Gratitude in Zoroastrianism
In Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra), gratitude holds a significant place as a core principle shaping the ethical and spiritual values of the faith. The concept of gratitude is intertwined with ethical conduct, reverence for the Divine, and a sense of reciprocity. Here's a detailed analysis:
1. Ahura Mazda and Gratitude: Zoroastrianism revolves around the worship of Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord and supreme deity. Gratitude is expressed towards Ahura Mazda for creating the world, providing blessings, and maintaining cosmic order (asha).
2. Reciprocity and Good Thoughts, Words, Deeds: Zoroastrian ethics emphasize the concept of "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds" (Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta). Gratitude is reflected in living a righteous life by practicing kindness, truthfulness, and benevolence towards others as a way of reciprocating divine blessings.
3. Humility and Thankfulness: Gratitude in Zoroastrianism is tied to humility and thankfulness. Followers are encouraged to be humble in their acknowledgment of blessings and express thankfulness to Ahura Mazda for the gifts of life, wisdom, and the natural world.
4. Gratitude and Duty: Zoroastrians believe in fulfilling their duty (duty to God, duty to others, and duty to oneself). Expressing gratitude through fulfilling one's responsibilities and treating others with kindness and respect is an essential aspect of this duty.
5. Recitation of Prayers and Gathas: Zoroastrian prayers and hymns, especially the Gathas (songs attributed to Zoroaster), contain expressions of gratitude and praise for Ahura Mazda's creations, wisdom, and Divine guidance. The Yasna, one of the primary liturgical texts, includes invocations of gratitude and reverence.
6. Gratitude towards Nature: Zoroastrianism holds a deep respect for nature and its elements. Followers are encouraged to be grateful for the environment, natural resources, and the elements, seeing them as divine gifts to be cherished and protected.
7. Thankfulness for Spiritual Insight: Gratitude extends to spiritual wisdom and insight. Followers are encouraged to be thankful for the opportunity to gain understanding of divine truths and the path towards spiritual enlightenment.
8. Gratitude and Worship: Fire holds a sacred place in Zoroastrian rituals as a symbol of purity and Divine presence. The reverence shown towards fire is an expression of gratitude for its role in rituals and as a representation of Ahura Mazda's light and wisdom.
9. Gratitude in Daily Life: Zoroastrian traditions emphasize gratitude in everyday practices. Showing appreciation for meals, expressing thanks for blessings, and respecting elders and teachers are common ways to practice gratitude.
10. Gratitude and Eschatology: Zoroastrian eschatology involves the belief in a final judgment where individuals are rewarded or punished based on their deeds. Gratitude and living a righteous life are seen as essential for a favorable judgment in the afterlife.
In summary, gratitude in Zoroastrianism is deeply embedded in ethical teachings, reverence for Ahura Mazda, expressions of thankfulness towards the Divine, a sense of reciprocity in ethical conduct, and a profound respect for the natural world and its elements. It forms a core part of Zoroastrian ethics, guiding followers towards a righteous and thankful way of life.
How to Build a Gratitude Practice
Buying a physical gratitude journal can be a starting point; however, many struggle to consistently stick with writing in a physical journal. It’s hard to take that journal on travels, schedule changes in everyday life may disrupt your routine, and the experience can turn into a chore versus an opportunity to build a meaningful gratitude practice.
That’s why we’ve created Soul. It uses spontaneous SMS nudges—which creates novelty—to make it easier than ever to build that gratitude habit. Plus, because it’s designed for SMS/iMessage/WhatsApp you can share photos, videos, voice memos, or text. The SMS nudges—essentially research-backed gratitude prompts and questions—give you inspiration on what to write in your journal.
It makes it really easy to build a gratitude journal, leveraging what we all constantly use—our mobile phones—to give ideas of what to write about in the gratitude journal. All your responses are encrypted on Soul’s database that you can access online, memorializing all your moments. You can learn more about how we thought about creating Soul here.
Gratitude in other Religious Traditions
The essence of gratitude is found in other religious traditions such as Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Many of these traditions extol gratitude and academic research reinforces that. Gratitude is shown to reduce stress and increase happiness.
Gratitude is also powerful in different contexts such as school, healthcare, or the workplace. Whatever the context, gratitude is a transformative practice that moves the heart and mind.