Lectionary Readings for Monday, April 6th, 2020

Book of God’s Word Chapter 29, Chapter 30

Chapter 29

1. During the night, Pon’yah, King of the Sun, bethought him that perhaps he might
obtain the secrets of Zarathustra, as regards his powers with uz, and he sent him the
following message, to wit: If thou wilt reveal the secrets of thy power to thy king,
thy life shall be spared; and if thou wilt prostrate thyself before the King of Kings,
saying: There is none higher! thou shalt have five cities to rule over all thy days.

2. To which Zarathustra sent back the following reply, to wit: Zarathustra hath no secrets
to reveal; neither desireth he five cities, nor one city, to rule over. To-morrow I shall die,
and on the following night thou also shalt die. And yet, erst thou diest, thou shalt see the
temple of the stars rent in twain and fall down; and the city of Oas shall fall and rise no
more; and Ya’seang, in Jaffeth, shall become KING OF THE SUN, and his dynasty shall stand
thousands of years.

3. The king was surprised at such an answer, and so angered that he smote the messenger
with his sling, and he fell dead, and the king ordered his body to be cast into the den of
lions.

4. It was near the middle of the night when the body was brought, and Zarathustra, being
tall, saw above the wall, and he called out, saying: Cast not the body into the dens with
the lions; for I will call him to life in the name of Ormazd. And the men laid the body
down by the outer wall, and Zarathustra said: He that is standing by the body shall lay his
hand upon it, for the power of life is through life.

5. And the man laid his hand on the flesh of the man’s body betwixt the neck and the
back, and Zarathustra said: The words I say, say thou also: LIFE OF THY LIFE, O ORMAZD!
Restore Thou this, Thy Son, to life!

6. And, lo and behold, the man awoke to life, and opened his eyes, and presently rose up;
and Zarathustra bade him depart out of the city. Now the arrest and condemnation of
Zarathustra had caused thousands of people to assemble around about the prison; and they
beheld the man restored to life; and some of them went with him out of the city. And all
night, after that, Zarathustra healed the sick, and restored the blind and deaf, by calling
over the walls in the name of the Father.

7. When it was near sunrise, the next morning, the place of the executions was crowded
with spectators. Many of the Zarathustrians believed that Zarathustra would liberate
himself by the power upon him; and on the other hand, the king’s people, especially
the learned, desired to realize his execution, for they denounced him as an imposter.

8. The latter said: If he be the Master of the I’huans, let him prove his powers whilst he is
hanging by the feet.

9. It was the law of Oas to keep twelve executioners, representing twelve moons, and at
sunrise every morning they put to death whoever had been adjudged to death the previous
day. Now, there were in prison with Zarathustra two thieves, condemned to the same
ignoble death. And they were weeping and moaning! Zarathustra said to them: Weep not,
nor moan, but rather rejoice. He Who gave you life is still with you. He will provide
another and better home for your souls.

10. Behold, I weep not, nor moan. They who put us to death know not what they do.
Rather should the multitude pity them than us. Ye shall this day escape from the tyrany of
Oas.

11. Zarathustra preached till high noon, and when the light fell on the top of the temple
(of the stars) the twelve executioners entered the prison and bound the prisoners’hands
together behind their backs; then with another rope they tied the feet, bringing the rope up
the back of the legs and passing it betwixt the arms; and they carried the end of the rope
up over a beam and down again; and the executioners seized the rope and pulled upon it.
And they swung the bodies of the victims high above the walls and made fast, leaving
them hanging there.

12. Thus was Zarathustra hung betwixt two thieves; and whilst he was yet alive a bolt of
light fell upon the temple of the stars, and it was rent in twain, and fell to the ground. And
when the dust rose it was as a cloud that magnified itself, till the air of the whole city was
choking; and there came another bolt of light, and, lo and behold, the walls of the city fell
down, and Zhoo’das perished in the chamber of the wall.

13. The multitude ran for the king; and when they brought him out of the palace,
another bolt of light fell on the palace, and it was crumbled into dust. The king called
to his guards, but they obeyed him not, but fled; and so, the multitude slew the king.

14. The learned men then went down to the place of executions, and Zarathustra was not
yet dead; but the two thieves were dead. And Zarathustra said unto the learned men: Now
will I give up my body, and behold, ye shall say I am dead. Let the executioners then take
down my body and cast it into the lions’den, and ye shall witness that they will not eat of
my flesh. And some shall say: Behold, the lions are not hungry. Thereupon shall ye cast
in the bodies of the two thieves, and lo, the lions will fall upon them and eat their flesh.

