Hard Work
Diligent labor in productive work is a religious duty.
Zoroastrianism values productive work, especially agriculture. Laziness is sinful; hard work that benefits creation is worship. This positive view of labor distinguishes Zoroastrianism from ascetic traditions.
He who sows the earth with diligence serves Mazda.
This work ethic may have influenced later Western development.
Avesta
Written about in
- What Zoroastrianism says about habit and discipline
Laziness is counted sinful and productive labour, especially agriculture, is counted as worship — the Vendidad praises the one who sows the earth with diligence. Zoroastrianism explicitly parts company with ascetic traditions here: the discipline is meant to produce something, not to purify the person performing it.