The ordered world is divided into two spheres: the world (existence) of thought and the world with bones or the world (existence) of living beings. The world of thought contains what humans can only apprehend by thought, while that of living beings contains what can be apprehended by means of the senses (seeing, hearing, feeling). Zoroastrianism is therefore characterized by a double duality: between the original good and evil principles and between the “created” worlds of thought and living beings. The principle of Order applies to both the world of thought and that of living beings. In the former it applies to the cosmic processes, established and upheld by Ahura Mazdâ; in the latter it applies to the behavior of men, both in daily life and in the ritual. All entities in the universe, including mankind, that conform to this principle are said to be “sustainers of Order” or “Orderly” for short (ashawan).
Note: the two worlds are sometimes called the “spiritual and material” worlds, but these terms are relatively modern, have many different and partly very misleading implications, and should be avoided (Source: Introduction to Zoroastrianism).
Asha or Cosmic Order in Ancient Persian Culture
