In Persia, the ancient religion changed over the years and became Mithraism. Mithra (Mitra in Indian Vedantism) means friend or contract (by which friendship is established) or communication in general. Mithra was regarded as the Mediator between man and the Sun God and may originally have had the same significance as the Messenger of God. He came to be regarded as the god of the Sun, light, justice and covenants or contracts. Though the sun obviously was a provider of light, heat and energy by which all life, knowledge and all processes and events were made possible, it was probably understood, among the priests, as a manifestation of a more transcendental God, one who ruled the Universe by laws, rewarded the keepers of the covenant, but severely punished those who broke it. In particularly, the covenant came to be interpreted as a contract between the king and his subjects and this made it suitable for government and military purposes.

According to Mithra doctrines, the Sun God sent a messenger in the form of a Raven to Mithra ordering him to sacrifice a Bull which he reluctantly did. On death the Bull turned into the Moon and Mithra's cloak turned into the vault of the sky. From the tail and blood of the Bull came grain and grapes, and from his sperm (his creative principle) which collected in a Mixing Bowl, came all living creatures. The motion of sun and moon created Day and Night and the Seasons and so Time was created. The four elements were also created and are represented by the raven (air), lion (fire), serpent (earth) and the Mixing Bowl (water). The Sun God and Mithra celebrated the creation with a banquet of bread and wine. Mithra then mounted the Chariot of the Sun God and ascended into Heaven. Awakened by the light, the creatures of the dark, represented by the serpent and the scorpion, began to war against the creatures of the light. The struggle between good and evil now describes the condition of man. The soul is said to have come down from heaven through the 7 Spheres and became trapped in the material bodies on earth. The task of man was to free the spirit from these shackles and ascend back to heaven through the same 7 Spheres as did Mithra.

In order to do this the followers of Mithra were initiated into 7 grades or levels which were also represented as 7 Gates into Heaven or as 7 Steps of a ladder into Heaven. These stages were named Raven, Bridegroom, Soldier, Lion, Persian, Courier (of and to the Sun God and Father. Among the methods of Mithraism were various initiation ceremonies, the use of secret pass words and signs, postures such as kneeling and prostration, tests of faith and courage while blindfolded, simulation of death and resurrection. Some of these appear to have been incorporated later into Freemasonry). They also practiced purification by chastisement and by water (baptism), and a ceremony commemorating the original sacrifice of the Bull which involved eating bread and drinking wine (like the Christian Eucharist or Holy Communion). Worship was done in caverns decorated with frescoes and statues of planetary and other minor gods - the term god was used for anything venerated as more than human. There was an aisle in the centre with benches on either side for the worshippers. At the head of the aisle was always a representation of the sacrificed Bull, the other side of which showed the banquet of Mithra and the Sun God.

Many of the ideas of Mithraism were taken into Greek Philosophy, particularly those of Plato. After the defeat of the Persians by Alexander the Great, Mithraism also spread into much of the rest of Europe and came to pervade the Roman Empire because it was most suited to the Military mentality. Many of its features came to be incorporated, though in a modified way, into Christianity when the Roman Emperor Constantine replaced it with Christianity. Even the birthday of Mithra became the Christian Christmas. But it is not a Bull but Christ, the Lamb, who is sacrificed and the messenger is not a Raven but comes as a Dove. The Bull appears to symbolize the unitary state of existence, of life and of the soul before it disintegrated into multiplicity. But the consumption of the bread and the wine representing the flesh and blood of the Bull appear to imply an attempt to reunite it in all those who participate in the ceremony.

However, it is not necessarily the case that one religion borrows or steals from another or that changes are always corruption. Some things are universally true about deep fundamental levels of human psychology and can be discerned by the more highly conscious. The different myths of different religions, if not distorted over the years, may well be describing different aspects of the same truth. But misunderstandings do occur and need to be rectified. As conditions of life change and human beings develop things may also need to be formulated in a different ways if they are to be understood. Indeed, that which is true or good can, when understanding changes, become false and cease to be beneficial or effective. As the school child reaches higher grades things are explained in a more sophisticated way than they were in the lower grades.

Religion, however, degenerated and was then renewed by Zoroaster also known as Zarathustra.

Zarathustra is a title, like Christ or Buddha, which may mean "the golden light". He was born in Azarbaijan around 660 BC to pious parents in times of idolatry, superstition, ignorance and barbarity. When he was 20 years old he left home and devoted himself for 10 years to asceticism and meditation in a cave on Mount Ushidarena. Here he had visions of God and His Archangels who taught him the essence of the faith. He accepted his mission at the age of 30, to warn the wicked, comfort the good and teach the Way of Righteousness. He then spent 10 years as a wandering teacher without success. He went first into Iran (Persia) with the simple Message:- There was only one God, there was a choice between good which led to bliss and evil which led to woe after death.

