Zoroastrianism and the Eternal Flame of Cognizance
By EC Danuel D. Quaintance, Church of Cognizance
© Church of Cognizance, www.danmary.org
Introduction
Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest known spiritual traditions, continues to burn its sacred flame through memory, symbolism, and devotion. Though nearly extinguished by conquest and time, its light still shines in the awareness of seekers who, like the co-founders of the Church of Cognizance, trace their spiritual lineage to the divine law of Asha—the eternal truth revealed to the ancient sage Zarathustra.
This essay reawakens that lineage, guided in part by insights from Col. Henry Steel Olcott, co-founder of the Theosophical Society, who in 1882 addressed the Parsi community of Bombay with a lecture entitled “The Spirit of the Zoroastrian Religion.“ Olcott praised Zoroastrianism as a religion of philosophical clarity, moral strength, and cosmic law—an original divine revelation that formed a cornerstone of world religion.
The Mystery of Zarathustra: Many Names, Many Ages
The identity of Zarathustra (or Zoroaster, as he came to be known in the West) is one of the greatest enigmas in religious history. Ancient sources, modern archaeology, and esoteric traditions offer various timelines for his life. This multiplicity suggests that Zarathustra may not have been a single historical figure but a title adopted by successive initiates, prophets, or wisdom-bearers throughout the ages.
Time Periods Associated with Zarathustra
| Time Period | Source/Tradition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| c. 6,000 BCE | Theosophical (Olcott, Blavatsky) | Zarathustra as an Atlantean initiate or primordial teacher of fire and law. |
| c. 1,500–1,200 BCE | Modern scholarship / BMAC archaeology | Supported by linguistic and archaeological evidence from Central Asia and the Avesta. |
| c. 1000 BCE | Greek sources (Plato, Pliny, Hermippus) | Claimed Zoroaster lived 6,000 years before Plato, or 5,000 years before the Trojan War. |
| c. 600 BCE | Sassanian reinterpretation | Attempts to align Zarathustra’s life with Darius the Great and historical Persia. |
| c. 100 CE–1000 CE | Zurvanite & Pahlavi texts | Zoroaster becomes more mythical, and doctrines are systematized under later priesthoods. |
These differing accounts reflect a spiritual archetype rather than a biographical figure. As Olcott observed, “Zoroaster” may be the name of an office, signifying a divine teacher who revealed the laws of Mazda, the Supreme Wisdom.
The Near-Loss of Zoroastrian Knowledge
The story of Zoroastrianism is not just one of divine revelation—it is one of cultural erasure and survival. Over centuries, especially after the Islamic conquest of Persia (7th century CE), the Zoroastrian faith was nearly annihilated. Sacred texts were destroyed, temples desecrated, and priests dispersed. The once-vibrant oral and written traditions were reduced to fragments.
Col. Olcott lamented in 1882 that even among devout Parsis, much of the original spiritual force of the religion had been lost beneath a crust of ritualism and sectarianism. “The precious essence of Zoroaster’s teaching,” he said, “has been neglected for its outer shell.”
A few critical losses include:
- The original Avesta, once consisting of over 21 books, now survives in mere fragments.
- The Haoma rituals, central to ancient Zoroastrian devotion, were diluted or suppressed, with their psychoactive roots forgotten.
- The esoteric cosmology and initiatory system, perhaps passed only to qualified Magi, was obliterated by time and conquest.
Nonetheless, remnants survive in the Gathas, the most ancient hymns attributed to Zarathustra, as well as in oral traditions, comparative linguistics, and resurgent movements such as the Church of Cognizance, which honors the living spirit of Asha through restored practices.
Zoroastrianism and the Church of Cognizance
The Church of Cognizance draws deeply from the Zoroastrian current. Like the ancient Magi, we hold to:
- Asha: The universal truth and right order.
- Haoma: The sacred plant, a divine gift for consciousness and communion.
- Mazda: The supreme wisdom-intelligence that permeates reality.
- Fire (Atar): The living presence of spirit, truth, and transformation.
As Col. Olcott declared:
“Zoroastrianism, in its pristine purity, is the grandest and most sublime religious philosophy ever conceived by the human mind.”
Our path continues this legacy—not as revival, but as re-membering: piecing back together what was nearly lost, guided by direct experience, disciplined thought, and the flame of inner gnosis.
Conclusion
Though the names and dates of Zarathustra multiply and blur through history, the essence remains timeless. In each era, in each seeker, the voice of the prophet returns—calling us back to Asha, to the plant of vision, and to right action in the world. The Church of Cognizance stands in this line of continuity, affirming the sacred, psychoactive, and lawful path once taught by the ancient Magi.
References
- Olcott, Henry S. The Spirit of the Zoroastrian Religion. Lecture delivered in Bombay, 1882.
- Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 2001.
- Sarianidi, Victor I. Margiana and Proto-Iranian Culture. Archaeological findings in the BMAC region.
- Avesta.org. “Gathas” and “Hom Yasht.” Translations and linguistic resources on the Avesta.
- Church of Cognizance Archives. www.danmary.org
This page was created with the assistance of GhatGPT using the following query:
checking information in the 1882 lecture “Spirit of the Zoroastrian Religion” by Col. Henry S. Olcott, could you create a essay for a Church of Cognizance website about Zoroastrianism with a list of time periods various Zarathrusta existed and a near loss of knowledge about the religion
EC_Danuel D Quaintance — Church of Cognizance