In Zarathushtra's Gathas, each man and woman is urged to reach Ahura Mazda's perfection by imbibing His essences or attributes within himself and in his life. However, man's responsibility does not end with the betterment and growth of just himself. His is a collective responsibility. Apart from himself, he is also responsible for the promotion and establishment of a just, equitable and progressive social and political order around him, in society, in his country and in the world. In other words he must strive to establish Ahura Mazda's Kshathra - His Good Dominion of Choice.

The word Kshathra comes from a root meaning 'to settle', or 'better'; the power and or authority to settle and/or protect the settled persons. To understand the concept it is necessary to remember that Zarathushtra often compares the peaceful settler, to the aggressive nomad.

This is not simply a literal comparison. In reality, these two terms are used of the settled person who decides to settled down and live a productive life, to join society and to work towards its betterment. And conversely of the person, who refuses to be responsible, who selfishly seeks to maintain an unsettled life at the expense of others and who does not think of, or want to promote society and the well being of the world.

So what then is Kshathra? As an attribute of Mazda, Kshathra is God's Ideal Dominion, His sovereignty on earth, His infinite strength and benevolent power. In relation to Man, Kshathra is the ideal rule or authority that promotes or facilitates the achievement of Haurvatat and Ameretat (Wholeness and Immortality) by the greatest amount of God's creatures.

How can such an order be brought about? At an individual level, it is the power and the authority to harmonize one's thoughts, words and actions to Good Mind and Righteousness

At a collective level it is a social order where Good Mind and Righteousness rule. It is built on the foundation of stability (Aramaiti). It is reflected in a government, whose representatives are freely chosen only for their Righteousness. When such men are elected, they become the rehabilitators of those who are oppressed in any way. It is the society that promotes the settled life. (This is the essence of the Ahunavar prayer).

Thus Kshathra is the Ideal Order - the Good and Benevolent Order of Choice: the Kingdom of God on Earth, or at the very least, the way in which God wishes us to live. The Divine version of this Order is the "House of Good Mind", or the "House of Song", where the Wise Lord dwells. Let us see how the Dominion is used in the Gathas:

Serenity (Aramaiti) promotes the unconquerable Dominion (Song 1:3). It is granted through Righteousness and Good Mind (Song 2:10). It is realized through Good Mind (Song 3:8) It also increased by Good Mind and is promoted by Righteousness (Song 4:6 & 16).

God grants it and the beneficent person works for its realization (Song 4:21 & 22). It belongs to the Good Mind and it promotes enlightenment (Song 6:5 & 10) In its Divine plane is gracious rewards and it is divine and powerful.

Promoters of Good Mind live in the Divine Dominion (Song 7:3). It is for protecting the oppressed (Song 7:5). God comes with Dominion at the final turn of creation (Song 8:6). Serenity prevails in it (Song 8:16). It is arranged through Good Mind (Song 9:6). God is the master of it (Song 9:9)

God establishes His principles through Dominion (Song 10:7). The granting of Wholeness & Immortality occurs in the Dominion (Song 10:10) It Promotes peace through Serenity (Song 13:11) Happy union with Righteousness is given by God in the Divine Dominion (Song 14:8)

The rewards of help and protection through Good Mind & Righteousness and the settled life will belong to whom they were promised through Dominion (Song 15:1-3). God is praised through Good Dominion (Song 15:4) Dominion is to be chosen, desired and prayed for (Song 16:1-2) Dominion provides the honest living oppressed with a better living (Song 17:9)

HAURVATAT: WHOLENESS OR COMPLETION: Haurvatat is the state of Wholeness, or Completeness, that is incrementally achieved by those who choose thoughts, words and deeds of Righteousness, with Good mind and Serenity, while also striving for the Good and Chosen Dominion. It is the goal of physical existence to achieve this full state of Wholeness; it is the prerequisite to Immortality and crossing the Chinvat Peretu (The Sorting Bridge) to the 'Better Existence', or 'The House of Songs'. It can be partially experienced during ones progress to its full achievement. It is also the acquisition of all other Essences of God, for to achieve it, one must be indwelled by, and grow in Righteousness, Good Mind, Serenity, Benevolent Chosen Dominion and all other Essences of God, Seraosha, Ashi etc. When we, through Spenta (progressive) choices, Asha-like choices and thus Good choices, have completed ourselves to our full capabilities with the acquisition of God's Essences, then we acquire Immortality.

AMERETAT: IMMORTALITY: Literally, Ameretat means non-deathness, or the state of non-dying. This is universally translated as Immortality, but could be defined also as Eternal Life, and in my opinion, it is the state of the self, or soul, who crosses the Chinvat Peretu, attaining the Better Existence and does not have to reincarnate.

It is the state achieved by those who have fully acquired Wholeness, but it is also incremental in nature and thus it can be partially experienced before its full attainment. It is the state that we shall enjoy to its fullest in the Better existence. It is in this Better Existence that we shall achieve the totality of All God's Essences. That is the Divine Dominion - The House of Good Mind, the House of Song, where God dwells.

Ameretat and Haurvatat are so often used together, that they have been referred to as twins. Wholeness is the final prerequisite for immortality. Only the Whole person, the person who is complete in and of itself, can achieve Ameretat, which guarantees a Better Existence after death. The following are some ways these two concepts are used in the Gathas:

Zarathushtra´s message leads to Wholeness & Immortality (Song 4.6). He who is a friend of God Wise is granted Wholeness and Immortality (Song 4.21). False deities deprive men of Immortality (Song 5.5)

Haurvatat and Ameretat are granted by God (Song 6.8). Deeds, words and venerations lead to them. (Song 7.1). They lead to God's splendor (Song 7.11). Those who hear the divine message shall have Wholeness & Immortality (Song 10.5). They are granted through Good Mind's doctrine (Song 16.7).

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