Theosophy only a Plagiarism.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 177, 13 March 1896, Page 3

Theosophy only a Plagiarism.

The recent appearance on the platform in Wellington x>f a titled.lady in glorification of the misty doctrines of Theosopby calls attention to the frequency with which moral precepts, often similar to those in Holy Writ, are quoted as from Buddhist writings this being done especially by Theo3o- - and others who seek to minimise the value of the Christian Scriptures. The very important question arises—Were these precepts to be found in the Buddhists' writings, and if not original, whence were they derived ? Eminent Oriental scholars hold that a careful examination of the Buddhist writings, aud of the Old Testament, show that every valuable moral precept inculcated by Buddha or his followers was freely taught by Moses and the Prophets centuries before Buddha existed; and this is scarcely to be wondered at, considering the light which has been thrown of late on the extent to which nations in earlier days held inter-ebmmunica-tion. The Ethics of Buddhisrn were evidently derived from those nations with whom the inhabitants of India had commercial and other relations, including the Jewish ; which was in its greatest prosperity 500 years before Buddha is said to have existed ; and also later, when the Captivity took place, and there was a tendency towards the dispersal of that people. Attention has been drawn to the evidence given by Strabo and other ancient writers to the great commercial intercourse existing in the tenth century b.c. between India, Persia, Parthia, Media, and the countries south oftheEuxine, as well as the ancient traffic by sea which recent research has shown to have existed, and extended from India round Ceylon and up the Red Sea, the ships being mostly manned by those intrepid mariners, the Phoenicians. The Victoria Institute of London has been going fully into this subject, aud one of the Institute's committee, Mr T. G. Pinchas, of the Department of Oriental Autiquities at the British Museum, is announced as having discovered and deciphered some new and remarkable inscription of special interest on this subject. The translations of these inscriptions will soon be published, and are relied upon to upset many of the Theosophists. As a matter of fact, nothing has yet been discovered in the East, the cradle of all ancient religions, to equal the teachiugs of the Bible, which sacred volume has stood the test of time, and is to-day the most widely-circulated book in the world, six million copies having been printed and distributed last year alone.