The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-06
Hinduism in Americn.

III ftntii'Us
An account Of an interview on the subject
OF Buddhism between one Of our reporters
and that energetic Russian spiritualist.
Madame BLAvATsKy. will be found in
another part Of this paper. II is interest
ing as furnishing i'm II brief and easily UNI
dcrstood form some idea Of a religion which
Is held by 3oO,00O,OOO OF human beings, and
which IL shortly to be submitted TO the
consideration of the inhabitants OF this
country. Unless Madame BLAvArsKY has
been misunderstood, sixteen Of our fellow
citizens headed by no less n ThcOsophist
than Col. OLcorr have already made up their
minds TO publicly profess their faith In the
Buddhist doctrines That lively little China
man, WoNd CHING Foo, will also doubtless
lend his aid and we shall thus have an or
ganizcd and active propaganda Of Buddh-
ism established among us.
We are bound to say, however that
Madame BLAvArsKY does not seem to us to
be exactly a good orthodox member OF the
Buddhist communion. She speaks in alto
Ecthcr too ilippant Il way of those of her
fellow Buddhists who adhere to worship
and devotional practices. She makes Buddh-
ism TO bc too much Of u philosophy and
popularity which it has attained. She APP
parcntly occupies in regard to it very much
the position of Mr.. TRorHINoHAM and Mr..
ADLER In regard To- Christianity, rejecting
all It's forms and retaining only an impal-
pable essence, which has no distinguishing
character Of its own. 1t would be unior-
tunatc for the cause ii our suspicious should
prove TO toe we'll founded. The regular or
thodox BuddhSts We are sure. will not sub
init To any misrepresentation Of their faith.
and there may thus arise a terrible contro-
versy and discor! in the new establishment
Of the outset.
Moreover. n learned friend at our elbow
suggests the alarming thought that Madame
BLAvATsKy may Ice very inadcquatcly in
formed concerning the subject which she has
undertaken to cxpound. He says that her
statements remind him Of the uttcranccs
Of one LorIs JACoLLIor, n French fraud
who has written upon Oriental religions.
rather than of more substantial and genuine
scholarship. There is no book called the
Bagaveda-Gita The Bhagavlt-Gita, which
Madame BLAvATsKY seems to refer t.. con-
tains no such passage as She quotes re-
spccting ADAM and EVE; there never was q
Iindoo roformer named Jr2rvs CHRISTINA.
and the same doubt cstends to other
things said in the course Of the interview.
We do not venture to express any opinion on
these criticisms. but merely mention them to
put possible converts on their guard. II
man j. going to accept Buddhism. he ought
to- take care and get TIA" genuine article and
not be- imposed upon by any imaginative ol
eclcctical imitation of il.
Whether the present missionaries aud adj
vocatos Of Buddhism cln accomplish much
here il very doubtful; hut there Is no qucs-
tion that a really pou-, irrsent and sincere
apostle of this religion might make good
deal Of healway among those loo-cr think
ers in our population who have no faith and
no prcjudiccs. A nation that has founded
Mormonism can certainly AFFORD field for
the operations Of a considerable lot " lamas.
adopts initiates, hicrophants. ro~crucians,
and adventures generally. We observe,
too, with curious interest that Herophant
OLcOrr is growing griz1od beard Of
noble proportions and imposing majesty
in preparation for hi- new functions;
and We sincerely hope that the Bethlehem
story dcnouncins WoNG CHING Foo as q
regular dead beat. Is lut Islander of the
enemy. The fear however, remains that Ice
ulay turn ou' To- boa regular hore.
Oar adyio" 60 the public is simple. nnt
bcliepe IN Buddhism unless you ave N.. +
sure what you an" about.