New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-06
BUDDHA.
LECTURE by COL. T. W. HIGGINsON

LECTURE BY COL. r. w. HIGGINSON
THE CHARACTER OF BUDDHA-HIs CONVERSION
HIS TEACHIHGS-IIIB EFFECT ON THE WORLD
HOW Ills FOLLOWERS KEEP HIS BIRTHDAY.
JpRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUSR
BosrON, March 2.-The, good audience which
together this afternoon at horticultural Hail TO
listen 10 Col Hgginson's eloquent discourse on The
Character Of Bnddhs" but another proof Of the gen.
eral and increasing interest to know something Of the
great religion whose influence IN the East has been al
remarkable that Of Christianity in the West
It has often been questioned which type of character
In the moro noble In reformerto step mp or tn step
down; 70 overcome the drawpsehs OF humble
earthly position, TO aside the temptationso of
higher one for Q carpenters enthrone himself in
influence above kings; for kings son TO renounce
his throne, adopt the sarb and the life Of beggar and
thus at last overthrow Gil CASTE and make that despsed
yellow robe the highest Of religions symbols. II Is
remarkable that the types should be distinctly
represented founders the great relations
of the world. These two vast faiths rule respee
lively the Eastern and Western worlds Each comprises
from third to fourth Of the human race. Each
broke the bondage of an earlier and narrower
religion. Each showed missionary zeal each taught
love and forgiveness each forth the equality Of all
ranB and conditions before the Eternal Law. The
founder Of the forth from q carpenters shop
in o despised city, the founder Of the other stepped
down from q throne, and spent his life fac beggar In
the province Of Hindostan now called Bahar and for
mery Magaeha there remain cut in stone the edicts
Of King Asoka, the rsgreat Buddhist king-the Con-
stantne Of Buddhism whose rule is known 70 have be-
gun about 225 years before From these
records whose carving In eternal could not be
falsfied, We learn what were the wise and gentle
teachings Of Buddha. Beside these, there is
o Buddhist literature Of almost appalling magnitude;
books which record Buddha's life and doctrines.
Some Of the Buddhist religious houses have 10000 vol
umes the Chinese canon includes $3.50 volumes, the
Siamese 1888 and even the catalogue Of modern
European books relating To Buddhism includes nearly
thousand titles The English Buddhist literature multi
plies fast that the three latest TRANSACTIONS seem
really to throw light the actual teachings Of
Buddha than did all their predecessors These three
Max Mulere translation Of the Dhammapada, or Path
of Virtue" just reprinted IN New York; Alabasters
Wheel Of the Law" London, 1s71 and BeaPs Catena
Of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese lso London
Is7l). Bishop Bigandets Life OF Buddha." from Bur
mese sources also very valuable book was printed at
RangoOn In 1866.
The story OF Buddha's early life and conversion has
been many times told The date OF his birth seems 10
have been about 657 b. G., and the ordinary estimate
gives years the duration NJ his life His real name
was Gautama, sakya-Muni, you please TO select
between two family names; he also called sddartha,
che by whom the end is accomplished" and, finally, he
called the Buddha, "he Enlightened" Jesus is
called the Christ He was kings son, reared In the
midst OF luxury. At l6 he was cOnsecrated Prince
Royal, by the pouring OF water his head, and
married. He reproached at this time by some OF
his relatives for two much sefndulgence when he con-
founded them all by requesting to be examined In the
sciences then studied and by passing his examina-
ton. Much taken keep from him all painful
sights the principle that ignorance Of Ia bliss
but day he when he was driving, an old man.
for the first time In his life. When he understood that
to compile must all at last, he began TO
think life a burden and not a boon, and he went
home sad OF heart. Again, he saw sick man
suffering under loathsone disease; and on third
occasion. he q corpse. The profound impression
each OF these sights produced upon his mind made the
KING his father very anxious, and he caused immense
gnard TO be round the palace to keep away all
pleasant objects But they did not keep ont monk
ascetic whom one day the Prince saw walking in the
grounds. From moment he resolved to devote him
self gous life He had himself driven about to
all the places wherein he had 1870 . .'D""
was urvugur that the Princess his WIFE, mao porne
him q sou THAT IL q and strong tie for
me TO break" was his comment. 10 the night,
before he le the palace went the apartments OF
his wife The young mother lay asleep her arm over the
head of her child. In order TO see my chid Thought
the Prince must the mothers arm; both Will
awake and my resolution will vanish" 30 ne turned
away from the Threshold shut the door, and lett the pal
ace He would not look back on IT, as ne rode away
into the open country BY his servant he sent Dack MS
horse and his garments putting from that time the
aross NJ recuse and refusing all fare better than the
food ordinarily gwen beggars. He was not yet
free. however, from the yoke OF that great
Brahminical church in which he had been reared TIC
went 10 a great Brahmin teacher, learned what he
taught and went away disappointed He sought another
with the same result With five OF his felow-students
he tried life OF asceticsm, with severe penances'
After six years renowned this life so utterly that MS
,eowstudcnts lost faith In him as reprobate 1t was
the turning point Of his life and at this time the great
central principles which Buddhists call the fo oic"'
Truths" or he Wheel OF the Law, were revealed 10 hn
Tho first great truth is the evidence OF pain inc second
is the Of pain-unreguated desires. ihe .iu
rho destruction Of pain the control OF these DESIRES
The ,ourtb IA tho means destroy PAIN that is virtue
The Law Of Buddha said TO revove necessarily In TINS
endless wheel always presenting successfully these four
poipts to tho contemplation OF the faithful
When these great truths revealed TO Gautama
the perfect science broke over him; he became the
Ruddba. Then "an the trees of ten thousand worlds
shot ont branches laden with fruits ami howers Inc
enast sorts OF lilies boomed spontaneously The whole
nniverse appeared like an immense garden covered with
flowers Rivers suspended their course; the bnd re-
covered their sight the deaf could hear, and the lame
,oud walk freely" Then II was that thel heart or
Ruddha acquired an unspeakable frmness, a perfect
purity or exemption from all passions, an un-
aterable weakness and q strong feeling OF tender
compassion toward all beings He began then
20 preach but soon found that his work not to he
religious one only. but great social reform Always
The great Oriental system Of castles was against him,
with its root in established religion and Its raminca-
tons reaching every act Of life For instance the lowest
Of all castes the Chandalas were forced 10 i've Tar rom
all dwellings Of other TO be executioners ana grave
aovers IN wear the dress OF condemned criminals to
eat only from broken vessels The distinction was TO
endure eternay; and by series Of transmsrations
could the soul of Chandaa be reborn into higher state
1t Is almost impossible flor us to conceive the social
range which Buddha traversed when he stepped down
from the palace and became mendicant ana tne com
ponon of mcndcants If the religion in which ho had
- .oa aho,,d IN thu end proye true he had com.