When he was 40, that he had his first convert, his cousin. Zarathustra was instructed by God to go to Balkh where he managed to convert Emperor Vishtaspa by defeating his wizard priests in debate, healing his favourite horse, and performing several miraculous wonders. The conversion of the Emperor gave Zarathustra prestige, influence, resources and opportunities, which position he used with great sagacity. It led to the conversion of the Emperor's subjects.

He established his first Fire Temple. This contained an Eternal flame, to be kept perpetually alight, The light symbolised enlightenment and all good, while the fire stood for transformation. This flame was to be, like the Kaaba, a centre for worship, not itself the object of worship. In this Temple the Prophet dictated the 21 books of the Avesta. From this centre the faith spread out widely, even as far as India, owing to the missionary work of his followers, visits by foreign seekers, the messages sent out by the King to all the rulers known to him, and Zarathustra's visit to foreign cities. He appears to have converted Babylon where later the Jews found themselves in exile. Under Darius 1, the greatest king of Persia, the faith of Zarathustra was firmly established throughout Persia, and Persia reached the height of power and civilisation of the times. But its spiritual force later declined and it was replaced by Islam.

Zarathustra's teachings are found in the Gathas and Aventas. These teachings may be summarized as follows :- Ahuramazda, (The Wise Lord), God, is Perfect, Infinite, Eternal, above all Phenomena, the Creator of the Universe. of Heaven and Earth (the spiritual and the material worlds, the world of morals and values as well as that of facts, of things and forces), the alternation between Light and Darkness, the Source of all good. Being Perfect and Self-sufficient He gains or loses nothing from creation. He is the father of Spentamainyu (the Holy Spirit), Ahunavairya is the Divine Word (Logos), God's Law of Perfect Righteousness or Truth by which creation takes place. He uttered this Word in order to create creatures fitted for infinite progress and development. Ameshaspentas (Beneficent Immortals) are the Archangels who represent aspects or attributes of God. They may be regarded as fundamental, though comprehensive categories of thought, and also qualities to be developed by man through the religious life. Yazatas are angels which administer the Universe by channeling God's power. It should be noted that the scientific idea of force, gravity, electromagnetism etc., are adaptations of this idea by stripping them of all but mechanical qualities.

The Universe is created out of nothing, by God's will. He manifests in the created world as two spirits, a Positive and a Negative :- The Good Spirit (Ohrmazd) creates Light, Life, Truth, Order, Love and the Evil Spirit (Ahriman) creates Darkness, Lies, Disorder, Death, Ignorance, Superstition, Harm and Destruction. The evil spirit of pride and jealousy brought sin and pain into the world. Man is an immortal soul, a child of God, created by Him to aid Him in perfecting the Universe. The soul arises from the Divine Word and exists in Heaven before birth on earth and returns to Him after death. Faravashis are disincarnate souls existing before life or after death, who may also help man. The soul enters the physical world in order to facilitate the soul's as well as the world's progress towards perfection, that is, to facilitate evolution. After death it passes over Cinvat (The Bridge of the Requiter) where Judgement is passed. Reincarnation was not taught by Zarathustra, though it could apply to some cases, but the Law of Karma certainly applies.

Saoshyants are Prophets, Messengers of God, men who carry God's message to man and guide them for the development of the world. Having become perfected in the world they become the highest spirit in Heaven. Some already highly developed souls may also incarnate as Messengers. They arise from time to time throughout the world in times of spiritual darkness. Zarathustra was one of these.

God created man to fight against evil and help the world back to perfection. God allows evil to exist because it is only possible for man to develop by fighting evil. His duties are devotion and service to God, reverence for the sacredness of all God's creations, persistent opposition to and destruction of all evil, including ignorance, the causes of suffering, the promotion of all good, including kindness, protectiveness and care for his fellow human beings. He has the power of choice between good and evil. If he chooses good, wisdom enters him which makes doing good easier. In fighting evil outside and within himself he progresses to perfection and returns to God in paradise. Those who succumb to the evil must suffer in hell until the evil is expatiated. Thus, though Hell is Eternal, residence in it is not. The notion of Paradise (Pairi-daeza = Enclosed Garden) and Hell (Gahanna = a place where bodies or rubbish was burnt) appear first in the teachings of Zarathustra. It is only possible to avoid or escape from Hell through recognition and confession of sins, repentance, making reparations and amends and trusting in God's forgiveness. There will be a Day of Resurrection. After 9000 years all dead bodies will rise, be made immortal and rejoin their souls to live in Eternal Bliss. There will be a Renewal of the World. This refers to the removal of all evil, sin, suffering, disease and death, of Ahriman (Satan) and the recreation of Paradise.

