SUN the reflection of Power

I try every day to take a short sun bath, knowing that the sun improves the tonus of my skin, creates Vitamin D in my organism, and lulls my nerves into beautiful relaxation. I feel the life-giving energy of the sun enter my body. I am aware that to use this force in the optimal way it is important to have just the right amount of sun: it can be either my best friend or my worst enemy. But when I use it correctly, my body, mind and soul open in joyful thanksgiving for the gift of life. 

WATER the reflection of Love

In the morning, as soon as possible after awakening, T bathe in clear, fresh water, following one of the primal instincts of Nature for cleanliness. In the splash of a shower, the warmth of a bath, or the refreshment of a dip in an icy stream, water invigorates, cleanses, purifies. T understand the necessity of water to the earth; how barren deserts are turned into beautiful forests only through water, and I have rejoiced to see little birds splashing happily in rain puddles. This same thirst of Nature is present in my body, and I try always to use water - in eating, drinking and bathing - in its freshest, purest form. 

AIR the reflection of Wisdom

There was a time when I did not think of what kind of air I breathed – only that I did breathe. It did not disturb me that in smoke-filled rooms, in streets full of car exhaust and on smoggy days, my lungs, for protection, took in only the tiniest amount of air necessary for existence. Now that I know the tremendous importance of deep breathing of pure, fresh air to every one of my physical, mental and spiritual functions, I try at every opportunity to surround myself with pure air, Nature's most important food. Truly is it said, “Where there is breath, there is life; where there is life, there is breath”. I am breathing 10,000 quarts of air daily, and my lungs will only be used to their natural, full capacity if the air T am breathing is free of impurities and smoke. Knowing that my mind and body will not develop without the nourishment of pure air, I try to be just as careful of the air I breathe as I am about my food being free of dirt. 

FOOD the reflection of the Preserver

The cells of my body are made of what I eat; therefore, if I wish to be strong and healthy, I must make sure my body is built from the building blocks of Nature-wholesome, natural foods: proteins without saturated or animal fats; germinated whole grains and sprouts; vegetables, mostly raw in delicious salads; fruits, as they are from trees and vines; honey and dried fruits for energy. Foods which have been refined, preserved through chemicals and overcooked are empty foods, and though they may please an artificially developed taste, they can only deplete my body and rob it of its natural resistance. Therefore, T try my best to give my body only those foods which are as close as possible to their original, natural state. 

MAN the reflection of the Creator

I know that the primary role of my life is to continue the work of creation on earth. I know that in some unique way I have something original to contribute to the good of society, be it in music, science, art, literature, or education. No matter if my talents are large or small, unusual or prosaic, I must try to discover my hidden potential and use it actively to creatively enrich the world wherein I live. Only in untiring efforts to further my progress in life can I truly find fulfillment as a human being, and I know that no one can do the job for me. Sometimes the realization that only the individual efforts of man, including myself, can change the world for the better, is frightening and awesome; still I know that this most glorious challenge of all is within my power, and my diligent efforts to continue the work of creation will not go unrewarded. 

EARTH the reflection of Eternal Life

Reproduction, in its many forms, is one of Nature's greatest miracles, and I must learn to respect it, learn from it, and live in harmony with it. In vegetation, especially the wonder of grass, which blankets the earth with the magic of growth, T will learn many secrets of Nature, and I will try to keep a small garden for this purpose. Even if it is just a window box, this attempt at growing things teaches me about many aspects of reproduction. In my body, I know that sexual energy may be used harmoniously to raise a family in accordance with the laws of power, love and wisdom, and this energy may also be used to regenerate the body and find an outlet in the creation of beautiful works of art, literature or music. Whether I decide to use sexual energy for reproduction or regeneration, the important thing is that T use it wisely and harmoniously. 

HEALTH the reflection of Creative Work

I want more than anything else to be healthy, for I know that only if my body is healthy can I be an active point in the Universe, working to further my own evolution and the evolution of society. Perfect health consists of cooperation with all the natural forces: sun, water, air, food, man, earth and joy; also, good health rests in balance and moderation:

I know that I need exercise to maintain good circulation; I also need plenty of sleep to "recharge my batteries" and renew my energies. A good diet of thoughts and emotions aids my digestion of food, so it is equally important for my health that I cooperate with the cosmic forces as well. 

