Cawasji 1

Kersasp Cawasji English 1301 Date: 5th October, 2012

Discourse Community Analysis As of today there are just 67,000 Zoroastrians left in the world. I am proud to call myself one of them. Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion that is believed to have originated about 3,500 years ago. Its two main tenets incorporate monotheism as well cosmogonic dualism. This means that we believe there is just one God. Also, we as the followers have the choice to choose between good and evil. This resulting conflict of good and evil, or order and disorder, involves the entire universe, including humanity, which has an active role to play in it. Being a faithful Zoroastrian doesnt mean having to show devotion to the lord in the form of fasting, suffering or constant praying. It comes down to believing what our religion teaches and applying these lessons in our everyday lives. To be able to identify the difference between right and wrong and molding our actions according to this perception is what really counts. Truly understanding and practicing this philosophy makes me confident that I am rightfully a part of the Zoroastrian Community. At the end of the day, the choice lies in our hands and what we are able to make of it. As a child, I never really understood what our religion stood for. It was then that my parents decided to sign me up for the Farohar classes. The Delhi Farohar Club is an organization created to form a platform to familiarize young Zoroastrians with the customs, traditions and tenets of Zoroastrianism. Being a part of this club I began to imbibe the essence of

Cawasji 2 our religion. I started to formulate my own notions and perceptions about Zoroastrian philosophy. We learnt more and more about our rich heritage, culture and history through countless plays, skits and songs, and the occasional guest lecture. We went on several camps to meet and interact with similar Farohar Clubs from different cities, and I also had a hand in organizing the two Farohar Fetes (carnivals) that were held. Being a part of the Farohars united us all under the banner of Zoroastrianism but gave us so much more than that. These classes not only edified us about our religion, but they also served as a platform for me to develop as an individual. Working and learning with so many others demanded that I have an open mind towards all points of views. We were encouraged to work in teams and were taught leadership skills. It was great to meet so many others Zoroastrians like me who were once clueless about our religion. As the years went by, I became conversant with our history and tradition and thus gradually started conducting some of the classes myself, explaining to the younger Farohars what it took to be a Zoroastrian. However, while teaching them, I learnt that being a good Zoroastrian was just a tag given to being a good human being. It was at this turning point in my life when I felt like Zoroastrianism actually made sense to me. It taught us how to make choices and to respect the elements of nature. It taught us that to respect others we need to respect ourselves first, and it taught us that we alone are responsible for where our lives take us, that we alone bear the consequences of our actions. Zoroastrianism is a very peaceful religion. It discourages any form of violence and professes that happiness and peace of mind is the byproduct of working for the happiness of

Cawasji 3 others. Practicing this is what brings me closer to my religion. It is in others happiness that I find my own. This strong sense of morality and the need for a clean conscience is how I use the ethos appeal to aid my argument. Also, by having a relatively wider knowledge about the religion, compared to others, furthers my utilization of ethos. Using the logos appeal, I point out that all religions promote peace. However, Zoroastrianism stands out because an individual is expected to use his Vohu Manah (good mind) to make to the right choices in ones life. It is by making these choices that one creates his own heaven on earth. Thus, peace itself is a direct outcome of ones preferences. What one sows is what one shall reap. Belonging to a community of such a minuscule size also has its unsaid advantages. It promotes strong camaraderie among all Zoroastrians. It generates unity amongst our people and brings them closer instantly. To find a fellow Zoroastrian in passing is rare and nearly unheard of, but if one does, it is almost certain that it would the beginning of a very strong and longlasting friendship. It is surprising to know that Dallas has a Zoroastrian population of two hundred and Houston of five hundred (which are fairly large populations for cities not in India). The Houston Zoroastrians are known to be one of the most tightly knit Zoroastrian communities in the world. They too meet up on a regular basis and conduct classes much like the Farohars. Thus, making use of pathos I enunciate that our religion is instrumental in bringing us Zoroastrians together socially. In contrast to my comprehension of the religion, some orthodox Zoroastrians believe that a to be true Zoroastrian, one must pray five times a day, visit the Fire Temple daily and never

Cawasji 4 marry outside the religion. They consider all the above to be heinous sins and on many occasions have tried to oust the defaulters from our community on the basis of contaminating the religion. By promulgating such restrictions, they have deviated from the true essence of Zoroastrianism in which an individual is entitled to make all these choices for ones self. All it takes to be a faithful Zoroastrian is to follow the path of asha (truth) and righteousness for it is in spreading the light that man eliminates darkness. It is in the practice of humata, hukata and huvarshta (good thoughts, good words and good deeds) in daily life, and to be able to make a morally right decision just for the sake of it being the correct thing to do, that distinguishes a faithful follower. Throughout my lifetime, Ive found myself in many tedious situations where dishonesty seemed to be an easier option, but then my conscience always took over, propelling me onto the path of asha. In one such instance, I was tempted to cheat in a test, but my mind firmly decided against it. Coincidently, it was that very day when the Principal our school decided to take rounds of the examination hall and much to my surprise, the boy sitting in front of me was spotted cheating by the principle herself! I heaved a sigh of relief and owed this righteous decision to my religion and its great principles that protected me from this alluring but evil path. Practicing these principles in everyday life, making a positive difference in peoples lives and being able to find and correct my own flaws through introspection is what makes me successful in my Discourse Community. I have not surrendered my fate and destiny to Gods hands. But instead choose to make my own destiny through the choices I make, and continue to stand tall as a true believer of Zoroastrianism.