Persia became an advanced civilization and a great empire. The Persian king, Cyrus captured Babylon and after a period of captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to Palestine. He and the Jews were certainly influenced by the teachings of Zarathustra. Zerubabel built the Second Temple in Jerusalem, on the ruins of the first, in accordance with a vision of the Prophet Ezekiel. The Secret Teaching was preserved in the Essene sect (to which the writers of the Qumran or Dead Sea Scrolls also belonged).

Greece consisted on several independent city-states. The Greeks were an aggressive warloving people. Their character was based on egotism, arrogance, individualism, hero worship, the desire to dominate others and competitiveness based on personal prowess and military exploits. They were brought up on legends about courageous warrior heroes. This created a military society, especially in Sparta, which began to dominate the area. Three characteristics are noteworthy:-

1. They had a certain ideal, a self-image that governed their lives. Though this was based on military prowess, this tendency expressed itself later in many other societies. In the USA it took the form of enterprise, achievements and financial success.

2. They were willing to live a frugal and austere life in pursuit of this ideal and required few resources for themselves. The achievement of higher ideals requires sacrifices at a lower level.

3. While they devoted themselves to the ideal, they conquered and enslaved others to do the necessary economic work. Thus, their ideals and way of life was sustained by the work of these slaves - the surplus (beyond what the slaves needed for their own sustenance) forced out of them. In a community or nation, the higher values of a civilization, therefore, can be achieved, not by the sacrifice of the individuals, but the society collectively act like an individual and one section benefits from the work of the other. A separation has been created between the worker and consumer, the work and its purpose, the payment and the benefit, the sacrifice and the satisfaction. This is achieved by creating a power structure which encourages organization.. This tendency was not, of course, confined to the Greeks, but has been going on in all past civilizations.

Pericles who wanted to expand the Athenian empire, saw Sparta as a threat. He, therefore, decided to lay siege to Sparta by sea, which the Athenian navy dominated. The Spartans, however, burnt the Athenian farms and their crops. The crowded conditions in the ships also brought plague, which spread into the city and killed half the Athenian population. The resulting defeat of Athens caused its democracy to slide into anarchy and mob rule. There being no recognized law, the people insisted on blaming and executing the generals and other authorities. Though Socrates warned them against their actions, as other Prophets before him in other communities had done, they took no notice but accused him of corrupting, spreading immorality and heresy and forced him to commit suicide by poison. The Athenians tied once more to beat the Spartan by invading Sicily with a large army, but this was destroyed mainly because of the differences in opinion and quarrels between incompetent generals. The Persian seized their opportunity to neutralize Athens and provided Sparta with a fleet. This blockaded Athens until deprivation led them to surrender. Though Athens lost it power some of cultural influences introduced by Socrates and other continued to flourish for some time.

Years later Alexander, called the Great, ruler of Greece, conquered a large part of the ancient world including Persia, Egypt, Palestine and parts of India. He came to be accepted as a Pharaoh, the Son of God in Egypt.

The Greek Civilization may have been founded by outstanding people such as Pythagoras and Socrates who introduced a new way of perception and thinking. They may have been Prophets in the Islamic sense. They appear to have had contact with Ancient Egyptian Priests, Hebrews and even Zoroaster. Though they ran secret schools, some of their teachings leaked out and had profound effects down the Ages. Pythagoras, for instance, taught Harmony as a fundamental concept that connected Mathematics with Music and the Cosmos, an idea which is also found in the Quran (10:6, 13:8,13, 17:44. 67:3) The phrase "the Music of the Spheres" is attributed to him. He thought that the phenomena of the Universe could be explained in terms of vibrations. He discovered or knew the Law of Seven, and that the musical scale consisted of an Octave so that the eighth note was the same as the first but had exactly twice as many vibrations. All the notes on this scale had exact mathematical relationships. An octave lower or higher could be obtained by exactly doubling or halving the length of a vibrating string. These ideas appear to have been propagated through the Neoplatonic School, which later influenced Copernicus, and Sir Isaac Newton and many others. Newton acknowledges his debt to him in formulating his scientific theories. The influence of the Neoplatonic School appears to have continued esoterically in Europe, in the Rosicrucian Order and in some forms of Islamic Sufism.

Socrates brought about a mental revolution in Greece by introducing the need for awareness and thought instead of automatism, for questioning established assumptions, habits, conventions, traditional ideas, attitudes and ways of doing things, and by using reason. He created a new image of man as a rational independent thinker, replacing that of the warrior. This certainly expanded human horizons, the awareness, motivation and efforts to actualize new human potentialities. But this appear to have reinforced human arrogance and anarchy because Socrates appears to have ignored two other important matters, the existence of human limitations and the concept of Natural Law which were later added by Islam. Though Socrates himself used reason mainly for the examination of concepts, which should be the proper use of Philosophy, others began to use Philosophy for speculation and debate.

