THE PRINCIPLES OF BUDDHISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 31

THE PRINCIPLES OF BUDDHISM.

The great principle of Buddhism is that our existence is part of an endless chain or wheel, and the only manner in which rest can be obtained is by escaping from the wheel. The religion itself is an atheistical philosophy, the seeming desire being to reach out or escape from that which is comprehensible and take refuge in that which is incomprehensible. In Japan, however, the religion may be called popular Buddhism, being much more unconventional and having fewer of the atheistic features. This creed, which has managed to exist, for over 2000 years, and has embraced within its ranks nearly one-third of the human race, contrasts unfavourably with Christianity, for while it begins with denying itself, it ends in perfect selfishness. It denies a place in its scheme to women, and its motto, "Neither am I, nor does anything belong to me," tends to hopeless pessimism. One good feature is that man is taught to emancipate himself fron his passions by self-abD.egation, and so attain Nirvana, the state of perfect repose. The believer in Buddhism admits that there is a supreme ruler of the universe, but he also believes that when this ruler is lost to man he may be re-covered through the influence of a Buddha, and by this term are known all persons who rise above their fellows in morality or mental ability. According to their ideas Christ is the embodiment of one of their Buddhas. In his religion the Chinese believer goes farther than those of any other country, keeping a debtor and

creditor aocount of his own goodness daring the year. If at the end of the year tho . balance is in his favour, it is carried over into next year, but if the balance be against; him, the account is squared, and next year he commences with a clean page. The History of Buddha, Of the personal history of Buddha next t« nothing in known. Numerous legends, however, abound, giving accounts of his birth and life, and the date of his birth is variously stated as being between 1620 and 540 8.0 One point on which the legends of ali the countries worshipping Buddha agree islihat he was born a noble but became a man of the people, and wandered around reforming abuses and righting wrongs, until the lower classes began to worship him. One strange fact in regard to this religion has been the ease with which priests of other sects have adapted their religions to it, or rather have assimilated the two. This has been especially true throughout India, where the original creeds have been almost entirely swept away ; the original gods of the Hindoos having been relegated to second places in the esteem of the populace. This action on the part of the priests was, however, necessary for their own preservation, as the number of converts to Buddhism became so enormous that they would have been left without any congregations. A Peculiarity of the Religion. One peculiarity of the religion is, that whether looked upon from a religious, moral, or civilised standpoint, there is something lacking. There is an incompleteness which becomes apparent almost instantly even to the casual student. The canons of the India Buddhists were completed in the fifth century of the Christian Era, while the canons of the Chinese branch of the same religion were commenced in the ninth century, and completed only 400 years ago. Without even a deep research into Buddhism any unprejudiced student will have to admit that the sect is far below the level of Christianity, from which all Buddhist legends seem to be derived — all the events of Christ's life, with the exception of the cracifixon, being attributed to this great deity of the East. In the early days of the Christian Era a little band of Nestorian Christians, in their endeavour to carry the light of the Gospel into the dark places of the world, penetrated into Central Asia and preached their religion all through that region as far as Thibet. The history of the Saviour was not lost upon those who occupied the temples of Buddha, and they compiled their history of that god, taking as a groundword the lessons and teachings of the Nestorian fathers. If there is one great use of Buddhism, "the light of Asia," it is to reflect a greater glory by contrast on the Christian creed.