JOY the reflection of Peace

Although it is sometimes difficult, I try very hard to be joyous at all times, for I know how great is my power to influence those around me. When I am sad, it does no good to pretend-I sadden those around me, turning their happy moods into bad ones, affecting their nervous systems and even their digestions. When I am happy, I bring as if into a magic circle those around me into my happiness, watching them go away with new courage and strength. When I have negative feelings, I try to think of them as a contagious disease, with which I do not want to infect others. And I know, deep inside, that charity, sermons and good deeds mean very little unless I can give to my fellow man the gift of my own happiness. And what do I need to become happy? Simply the understanding and awareness that life is a precious gift, a privilege that is not to be wasted. As Epictetus said, it is not the things around us that make us happy or unhappy, but only our attitude toward those things. Therefore, I shall continue trying to radiate joy wherever I go, for the world desperately needs it as never before in history. 

POWER the mirror of Sun

In the Bible it is written, "By their fruits ye shall know them," and I know that unless the private universe of my thoughts and emotions gives birth to good deeds and noble actions, my purpose as co-worker with the Creator is not being fulfilled. Stendahl said, "One can acquire everything in solitude-except character." In the language of Zarathustra, solitude is the silent realm where thought and feeling flow together in their own rhythm of music and fire. But all the beauty of mind and soul are useless unless they are translated into action-action to eliminate human suffering, action to work for the betterment of the human race and the planet on which we live. The present chaos, constant wars and environmental destruction can never be controlled by peaceful attitudes alone: action is needed, my action, not someone else's. I know I do not need to travel across the world to crusade against evil-my family, my friends, my place of work, all provide me with a vast arena where I may slay innumerable dragons of ignorance, injustice, intolerance and disharmony in many forms. Zarathustra writes in the Zend Avesta, "Evil exists not, only the past; the past is past, the present is a moment, the future is all." Only by my good deeds and actions in the present can I mold the future of which Zarathustra spoke. 

LOVE the mirror of Water

Just as the force of Power is manifested in deeds, so is the force of Love expressed in words. I know that until I have attained psychological maturity, it will be impossible to love every person I meet in life with wisdom and detach­ment, but by learning to allow only loving words to express my thoughts, I can actively cooperate with the force of Love, and better my own life and the lives of those I come in contact with. Love is unity; in the Cosmic Ocean of Love all forms of life are united-life itself is an expression of love. Therefore I remind myself each day that it is not important whether I agree with, disagree with, approve of, or disapprove of my fellow man. The main thing is that we are all cells of one body, the Cosmic Ocean, and a growing awareness of this basic oneness will more than anything else develop my ability to love. I try to follow the counsel of Buddha, who advised that each time before speaking we ask ourselves three questions:  is it true, is it needful, is it kind?" 

WISDOM the mirror of Air

To always have good thoughts is the essence of Wisdom, but oh, how much more difficult it is than to say good words and do good deeds! For words and deeds may be controlled through discipline, but thoughts have a way of entering unbidden and departing without leave, and I realize that until I can rein in the wild horses of my thoughts, I am no better than a slave in a harshly ruled country. So I try and try, and keep trying. Knowing that two things cannot exist in the same place at the same time, my strongest weapon is to strengthen the good in all I encounter, instead of trying to fight the evil. By trying to let only harmonious thoughts enter my mind, I am refusing to give reality to negative, destructive thoughts. Thoughts are immensely powerful vibrations, and it is up to me to create heaven or hell for myself and others, depending on the quality of my thoughts. When temptation arrives in the form of depression, despair or sadness, I try to "tune in" to the thoughts of the great masters, philosophers, musicians, artists and poets of history, feeling their ageless power rescue me from the mediocre and banal thoughts of all those who live lives of "ignorance in action." In the Zend Avesta it is written, "In what fashion is manifest Thy Law? 0 Thou Great Creator! By good thought in perfect unity with reason, O Zarathustra!" By always seeking out the wise, the good, and the beautiful, I will gradually learn to conquer my thoughts. Until I do, it is of no use to conquer anything else. 

THE PRESERVER the mirror of Food

In my efforts to understand and cooperate. with the law of preservation, I realize more and more why the Preserver on the board of Asha has more power and versatility than any other figure. All that has been created, everything of beauty, everything of value must be steadily guarded and maintained, or the act of creation has no significance. Michelangelo's paintings in the Sistine Chapel are precious beyond any price and enrich the spiritual lives of millions; yet a careless bomb in a needless war could destroy it in seconds. A friendship is not a static thing but a dynamic, changing relationship, and a reckless word may damage it beyond repair. Every species of wild creature that vanishes takes a part of our souls into oblivion. Friendship, love, works of art, untouched wilderness, whatever the creation, the word has no meaning without preservation. Sometimes I am helpless to prevent waste and destruction, as in the case of war; yet in my own sphere of activity I can use my influence in countless ways to help protect, preserve, and practice prevention; grass, trees, flowers, a house, the trust of a child, whatever it may be, material or immaterial, the act of Preservation is the indispensable twin of Creation. Every time I cooperate with the Preserver, I hear anew the words of the Zend Avesta: "The Keepers and Preservers of the Earth shall restore the World! When Life and Immor­tality will come and Creation will grow deathless!" 