15. Then shall the learned men say: Behold, Zarathustra’s virtue laid in different flesh.
Now I declare unto you, these things are not of the flesh, but of the spirit. For angels shall
gather about my body and prevent the lions from tearing my flesh. Of which matter ye
shall prove before the multitude; for in the time the lions are devouring the flesh of the
thieves, the angels will go away from my body, and, behold, the lions will return and eat
of my flesh also. Whereby it shall be proved to you that even lions, the most savage of
beasts, have spiritual sight, and are governed by the unseen world, even more than man.

16. When Zarathustra had thus spoken to the learned men, he spake to the Father, saying:
Receive Thou my soul, O Ormazd! And his spirit departed out of the body, and in that
same moment the whole earth shook and trembled, and many houses fell down. So they
cast the body into one of the dens, wherein were seventeen lions, but they fled from the
body. Then the executioners cast in the bodies of the thieves, and, lo and behold, the lions
fell upon them instantly.

17. And when the angels went away from Zarathustra’s body, the lions returned to it and
ate also. And the keepers turned in other lions, and all the flesh was eaten. And the
multitude ran and brought the body of Zhoo’das and cast it in, and the lions ate it also.
And next day they cast in the king’s body, and the lions ate of it, and were appeased of
their hunger.

18. Now when it was night, some of the Zarathustrians gathered together at a
neighbor’s house; and Asha was present, and they formed a living altar in order to pray
for the soul of Zarathustra, and for the two thieves, and for Zhoo’das, and, lastly, for
the king. And now, came the learned men, saying: Why have ye not, during all
these years, notified us of these things? Behold, Zarathustra is dead! Asha said:

19. Have I not carried the alms-bowl publicly, proclaiming them from day to day?
And the learned people said: Pity, old Asha! A knave hath dethroned his reason! Now
I declare unto you, it is the same now as in the olden time; the learned men are farther
away from the Father than are those devouring lions. Ye look into the corporeal world
for light, and truth, and power, but are blind to the spirit, which underlieth all things.
I declare unto you, whether it be heat or light, or disease, that floateth in the air, or growth
that cometh out of the air, in all things it is the unseen that ruleth over the seen. And
more powerful than heat and light, and life and death, is Ormazd, the Person of all things.

20. Till ye have learned this, I can explain nothing that ye can comprehend. And yet, to
know this, is the beginning of the foundation of everlasting happiness.

21. Whilst Asha was thus speaking, behold, the soul of Zarathustra came and stood before
them, and he was arrayed in the semblance of his own flesh and color, and in his own
clothes. And he spake, saying: Fear not; I am the same that was with you and was hanged
and died, whose flesh was devoured by the lions; I am Zarathustra! Marvel not that I have
the semblance of a corporeal body, for its substance is held together by the power of my
spirit. Neither is this a miracle, for the spirits of all the living hold in the same way, each
its own corporeal body. As iron attracteth iron, the spirit learneth to attract from the air a
corporeal body of its like and measure.

22. Then inquired one who was present: Where are the two thieves? To which Zarathustra
said: As steam riseth from boiling water, without shape or form, so are their souls this
hour. For this reason was I sent into the world by the Father. Let him who would become
controller of his own spirit unto everlasting life, learn the Ormazdian law, seeking to
grow in spirit, instead of living for the things of this world.

23. Behold, there are here present Lords of the Hosts of Heaven, who are Sons and
Daughters of the Most High Ormazd, the Creator. They will now gather together and
reclothe the thieves, and show you of what like they are. Presently the two drujas, the
thieves who were hanged with Zarathustra, stood before the people in sar’gis, and they
raved, and cursed, and moaned; but they were blind and dumb as to the place. Then Asha
inquired of them, as to who they were and what they wanted, but they only cursed him,
and added that they were to be hanged.

24. Asha said: Behold, ye are already dead, and your spirits risen from the earth! To
which they replied by curses against the king. And now the Lords of heaven sat up the
spirit of the king, but he knew not that he was dead, and he cursed also; whereupon the
spirits of the thieves fell upon him with evil intent, and all the people beheld these things.
But the Lords of heaven took away the sar’gis, and the drujas could not be seen more by
mortals.

25. Zarathustra said: As in the earth they were angered and dumb, they cling to the earth.
For which reason ye shall sing anthems and pray for them three mornings at sunrise; three
high-noons, and three evenings at sunset. Do ye this also, henceforth, forever, for three
days, for all your kindred who die, or who are slain.

