The North American Mobeds Council (https://www.namcmobeds.org/) is a non-profit organization of Mobeds in North America, committed to providing religious guidance, training of Mobeds and increasing awareness of Zoroastrianism.
The President of NAMC Ervad Saheb Tehemton Mirza invited Dr. Karishma Koka to deliver the Gathas 101 course with her Mother Mrs. Jerou Panthaki RamMohan, for the NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies
This course had 101 registrants.
Ervad Tehemton has kindly given permission to share the recordings on Zoroastrians.net saying ‘I am sure others will benefit from your great course and will be inspired to live a good Zoroastrian life’.
The sessions were delivered in line with the guidance in the Gathas of Asho Zarathushtra the Prophet.
To encourage attendees to reflect upon the great messages of Asho Zarathushtra Saheb in the Gathas, the following assignments were set at the end of sessions:
Session 1. To become aware of ones thoughts and developing ideas – to note them down and keep a journal of what one listens to, reflects upon and decides with responsibility in each circumstance in line with Spenta Mainyu (the beneficent force for Good progress) (in line with Yasna Ha 30.2)
Session 2. a. List the basic principles of the Zarathushti Daena as you have understood them.
b. Please list the Amesha Spentas. What do they represent. How do you feel we may imbibe them within ourselves.
c. Optional extended Prep for those who would like to do this: Please list Gatha verses that you feel help understand the application of these Principles
d. Please identify three verses from the Gathas that you find relevant, and please link them to three other verses from the Gathas
Please write your reasoning as you feel within yourself.
Suggested reading includes:
Gatha ba Maeni – translation of Asho Zarathushtra’s Gathas by Ervad K. E Kanga
Translated by Ervad M.F Kanga
Also:
‘A Treasury of quotations from Zoroastrian texts, a revised and restructured version of “Moral extracts from Zoroastrian Books’ by Dr. Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, original passages from Iranian texts & some new passages provided by Er. Dr. Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia 2002.
Homage unto Ahura Mazda: Dasturji Dr. Maneckji Dhalla
Writings of Dasturji N.D. MinochehrHomji
Session 3. a. Discuss the application of the messages of Asho Zarathushtra’s Gathas to i) Individual development ii) development of teams.
b. Discuss points mentioned in the Gathas that could be applied both to Spiritual and Material progress.
c. In what way do the messages in the Gathas potentially apply to the concepts of Environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility?
For each of the above, please list the reference of the translation of the Gathas used.
Session 4. Please evaluate the value from different perspectives discussed in class – of the Ahunavaiti Gatha being prayed at the time of the fresh beginning, i.e., the time of departing from the physical realm of this Earth. Please evaluate and apply the concept in Yasna 30.2 individually (Listen, Reflect, Decide/choose …..) and reflect upon the perspectives of the
a.The Soul that is starting the fresh beginning
b.The Fravashi of the person (you may like to read further for this)
c.The dear ones left behind in the physical plane
d.The Community members attending the prayers
e. Lessons of learning and reflection from any other perspective.
Session 5. What the Gathas have revealed to me, and why would I want to study them further?
