Fusion of the best elements of Christianity & Zoroastrianism, By Zaneta Garrett.

My spiritual Journey: Zaneta Garratt.

Life

Life is like a Pilgrim's Journey.
Sometime you walk on a path through dense forests
And other times you climb up a high mountain
And the scenery from the top is breath-taking
Green valleys and blue lakes far below
And birds flying peacefully in the air.

Other times you stand on a sandy beach
Watching the deep blue sea.
Sometimes the sun is shining
And not a cloud is seen on the blue heavens.
At other times the sky is full of white puffy clouds,
Sometimes tinged with shades of pink.

At night the moon comes out
And twinking stars fill the dark sky
But most beautiful of all are the red shades
At dawn and dusk as the sun rises and sets.
And when the Autumn forests are red and yellow
Before the coming of the cold winter.
And the arrival of the white snow
Covering all that was once green.

And we can say that there is charm
In variety and prosperity
In Nature's beauty that is waiting there
To heal our restless hearts
To refresh our longing souls
And help us on our way.


Many teachings have helped me-the wisdom of the Incas of Peru and the Toltics of Mexico,the fascinating teachings of the Kabbalah,the Sufis, the Hindus and the Buddhists, to name just a few-but central for me has been my belief in both Christianity and the Zarathusthi Way (Zoroastrianism)-both religions help me greatly in different ways and give me encouragement and hope.
As I have become older I have seen the necessity of eating healthier and exercizing more than I did in the past-Also my family is very very importent to me, my husband and my five children, my husband's relatives, my relatives and my sister and her family.
I like to read books, watch nice movies,walk in the countryside and listen to good music.I like to eat good food with some wine, I make my own wine from plums mostly and I eat fish and dairy products but I never eat animals nor birds, this is called Marine Vegetarianism. I also like animals, especially dogs.I feel that we are always learning and progressing and we are here to help others and ourselves as well. I believe that the Creator God /The Lord of Wisdom watches over us. I also believe that we are spiritual beings and that our life continues after death as our souls are immortal. And I also believe that we each have a Guardian Angel, in the Zarathushtri Religion this is called a Fravashi.

Both Christianity and the Zarathusthri Way are religions that advocate high ethics, but , as the latter is older, I believe that it has had an influence on Judaism, and from that, on Christianity as well. Both religions believe in a life after this one, the continuation of the soul after death.I find it very interesting to read the scriptures of both religions, they are helpful and inspiring. And the theologies of both religions are fascinating also. The founders, Zarathustra and Jesus, both have a living message that speaks very much to me. Both Jesus and Zarathustra wanted a society that was just and fair-where the people would be treated as equals and the rulers were of good character.

The doctrine of the Amesha Spentas/Bountiful immortals in the Zarathushtri Religion, is a very beautiful one-quoting from my blog-

There are six further attributes/emanations of Ahura Mazda called the Amesha Spentas-the Beneficial Immortals-these are called
Vohu Mano - Beneficent-Loving Mind.
Asha Vahishta -The Highest Truth/Reality.
Khshathra Vairya - Benevolent Power
Spenta Armaiti -Energetic Devotion-to purpose
Haurvatat- Self Realisation
Ameretat -Immortality or Non-Deathness
Haurvatat and Ameretat are desired states of being; While Vohu Mano, Asha Vahishta, Spenta Armaiti and Khshatra are virtues to be developed.In keeping with gender equality, the first three -Vohu Mano, Asha Vahishta and Khshathra Vairya are male and Spenta Armaiti, Haurvatat and Ameretat are female.
We embrace Vohu Mano when we think good thoughts, we embrace Asha Vahishta when we do good deeds and we embrace Spenta Armaiti when we show love and devotion to our fellow human beings and animals . We embrace Khshathra Vairya /Benevolent Power when we act in a spirit of love and eventually we will become Haurvatat-Perfect and Whole and we will reach Ameretat -Immortality or Non-Deathness after we have died when we will become one with Ahura Mazda forever.
http://farovar.blogspot.com/

My favorite stories from Christianity are the stories of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son in Saint Luke's gospel-I quote from the Roman Catholic Bible-

Luke:ch:10:30 And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who also stripped him and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead. 31 And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. 32 In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. 33 But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion: 34 And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you. 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers? 37 But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do in like manner.

http://www.newadvent.org/bible/luk010.htm

Luke:ch.15:11 And he said: A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falls to me. And he divided unto them his substance. 13 And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously. 14 And after he had spent all, there came a mighty famine in that country: and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and cleaved to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his farm to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine ate: and no man gave unto him. 17 And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am not worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. 20 And rising up, he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion and running to him fell upon his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him: Father: I have sinned against heaven and before you I am not now worthy to be called your son. 22 And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat and make merry: 24 Because this my son was dead and has come to life again, was lost and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him: Your brother has come and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe. 28 And he was angry and would not go in. His father therefore coming out began to entreat him. 29 And he answering, said to his father: Behold, for so many years do I serve you and I have never transgressed your commandment: and yet you have never given me a kid to make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this your son has come, who has devoured his substance with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted calf. 31 But he said to him: Son, you are always with me; and all I have is yours. 32 But it was fit that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and is found.
http://www.newadvent.org/bible/luk015.htm

These two stories show the importance of kindness,helping and forgiving.And these are important qualities in the Zarathushtri Religion as well.

I say that I believe in both these religions, so I would call myself Christrian but believing in Zarathustra as well.I believe that both these religions can help the believer to be a better person and I like both equally, they both are Divinely-inspired and good for my soul.