THE CREATOR the mirror of Man

I am told that my role on this planet is to continue the work of the Creator. Immense and awesome and nearly impossible does this role seem to me, for I am not a Beethoven, a Shakespeare, nor a Leonardo da Vinci. Nevertheless, by utilizing whatever small talents I may have and struggling to uncover my hidden potential, I am unconsciously setting in motion my creative powers. After all, on the board of Asha I stand with the Creator directly behind me. If my desire is great and my efforts sincere, no one can predict in what areas and in what paths my creative ability may develop. Again the Zend Avesta: "The Creative Mind within us is causing the Imperishable Kingdom to progress." From these words I know that the Creative Mind is slumbering within, waiting to be awakened through incessant striving. As long as my goal is the Imperishable Kingdom, the realm of Creation may well be mine to rule, explore and obey. 

ETERNAL LIFE the mirror of Earth

This is the only force that assails me with unanswerable questions: What exactly does Eternal Life mean? Is it the perpetuation of my species or my own personal eternity? If I am to live forever, why do I not remember having lived before? And so on, and on. Though my immature need of security will continue to ask, the answer of the Zend Avesta is simple: "Let the enlightened alone speak to the enlightened." In other words, metaphysical specu­lations about Eternal Life are irrelevant; to cooperate with this force means that I must live my life eternally, here and now, as if each day were my last, savoring every precious moment, utilizing each minute of every day to help eliminate human suffering and teach others through example. It was Goethe who said, "To reach the infinite, one must tread the finite in every direction." To understand Eternal Life, I must first understand everything about this life; instead of asking futile questions about what happens when I die, I will make my own eternity in the present, by accepting myself as I am without rationalization, by approaching all my tasks with sincerity and honesty, and not shirking my responsibilities. ". . .and the same inexorable price must still be paid for the same great purchase. . ." The price of Eternal Life is sincerity, honesty and incessant striving in this one. 

WORK the mirror of Health

Those who consider work as a hardship and a burden will never be able to understand this force. "Only a select few can rise to the conception of work as the supreme realiza­tion of the mind." How the numbers of that "select few" would swell if all people could experience the joy and radiance of creative work! "Happy is the one who has found his task; he should not ask for any other blessing." Only through work am I able to put into practice the principles of power, love, wisdom, peace and joy; only in work can I move among men and teach the things I have learned. The one who complains about the nature of his work complains without reason; if the will and desire are strong enough, any kind of work will reflect the Law, and even the lofty roles of Teacher and Priest are worth only as much as they are in harmony with the Law. When I feel gratitude and love surge within me for the gift of life and the pursuit of knowledge, I know that only work done well can prove the sincerity of my feelings. The Zend Avesta: "What is Thy Kingdom, 0 Creator? What are Thy riches? Thine Own, in my Work, in my Holy Service." 

PEACE the mirror of Joy

I know that deep, lasting peace within myself can come only when I live in true harmony with all the sixteen natural and cosmic forces. It is the result, the crown, the golden aura that surrounds the mountain of hard work and striving. Still, as I tread the path of daily effort, there will be many opportunities for me to either contribute to the cause of peace or to that of discord; a simple word, a gesture, a calm judgment may bring communication where there was a lack of it; settle an argument that would have swelled and multiplied; or bring harmony into an atmosphere usually devoid of it People who constantly live on the sharp edge of nervous tension and anxiety are slowly being poisoned by their emotions. My peaceful efforts to soothe, calm and relax are balm more important than pills or potions. My own Peace, solemn and mysterious, may only be at present a whisper of the future; yet I can give what I have. . . peace to answer the chaos around me, peace to still the frantic clamor of those who seek security in material things, peace to strengthen the spirit of those who desperately want to find their Home but know not how. I feel very certain that though I am but a pilgrim and I make many mistakes, the very act of trying to understand these sixteen forces, of feeling their power in my life, of making my actions manifest their purposes, gives me the power to guide, direct and teach in a way I never would have thought possible. This is my peace. . . even before reaching my goal. . . of being on the Path, and knowing that to travel this Path hopefully and joyously is my glorious mission and the mission of all mankind.