The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23
SOJTE NEW BOOkS



spcctivo religions has been reprinted by Dr. j.
NJ PEBBLES, under the title Buddhism and
christianity. II makes. with DR.. Pccbles's
preface and explanatory notes, n pamphlet OF
about 100 pages and IL n very curious and in
tcrestina piece Of literature.
Tho Buddhist priest was named Migettu-
WAITE. and his tomplo IA said to have been ut
Cotanchna. near MutwaL Tho missionary
was tho Rev. David silva. minister of tho
Pantura Wesleyan chapel. The two had before
boon engaged in similar contests. provoked by
mutual attacks. but this was tho first timo they
met face 10 face before the public in oral argu-
ment. Mr.. silva. il seems, had mado soma
charges against Buddhism in % sermon
preached in his chapel to which tho Buddhists
took exception and which they called upon him
to substantiato. This led to tho appointment OF
time and place. and the holding Of tho disputa-
ton. Tho proceedings lasted two days. two
sessions bcing held each day-ono from TO 10
A. NJ. and the other from , to L. M.-oach man
speaking for one hour alternately. A tcmpora-
ny building WIS erected to accommodate the
audience. which numbered about 5000. mostly
native Cingacse from Pantura and It's vicinity
The scene is thus described by the reporter.
The time appointed for commencing the discussion was
eight O'Clock m the morning and long before that hour
thousands Of natives seen vending their way at
urea IN tfOf hulNaN SUITS into tht large
IN which stood the ample bungalow where the adV'r
To meet ~ seven the green was one sea NJ
heads Each district had sent It's quota IT villagers anu
Colombo was pre- ncd by few intellectual looking
silk CARRIED young Cinsaicse, determined 10 give w all
for the great champion OF buddhism igettuwauV.
The bungalow itself presented very say appearance
the hall occupied by the Protestant party was deco
rated with cvergrccns and had ceiling aud cloths on
the table as whis snow. The Buidhi.ts. however,
color they had rich iauask table covers
ceiling which reminded the tdcolor hae ct the
French and cstoonings 0t yarcgatod hucs IN addition
TO the yellow sk or the priests themselves
These not all. posse OF the Ceyon police were
also there ocsrod by Inspector Ekenayckc who was In
his uniform, goyod, bcitcd. aud mounted on his noble
stced he was seen drilling handful OF pohcc--some
fourteen mcn-and performing all sorts Of cvolutons
among the crowd; but the order and quctness which
prevailed among the Ave or six thousand men were no,
due to their presence evidenced In than
instance during the meeting.
All this yellow robed priests, the sable attire Of the
Protestant lorgymcn. the fantastic dresses OF the
multitude. the Inspector stalking perfectly erect
the walk lined each side by children Of all
and compcsions the slow murmer of human voices ris
Ink at times like the OF the inerspersed &C
oaonay by the clear voices Of the ubiquitous shorbe
vender. and the roasted gram seer-thc invsrahe con
eomiiants OF Ceylon crowd-rendcred the scene per
fccty picturesque Larscr crowds may often be seen IN
many places In Europe, but surely such motley
gathering that which consrcgacd this ccasion
only he seen in the East Imagine them all seated
down and listening with rapt attention to yellow robcd
priest holding forth from the platform filled with bud
dhst priests Clergy men. and Cingacse clad then
national costume, and your readers form idea
avery faint inGced-of the heterogeneous mass III al
revealed in display OF Ciigalese eloqucnce seldom
heard IN this country
The debate was conducted in English. which
appears to be toleraby Ineligible to the native
population Of Ceylon. The priest We are told
showed a better command Of words adapted tu
the common people. who constituted the mass
OF his hearers than the missionary. who used
more abstruse and learned expressions. and
therefore, was less well understood Both mon
were familiar with the Buddhist Scriptures IN
their original Pail. as well as with the Chris
tan Bible. and made copious quotations from
each.
The nrst topic taken up was the alleged de-
NAL by Buddha OF the existence Of soul in
man which survives the deatll o! the body. This
was Mr.. Silva's original ground Of alta 4 upon
Buddhism, and To- maintain II he quoted from
the Sutra Ptaka-one Of the three Buddhist sa.
cred books-numcrous passages declaring that
everything which constitutes the individual
man perlshcs at death. One OF his citations is
this:
KamnaHs Miitrc auitiaf Tti t,-t. ','t. lfi, ut
tis.la a'sa siHi aiyi coz otrt4ft ihrh "et' , .iH
thAh,po Tim rf-atH m,tf,isu.
Priests, whatisdcath' itisthc cessation o' existence
IN each state, the breaking up OF the frame the vanish
Ing OF its parts the destruction of the hnly iecoas he
breaking up the kAu,0uis the Throwing away OF he
hicess irame-this is death.
In contrast with tho Buddhist teaching lac
quoted these texts from the Christian Bible,
which. he said made the do 'trnr Of the immor-
lalty ofthe soul as clear a. the MONDAY sun:
And Jesus said unto him Verify -ay unto thee rola,
shalt thou be with me IN Paradise Luke xiii. -
And he kneeled down. ami cried with loud voice
Lord lay this sin 10 their charge And when he ha,
Iaid this, he ieil asleep Acts VII cp
For verify. as absent in holy hut present spirit
have Judged already. As though were present concern
Ing him that hath so done TINS iced ! Cor, VS.
He then argued that. inasmuch as Buddhf
taught that nothing survived the death OF tn
body. he offered no incentive to n good life. an,
presented no terror Of future punishment t.
evil doors
Tho priest next had his innings He bcgnI
by pointing out some mistakes OF Mr.. Silva II
iranslating from the Pail language. and 10y rdi
culin9 his claim TO acquaintance with the Budd
hist books He then proceeded TO expound tn
true Buddhist doctrine on the subject
Human beings had two deaths; one was the complete
change sensations underwent every moment which
resulted in the production Of new emotions, and On
other that death which everybody understood by h
phrase OF going To another world Sensations, the,
well aware. vary every moment. desires power O
thinking passions and opinions change constantly tn
body too, which. occordiu- % Budih.-m, consisted
hirty-two parts uniersocs though lnlrrceruhly, N
same operation for instance har which ~as one of the.
thirty two compononts erew every dny, AMI Ms asuinn
extraordinary length. when not cut, was onlN rcNcu
ed by its occasionally falling on Accordingly the Dat
now on their heads was not tho same n that th,A Ia
when they infants This change wa. not 0nhu,i
hair the remaining constituents o the lody shared Ma
fate-H of being proiuccd and OF r,rshng ever
moment Moreover, the various part, of RJ1Iidf'0
(outward appearance were also subject to ihis momcu
AIRY death 10 VIII ch allusion WAS previously made I'll
proper meaning Of the second death, Of which he la
spoken the termination If mans career in this lt
Simultaneously with this death, change of cNi,,onc
rau-ng the production Of a being 20 whom the quintc
sence Of mans inmost desires was transferred. too
place ItWa. not new being that was thus producr
the reverend gentleman had attempted 90 show, m
tause the desire producing tie being WAS not
new desire, hat only result Of those that pg
teied It The ori.in OF the desire, wa, the Sam
tnd there continuity IN them, the 4u
tessence of which only took shape at death II.
Christians d' ciarcd. the Ana which proceeded 20 snoh,
world were uni, e, and was not ceaNiug exist
As he had mt planned, and which wa. she view he
AL tia I.