Selections From the Teachings of Zoroaster (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

THE SOUL’S DESTINATION

“Zarathustra asked Ahura Mazda: ‘Ahura Mazda, Heavenly, Holiest, Creator of the corporeal world, Pure! when a pure man dies, where does his soul dwell during this night?’ Then answered Ahura Mazda: ‘Near his head it sits itself down, reciting the Gâthâ Ustavaiti [Hymns], praying happiness for itself: “Happiness be to the man who conduces to the happiness of each. May Ahura Mazda create, ruling after His wish.” On this night the soul sees as much joyfulness as the whole living world possesses.’”

“‘The soul of the pure man goes the first step and arrives in (the Paradise) Humata; the soul of the pure man takes the second step and arrives at (the Paradise) Hûkhta; it goes the third step and arrives at (the Paradise) Hvarsta; the soul of the pure man takes the fourth step and arrives at the Eternal Lights.’”

“Zarathustra asked Ahura Mazda: ‘Ahura-Mazda, Heavenly, Holiest, Creator of the corporeal world, Pure! when a wicked one dies, where does the soul dwell throughout this night?’ Then answered Ahura Mazda, ‘There, O pure Zarathustra, near the head it runs about while it utters the prayer Ké mánm, “Which land shall I praise, whither shall I go praying, O Ahura Mazda?” In this night the soul sees as much displeasing as the whole living world.

‘When the lapse of the third night approaches towards light, O pure Zarathustra, then goes the soul of the wicked man to the impure place, recollecting itself continually by the stench. To it comes a wind blowing from the North Region, an evil-smelling one, more evil-smelling than other winds.’ […] ‘The fourth step takes the soul of the wicked man and it arrives at the darknesses without beginning.’”

THE SOUL’S RENDERING OF ACCOUNT

“‘The thirteenth question is that which you ask thus: Who should prepare the account of the soul as to sin and good works, and in what place should they make it up? And when punishment is inflicted by them, where is their place then? ‘The reply is this, that the account about the doers of actions, as to good works and sin, three times every day while the doer of the actions is living, Vohûmano the archangel should prepare; because taking account of the thoughts, words, and deeds of all material existences is among his duties. […]’”