Zoroastrianism is fundamentally reflective and contemplative. It encourages conscious reflection that leads to ethical actions. The Gatha of Asho Zarathushtra lays great emphasis on thinking, questioning, discerning and choosing. While having faith is important, Zarathushtra encourages us to use our mind intelligently rather than surrendering judgment to blind faith. Our approach to every situation in life should be to carefully observe, think rationally, discern with diligence, choose wisely and act positively with conviction. The principle of Asha (Truth, Righteousness and Order) should not remain just a belief or a slogan. One must consciously choose it and live it.

The religion of Zarathushtra is not averse to quiet contemplation or meditation. In fact, quiet reflection, chanting Avesta manthra, and introspection of one’s thoughts words and deeds is a normal way of life. However, conventional Zoroastrianism does not make prolonged meditation, sensory withdrawal, or dissolution of the individual self into an ultimate reality its central spiritual goal. The goal of a Zoroastrian is not to withdraw from life and living in search of Divinity. The goal is to awaken the mind, recognise truth, and consciously participate in making life worth living for everyone.

How Did Zarathushtra Meditate?

The Pahlavi Zarathushtnameh records that Zarathustra went in search of the Truth at the age of thirty and on mount Ushi-darena (meaning ‘sustainer of inner wisdom’), he received Divine Revelation over a period of ten years. For Zarathushtra, spirituality was not fundamentally a retreat from life but a call to participate consciously in life. Zarathushtra’s Gatha are remarkably active in their vision of existence. They speak about choosing, working, creating, protecting and advancing what is good. One is not asked merely to contemplate the struggle between truth and falsehood, but to take a side through thought, word and deed.

The goal of meditation is not to close one’s eyes to life, but to open one’s eyes to life without fear, illusion or hatred.  Enjoying life is not necessarily contrary to spirituality. Joy itself can be an expression of Asha when it arises from gratitude, friendship, beauty, creativity, love and meaningful participation.

Zarathushtra’s Enlightenment

In the Gatha, Asho Zarathushtra does not appear as someone who had switched off his mind and entered into a trance. Instead, he comes across as a person whose mind was extraordinarily awake and in intense dialogue with Ahura Mazda. Throughout the Gatha, he asks fundamental questions and seeks understanding.

Zarathushtra’s awakening is portrayed as a process of deep contemplation, questioning, observation of existence, and inner discernment rather than as a technique of withdrawing from the world. In the Gatha, Zarathushtra asks questions about what is the right way to live?  Why do truth and falsehood exist? What distinguishes Asha (Truth, Order, Righteousness) from Druj (falsehood and disorder)? How should human beings choose between Asha and Druj? What is the nature of Ahura Mazda? And, how human beings can participate consciously in bringing about good order

The later Pahlavi tradition describes Zarathushtra as receiving a revelation from Ahura Mazda, particularly through his encounter with Vohu Manah (Good Mind.) However, the Gatha themselves are more subtle. Zarathushtra speaks as a person who has seen, understood and discovered, rather than simply someone who received a doctrine from the Divine passively. For example, he asks: “How shall I know You, O Mazda?” He repeatedly addresses Ahura Mazda through thought, inquiry and insight. Thus, Zarathushtra’s path to Divine Truth involves the Good Mind or purified, discerning consciousness.

Zoroastrian Spirituality

Zoroastrian spirituality does not regard enlightenment as escaping ordinary life. In fact, the enlightened person returns to life and acts. Inner awakening must become embodied in life. Enlightenment is an awakening of consciousness rather than merely acceptance of a religious belief. Zarathushtra did not awaken to withdraw from life, but to see life more clearly and then participate in it consciously.

Zoroastrian spirituality does not stop at inner peace. In fact, human consciousness must actively participate in the creative transformation of Ahura Mazda’s creation. Unless praying five times a day or two hours at a time is matched with positive actions, one cannot say that he or she has attained the ideal that Asho Zarathushtra had in mind for us. Ahura Mazda and Zarathushtra prefer those who actively work for truth, fight against injustice, practice compassion and think about the wellbeing of others instead of those who pray mechanically only to record their piety and when not praying, negate all that they affirm in their prayers!

Zoroastrianism’s distinctive contribution is its insistence that spiritual insight must express itself through ethical choice and constructive participation in the world. Zarathushtra wanted us to awaken our mind, discern what is Asha (Truth), choose what is ethically good, and help the world become a better place to live in. In Yasna 30.2 Zarathushtra calls upon us to contemplate with a clear mind, and then choose between the two fundamental ways of life. From a Zoroastrian perspective this is enlightenment through awakened discrimination.

One does not have to retreat to a mountain to find what is sacred. Walk through a garden. Watch the sunrise. Laugh with a friend. Help someone. Listen deeply. Look at a flame at your favourite place of worship. Work honestly. Love generously. And occasionally sit quietly and ask yourself whether you are still walking in the direction of Asha. That, truly, is a Zoroastrian form of meditation. Eyes closed for a while but eyes more open for and towards life and the living.

Zoroastrian Meditation

Zoroastrian meditation is less about emptying the mind and more about purifying awareness and consciously aligning thought, word and action with Asha. Zoroastrian meditation is not escape from the world. It is becoming sufficiently awake to participate consciously in the struggle for Asha within the world.

Zoroastrian spirituality invites us to participate consciously in everyday life. Mindfulness and meditation are closely connected, yet they serve different purposes. Meditation is the practice of training the mind, while mindfulness is the awakened state of awareness it cultivates. One can meditate daily and still react with anger or anxiety, but mindfulness allows us to notice those emotions without becoming ruled by them. Whether walking, eating, listening, or working, every moment becomes an opportunity to choose Asha, the path of truth and righteousness. We cannot control everything life brings, but we can always govern our thoughts, words, and actions. Purposeful awareness transforms stress into positive, meaningful action through conscious daily.

Role Of Manthra

Zoroastrian prayers or ‘Manthra’ are best understood as articulate sounds which unite the subconscious, the conscious and the super-conscious planes. When properly chanted with focus and understanding, they have the power to bring the individual to a higher state of consciousness. Composed mainly in the Avesta, they are believed to possess a Divine Cosmic Energy.

Asho Zarathushtra terms himself Manthram, i.e., composer of Manthras or utterances of spiritual power. Manthra is the transformation of Divine Energy into words which humans can vocalize. The Manthra of Ahunavar or the Yatha Ahu Vairyo is the primordial sound of Reality beyond the limitations of Time and Space. To Zoroastrians, the Ahunavar is what the OM is to Hindus and Buddhists – the means of concentrating and arousing forces that already exist within the human psyche. When uttered with feeling and concentration, the Manthra sets off subtle vibrations which affect different psychic centers or chakra in the body.

Zoroastrianism views meditation as an active approach to life, rather than a retreat from the world. Zarathustra advocated neither denial nor renunciation. His message was simple: live happily and help others do the same. Marry, raise children, enjoy food and drink, create wealth, remain charitable and make wise choices. Fasting or celibacy is not required to please Ahura Mazda or attain salvation. Zarathustra encouraged followers to engage fully with life, using everyday experiences to focus the mind and expand consciousness. Rather than shutting one’s eyes to seek spirituality within, he urged people to observe Ahura Mazda’s good creations with awareness, gratitude and respect, while living positively and purposefully.