings. Righteousness, the universal law of precision, is the basic principle of the Good Religion.

 

Zarathushtra conveniently divides mankind into two camps: Adherents of 'asha', righteousness. They are 'ashavan', the righteous who promote the human society and the living world. Followers of 'druj', harmful lie, wrong. They are 'dregvant', the wrongful. The main mission of Zarathushtra and his companions is to promote 'asha' and to eliminate 'druj'  --  to completely establish an 'ashavan' society that radiates 'ushtâ', enlightening happiness to all.”

 

Mr. Mehryar Mehrafarin,  Persian poet, journalist, play-writer and orator recited a part of his longest poem on how the Greater Iran was the cradle of culture and art, how she was subjugated and humiliated by the invading Arabs 1400 years ago, how she has been able to preserve and even promote her heritage, and how the people of the Iranian stock can join hands to regain their past glory.

 

Jafarey gave a gist of the hour-long moving recitation by memory and explained how poetry, memorized by the learned and the laity, has played in maintaining the rich heritage.

 

Potluck with a variety of delicacies, American, Indian and Iran, brought luck to all the tongues relishing the long table array. And live Iranian music brought more luck to the listening ears, dancing bodies and enjoying minds.