26. And ye shall utter only words of love for the dead; for whosoever uttereth curses for
the dead, bringeth drujas upon himself. In your love and forgiveness do ye raise them out
of the torments of hell. And inasmuch as ye raise up others, so doth Ormazd raise up your
own souls.

27. One who was present asked how long a spirit lingered around about? To which
Zarathustra said: Some for three days, some for a year, some for a hundred years, and
some for a thousand years! Until they have wisdom and strength to get away. But after
three days ye shall no longer desire the spirit of the dead to remain with you; rather shall
ye say to Ormazd: Deal Thou with him and with us in Thine Own Way, O Father; we are
content. Better is it for the spirits that ye call them not back from the higher heavens
down to the earth; better for you is it, that ye remember them high up in paradise; for
these thoughts will enable you to rise after ye are dead.

28. Remember that All Light answereth everything in heaven and earth after its own
manner: If ye kill, ye are answered in torments sooner or later: If ye utter falsehood, ye are
answered in falsehood: If ye curse, ye will be cursed in return: If ye hate, ye will be hated:
If ye seclude yourselves, ye will be excluded: If ye keep evil company in this world, ye
will be bound in evil company in heaven: As ye seek to become a leader of men,
remember that they whom ye rule over will be your burden in heaven: If ye teach not, ye
shall not be taught: If ye lift not others up, none will lift you up: For in all things the same
rule applieth in heaven as on earth, for it is a continuation in spirit of that which is
practiced in the flesh.

Chapter 30

1. On the following evening, when the Zarathustrians were assembled for prayer and
singing, the soul of Zarathustra again appeared before them in sar’gis, teaching the Word
of Ormazd. He said:

2. Two people there are on the earth: the one is engrossed in the affairs of the earth; the
other in the affairs of heaven. Better is it for ye to be of the latter. The fool will say: If all
people are engrossed with the affairs of heaven, then who will provide on the earth? Such
is the argument of all druks. Fear not, therefore, for the earth people becoming short of
votaries.

3. So also will it be said of celibacy. The druks will say: If all people become celibates,
then will the race of man terminate. Wherefore, I say again unto you, fear not, for there
will be plenty left who are full of passion, and are unmindful of the kingdoms of heaven.

4. Let all who can, live for the Higher Light; the lower will ever be supplied sufficiently.

5. Even as ye find two peoples on earth, so also do two peoples exist in heaven. The one
followeth the Highest Light, and ever riseth toward the highest heavens. The other
followeth the affairs of earth, and riseth not, and hence is called druj. The latter engageth
in sensualism, and quarrels amongst mortals, inspiring them to evil and low desires.

6. One present asked: How shall we know one another, whether we be of heaven or of
earth? Then Zarathustra answered, saying: Seek to know thyself; thou art not thy
neighbor’s keeper. Search thine own soul a hundred times every day, to know if thou
practicest the All Highest according to thine own light. Neither shalt thou find excuses for
thy shortness; nor reflect overmuch on past errors, but use them as inspiration to perfect
thyself henceforth.

7. Another one present asked: How of thieves, and falsifiers, and murderers? Zarathustra
said: The man who serveth himself only is worse than any of these; there is no
resurrection in him. But if a man cease his evil way, and practice virtue, he is on the right
road.

8. A falsifier is like one with a clean gown on, that goeth about casting filth upon it; he
soileth his own spirit.

9. A thief is worse than an overburdened beast; he carrieth his stolen goods not only in
this world, but in heaven, to the end of his memory.

10. A murderer is like a naked man, who is ashamed, and cannot hide from the multitude.
When he is in heaven, his memory of the deed writeth in human blood a stain on his soul,
which all others see.

11. Another one asked: According to the I’hua’Mazdian law, the highest, best men forsake
the world, laboring to raise up the poor and ignorant, reciting prayers and anthems;
taking no part in the affairs of people who are engrossed in the matters of earth; who,
then, shall be the government of the wicked? To which Zarathustra answered, saying:

12. When there are not sufficient men and women for such purpose, there will be no
wicked to govern. With all thy preaching, that the highest life is celibacy, there will be
plenty left who will marry; with all thy preaching that the highest, best man will not
be a leader of men, nor a king, nor a governor, yet there will be plenty left who will
fill these places, even though they beheld the walls of hell opened up to receive them.

