This document discusses the benefits of meditation as supported by various medical studies. It then discusses the origins and key elements of Tushnamaiti, an ancient Zoroastrian practice of silent meditation. Tushnamaiti involves meditating with a peaceful mind, righteousness, and contemplation of fire to achieve enlightenment and connection with Ahura Mazda. The core elements of Tushnamaiti - Aramaiti (serenity), Asha (righteousness), Vohu Mano (good mind), and Athra (fire) - work together to support spiritual enlightenment through silent meditation.

1. TUSHNAMAITI
BY ERVAD RAYOMAND RAVJI

2. Meditation is Medication
Proven Benefits
Improve digestion and lower blood pressure
(Harvard Medical School)
Decrease perception of pain and improve cognitive processing
(Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2010)
Increase your focus and attention
(University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007)
Decrease your risk of a heart attack (The Stroke Journal, 2009)
Link to personal & professional success?
Celebrities that meditate EVERYDAY:
Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Al Gore, Hugh Jackman, Tiger
Woods, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Deepak Chopra.

3. Motivation to Meditate
• Intangible benefits: compassion, love, patience, forgiveness,
supreme bliss, indestructible sense of well-being
– Become awake inside without being aware of anything
except awareness itself
• Challenges: distractions, restlessness, wandering mind
– Relevance to praying: When you pray, be PRESENT to the
moment. Do not let your mind wander while you recite
memorized words. Be conscious of exactly you are
praying.

4. ORIGINS
• First original school of meditation-
Zoroastrian?
– Historical evidence
– Archaeological evidence
– Ancient scriptures- The Gathas of Zarathustra
• SEE: Gatha Ushtavaiti

5. Enlightenment
• “Through constant meditation on his own and on fire and nature,
and a patient observation of Ahura Mazda’s work and design in
creation, Zarathustra realized the existence of Ahura Mazda. He
understood the wise lord by means of the illumination of GOOD
MIND. His mind searched for the truth of Mazda. With serenity
and good mind he meditated, invoking Ahura Mazda in silence and
with soft words of his mouth. He burned the incense of devotion
and respect unto Mazda upon the burning fire on an altar built in
the sacred temple of his soul. The fire showed flares and dancing
flames, then it illuminated the sublime path that lead him to Ahura
Mazda. Through meditation he could see with Ahura Mazda’s eyes
and hear with Ahura Mazda’s ears. He communicated with Mazda
and he became one with him.”
Reference: Zoroastrian Meditation by Dr. Jose Luis Abreu

6. The Gatha of Supreme Bliss
• Ushtavaiti Gatha [YAS 43- 46]
• Zarathustra attains enlightenment
• Tushnamaiti
– Tushna ~ Silent
– Maiti ~ Mindedness
• YAS 43
– Stanza 15*
– Stanza 9*

7. YASNA 43.15
♫ Spentem at thwa mazda menghi ahura
Hyat ma vohu pairi jasat manangha
Dakhshat ushyai tushna maitish vahishta
Noit na pourush dreghato khyat chikshnusho
At toi vishpeng angareng ashaono adare
Bounteous, O Mazda, did I consider Thee
When, through Vohu Mano, The Good entered within me,
He declared that silent meditation is the best
for the growth of the soul
Never should a leader of good men show
Mercy to those who Untruth do follow,
As they regard the righteous always as their foe

8. YASNA 43.9
♫ Spentem at thwa Mazda menghi Ahura
Hyat ma Vohu pairi jasat Manangha
Ahya ferasem kahmai vividuye vashi
At a thrahmai athre ratam nemangho
Ashahya ma yavat isai manyai ♫
Bounteous, O Mazda, did I consider Thee
When, through Vohu Mano, The Good MIND entered within me;
Of Him I asked: “Unto whom wouldst thou say,
The most deeply and devoutly should I pray?”
Unto Thy Fire, reverent homage shall I pay
With Righteousness, until my dying day.

9. 4 Main Ingredients
of Tushnamaiti
• ASHA- Righteousness
• ATHRA- Fire
• ARAMAITI- Silence/Serenity
• VOHU MANO- Good Mind

10. ARAMAITI
• Serenity- crucial element in all types of
meditation
– Peace
– An Untroubled Mind
GOOD THOUGHTS
GOOD WORDS GOOD
DEEDS

11. ASHA
• Righteousness- Living a GOOD life as a GOOD
person
– In Ahunavaiti Gatha, Zarathustra meditates on ASHA-GOOD
thoughts and GOOD words- to establish a
pristine life
– Ashem Vohu Prayer*
Righteousness is the best good
(and it) is happiness.
Happiness (is) to him,
who (is) righteous
for the sake of the best
Righteousness

12. VOHU MANO
• A GOOD Mind
• When practicing Tushnamaiti, be present with
a GOOD mind
• Only through a GOOD mind can you connect
with Ahura Mazda
• A GOOD mind will support a GOOD person
(righteousness) and through righteousness we
can achieve PEACE (serenity)

13. ATHRA
• The connecting variable
• An excellent tool for contemplation
• A physical FIRE in front of you as you practice
Tushnamaiti
– Strengthening of your mental FIRE
– Gathas: A mental FIRE will lead you to happiness
***************

14. Combining the Elements
of Silent Meditation
What do Zarathustra’s Gathas teach us?
FIRE + MIND = Tushnamaiti
[MIND= Good Thought, Righteousness, Serenity]
How to achieve SERENITY?
• ASHA + VOHU MANO= SERENITY
**All elements are CONNECTED**
Importance of Righteousness and a Good Mind
• GOOD MIND  RIGHTEOUSNESSSERENITY=
ENLIGHTENMENT
****FIRE****

15. ~TUSHNAMAITI~

16. THANK YOU