Let us study the words of our great prophet Zarathustra


When Zarathustra was thirty years old he left his home and the lake of
his home and went into the mountains. Here he enjoyed his spirit and
his solitude and for ten years he did not tire of it. But at last his heart
transformed, – one morning he arose with the dawn, stepped before the
sun and spoke thus to it:
“You great star! What would your happiness be if you had not those
for whom you shine?
For ten years you have come up here to my cave: you would have tired
of your light and of this route without me, my eagle and my snake.
But we awaited you every morning, took your overflow from you and
blessed you for it.
Behold! I am weary of my wisdom, like a bee that has gathered too
much honey. I need hands that reach out.
I want to bestow and distribute until the wise among human beings
have once again enjoyed their folly, and the poor once again their wealth.
For this I must descend into the depths, as you do evenings when you
go behind the sea and bring light even to the underworld, you super-rich
star!
Like you, I must go down as the human beings say, to whom I want to
descend.
So bless me now, you quiet eye that can look upon even an all too great
happiness without envy!
Bless the cup that wants to flow over, such that water flows golden from
it and everywhere carries the reflection of your bliss!
Behold! This cup wants to become empty again, and Zarathustra wants
to become human again.”
– Thus began Zarathustra’s going under



In Zarathustra's name we pray amen

Zarathustra climbed down alone from the mountains and encountered no
one. But when he came to the woods suddenly an old man stood before
him, who had left his saintly hut in search of roots in the woods. And thus
spoke the old man to Zarathustra:
“This wanderer is no stranger to me: many years ago he passed by here.
Zarathustra he was called; but he is transformed.
Back then you carried your ashes to the mountain: would you now carry
your fire into the valley? Do you not fear the arsonist’s punishment?
Yes,Irecognize Zarathustra. His eyes are pure, and no disgust is visible
around his mouth. Does he not stride like a dancer?
Zarathustra is transformed, Zarathustra has become a child, an
awakened one is Zarathustra. What do you want now among the
sleepers?
You lived in your solitude as if in the sea, and the sea carried you. Alas,
you want to climb ashore? Alas, you want to drag your own body again?”
Zarathustra answered: “I love mankind.”
“Why,” asked the saint, “did I go into the woods and the wilder-
ness in the first place? Was it not because I loved mankind all too
much?
Now I love God: human beings I do not love. Human beings are too
imperfect a thing for me. Love for human beings would kill me.”
Zarathustra replied. “Why did I speak of love? I bring mankind a gift.”
“Give them nothing,” said the saint. “Rather take something off them
and help them to carry it – that will do them the most good, if only it does
you good!
And if you want to give to them, then give nothing more than alms,
and make them beg for that too!”
“No,” answered Zarathustra. “I do not give alms. For that I am not
poor enough.”
The saint laughed at Zarathustra and spoke thus: “Then see to it that
they accept your treasures! They are mistrustful of hermits and do not
believe that we come to give gifts

The Saint continued speaking

"To them our footsteps sound too lonely in the lanes. And if at night
lying in their beds they hear a man walking outside, long before the sun
rises, they probably ask themselves: where is the thief going?
Do not go to mankind and stay in the woods! Go even to the animals
instead! Why do you not want to be like me – a bear among bears, a bird
among birds?”

“And what does the saint do in the woods?” asked Zarathustra.
The saint answered: “I make songs and sing them, and when I make
songs I laugh, weep and growl: thus I praise God.
With singing, weeping, laughing and growling I praise the god who is
my god. But tell me, what do you bring us as a gift?”

When Zarathustra had heard these words he took his leave of the saint
and spoke: “What would I have to give you! But let me leave quickly before i take something from you!” –

And so they parted, the oldster and the
man, laughing like two boys laugh.

But when Zarathustra was alone he spoke thus to his heart: “Could it be possible!
This old saint in his woods has not yet heard the news that God is dead!”