13. Another one asked: If the Zarathustrians separate, and live by themselves, what will
be their power to do good amongst the evil? To which Zarathustra said:

14. As the highest heavens send Lords and masters down to mortals, so shall the
Zarathustrians send emissaries amongst the wicked, preaching the truth, and citing the
example of the Zarathustrian cities (communities).

15. For above all philosophy that man may preach, practice holdeth the highest place, and
is most potent. See to it, therefore, that ye practice the Ormazdian law toward one another
in all things. Avoid men of opinion; men of learning; who have pride therein; men of
argument; men who quibble for proofs in improvable things; men who wish to be known
as wise men; men who deny; men that can see defects in everything, and have nothing
good to offer in place thereof.

16. Shun the disbelieving man, for he is diseased, and may inoculate thee; the flatterer,
for he is purchasing thee; a woman, for woman’s sake; or a man, for man’s sake;
company, for company’s sake; for all these imply that the Creator is less in thy sight, and
not so well loved.

17. One asked concerning spirits. To which Zarathustra said: For the affairs of earth,
consult the spirits of the earth, the drujas; for the affairs of everlasting resurrection,
consult thy Creator, and His holy spirits will answer thee in His name. And to whichever
thou hast made thyself companion, there will be thy abiding place after death.

18. See to it that thou becomest not inveigled by drujas, for spirits can assume any name
and form; but weigh their words, whether they be wise, and according to the Ormazdian
law. If they teach not the higher heavens, but profess a long life in the lower heavens,
consider them by their words. To flatter thee, they will profess to remember thee in
another life; and to please thee, say thou wert a king, and hath had many successions of
lives on the earth.

19. But of what value under the sun is such philosophy? But to rise up, away from the
earth, and from the lower heavens also; it was for bestowing this word unto men that I
was sent into the world. It is to teach you to know the Father’s upper heavens, and the way
to reach them, that His words were given unto men.

20. As it was in the olden time, so will it be again ere another generation pass away.
Drujas will teach that the spirits of the dead go into trees and flowers, and inhabit them;
and into swine, and cattle, and birds, and into woman, and are born over again in mortal
form. Argue not with them; their philosophy concerneth not thee. Whether they be in
darkness or in light, judge thou by the glory and beauty of the heavens where they live.
If their words are of the earth, they belong to the earth; if they are servants to false
Gods or false Lords, they will preach him whom they serve. But these matters are
nothing to thee; for thou shalt serve the All Highest, the Creator. In this no man can err.

21. And in regard to the heaven, whither thou wouldst desire to ascend after death,
magnify it with all thy ingenuity unto the All Highest Perfection. People it with thy
highest ideals for thy companions. Then see to it that thou makest thyself a fit
companion for them also. If thou do this with all thy wisdom and strength all the
days of thy life, the Father will be with thee, and thou shalt be a glory in His works.

22. Thus preached Zarathustra after his resurrection from death; for three days and three
nights preached he before his disciples; and Asha wrote down the substance of his words,
and they were preserved unto the generations of Faithists from that time forth. And the
words were called the Zarathustrian law, the I’hua’Mazdian law, the Ormazdian law. And
they were the first heavenly words given on tablets and skins and cloth, and in books, to
mortals, save what words were given in secret to the tribes of I’hins, of which the
different nations of the earth knew nothing of their own knowledge as to what they were.

23. On the morning of the fourth day, when the disciples sat in crescent, which was called
the living altar of God, Zarathustra again came in sar’gis. He said: Behold, the time hath
come for me to rise out of hada, where I have dwelt for three days.

24. The Gods who were with me all my earth life are gathered together even here, and
there are millions of them. Just near the river yonder standeth the boundary line of a
heavenly ship of light! It is wider than the eye can see, and higher than the eye can see! A
million of angels are singing in that ship! And there are great Gods and great Lords in it.
So bright, mine eyes dare not look on them. They are all Sons and Daughters of the Great
Spirit.

25. The drujas are all run away now. Their foolish gabble is hushed, gone! It is as if
another world came alongside, so majestic that this one was lost. Above, high, very high,
yonder! Something like a sun illumes the ship of fire! I know it is He Who hath come for
me. I go now! Whither I go I will build for you all.

26. And thou, O Asha! The Gods have thrown a mantle of light over thee! A chain
reacheth from thee to Ormazd! Asha was overcome, and fain would have gone to the
spirit, Zarathustra. The latter said: Stand thou, and I may kiss thee! So, Zarathustra kissed
Asha, and departed.

END OF THE BOOK OF GOD’S WORD.