Other well known Greeks who influenced thoughts down the ages were Plato, a disciple of Socrates and his pupil Aristotle. Both incorporated and elaborated on the wisdom they had gathered from other civilizations. Plato and his followers appear to have absorbed much into their philosophy from the Egyptian and Mithra mystical religions. He appears to have been a good pupil of Socrates. But his pupil Aristotle appears to have deviated owing to a more formal intellectual mind, which appears to have prevented him from a deeper understanding of the teaching. But he formalized rational thinking in the form of Logic and came to be accepted as an authority for many centuries. His ideas were adapted by the Christian Church and later by Muslims, where they became a source of corruption. It caused a division to take place between (a) the official Theology of the Church, (b) the popular institutional or exoteric religion, and (c) the spiritual, mystical or esoteric aspect of religion. Each had its own adherents. This separation out of this third aspect left religion a dead corpse, but it continued secretly in the form of Neoplatonism. Aristotle was a teacher to Alexander the Great who appears to have been an obsessional psychopath. He was certainly a barbarian from Macedonia, under whose leadership the Greeks destroyed the Persian Empire which had a higher civilization than their own, though it had become degenerate. But his conquests, nevertheless, had some beneficial effects in that they opened out a great part of the world for trade and the exchange, diffusion and cross-fertilization of ideas between East and West, spread Greek culture and thought, and made it the dominant force for many centuries. He also founded a Library at Alexandria in Egypt, which gathered together all the knowledge of the times. This, however, was later destroyed by Christians.

The majority of Greeks were polytheists whose gods were capricious, amoral with human weaknesses and had a hierarchy of their own. They were thought to have their residence on Mount Olympus. The Greeks, therefore, had no idea about a unified, ordered and objective cosmic system and had no loyalty to any authority or discipline. Neither fact nor values were sacrosanct. They gave free reign to desires, fantasy and speculation. Sensuality, homosexuality and other perversions became rife. Indeed, as slaves did the useful physical work, the masters were able to indulge in intellectual, political and physical games (they invented speculative Philosophy, a form of partial Democracy, representative Art, and Olympic games) and that is essentially what their culture became, a game of self-indulgence, and this led to its down fall.

The next power to conquer and dominate the area was the Romans. Their civilization, too, was based on slavery. A group of people motivated by the desire for wealth, power, prestige, self-indulgence in sensual pleasures and perversions, managed to gain dominance over others, aided by the invention of money. This enabled them to enrich themselves by exploiting the labour of others. They used this money to buy more property, thereby depriving others who became dependent for their livelihood on this group and had to obey them. They were then able to control and exploit even more people and use them as troops to subdue still more people. The Roman Empire was built by conquering, plundering and enslaving many peoples. Their whole civilization was base on the rivalry and power struggle between egotistical self-seeking men. To aid them in the pursuit of these ambitions they developed certain technique:- (a) They developed an organization, an administrative system, and formal law. These were meant to control slaves and make others into extensions, as it were, of their limbs to obey their whims and desires. (b) They created great public spectacles, displays of ostentation, lavishness meant to impress with their greatness and power and in order to humble, subdue and intimidate others. (c) They practiced great ruthlessness and cruelty and several forms of depravity. Rivalry and conflict, of course, creates enemies, and, therefore, fear and suspicion. This leads to the excesses that lead to further hate and fear. The insecurity so caused also increases greed, not only because of fear of loss, but as a means of creating security. It produces inner and outer protective barriers, which, by further isolating, create greater deprivation and fear and formal artificial patterns of interactive behaviour. (d) They also constructed roads to make troop movements and transport easier. (e) Those in power encouraged the adoption of Mithraism as religion of the Empire, at least in its outer forms, because it could be adapted for military purposes and gave them control over the minds and loyalties of the people. Later it was replaced by Christianity for similar reason under the Emperor Constantine.

They kept the population under control for some time by means of their laws, distracting games, and frequent public theater that also usually satisfied blood thirst and maintained the military spirit, and a measure of prosperity for those who conformed and served them. Roman rule produced many rich people who could patronize the arts, crafts and technology and sufficient leisure and freedom from want allowed them to devote time and effort to cultural and political pursuits. They created lavish houses for themselves with new comforts, sources of pleasure and entertainment. The large empire they created allowed trade and commerce to flow over large area. The worship of power and fear of weakness led them to extreme cruelty and bloodshed of men and animals in public. This may be regarded as a sacrifice, not for spiritual growth but worldly advantages. Spirituality appears to have reached its low point during Roman times, and the extreme cruelty, inhumanity and sensuality of the Romans not only made it necessary that a counteracting force should emerge, but made it inevitable that it would also spread. It is this greed, self-indulgent, slave-control orientated system that was admired by power seekers elsewhere, and spread throughout the West. It still dominates their motivation and thinking to various degrees, though modified in various ways.