The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
-r,soalru or HvmIN MISERY

lo'",,irv of phio-ophic minds than the
,'.,.,',n .g, OF the compassionate. WINE sym
ben'"' 'i.,,,. b,yebcrn occupied with the task
ph'''' ,t,., the ,niarry which they necessarily
o. "".,.r Lusy brains have also sought to in
',..,,t, ifs origin. cause ana purpose AS
",snottoomuchto say. the efforts OF neither
,,l,,n crown d with SUCCESS. Inc most en-
1T, philantnropy has not boon able 10 erau-
US ,,r,rins from the EARTH nor has meta
,tss,.nl ingenuity explained how 1t comes to
,,.r, ", know that we are all more or less
t.,rv but why We are so. and whether We
,,, .n,s, 10 be So, is as much OF u mystery
as ever Il WAS
t.nntr Of any other solution OF the prob
,l,r.. pnrt of the human raco have con-
cuI,l that misery is ins'parable from existence
,..lf ami that the only deliverance from II Is
,,ul, nnnthilation. Tho i've hundred mil
inns Of BuddAists in Asia accept IA funda-
rocot.l 81 their religious faith the doctrine
uai conscious individuality is the root oil all
,uF.r,ns. and must be surrendered in order |
w., r.rtrct happiness may be attained. |
N.,qna. or the blowing out of life like tho |
L,,.neo u, nl "A candle. is the state to which |
n,, .sos forward as the highest reward OF
nj .it and lon. -conunucd virtue. Efforts
has,, l.rn made to prove that this Nryana is
nd Iieutit.l with humiliation. and in a certain
x.r-,t Il. not 1t il rather the absorption oil
t..ulivi lual into the common life OF the uni
y.r... and thus the cessation not OF his alb
s,4, bong. but only Of his being an indi-
..I But whether a man comes to an end
~ rely as a man. or whether he comes to an
rulu.usrthcr. practically amounts 10 the same
uas Either way he loses the ability to feel
raitliuk. and while lac suffers no moro he also
l...t mo- more.
r.. buddhist dosrinc has never had sway in
t.I,...,It.,fa thtspl,utuns md
,.m.aDu propc Of thc West have. almost with
OF exception. chung to the idea that. on the
W..o. existence is u good thing. and can be
ual,r better. Instead % welcoming nnnihila-
.s.us % relief. We dread it ~ the worst OF en-
T. iii.s. ANA W. would ian persuade ourselves
& lttlc most precious part OF our constitutions
Survives corporeal death. and will continue its
career in another world. On this point hcathens
~ Neu as Christians. inhdels AS well AZ believ-
er-. IN this quarter OF the globe. agree. BY inc
Bnllhist. misery ia viewed as the rule and
happiness tho exception. but with US the rcvers'
il tho casa. Religious people contend. Indeed
1T suffering is caused by sin. and the ire
..ous that it arises from violations OF natural
los. Irrespective OF morality; but both
r...rl ii as rcmediabc. and both look
forward to the time when ii will be eX-
trpAtsd. leaving Tho race in the enjoy
mat Of perfect bliss. Tho destruction oil
human lifa is the highest crime We know Of
M pr..e numbers OF good people even obiec
{, yar because il involves the killing OF men
Oa tas other hand. the pE.seryntion OF human
a.. from destruction by disease and acci
d ut is among us the chief OF both social and o
r.,s,lus virtues Hospitals for the sick an,
v.uAlcd lifeboats for the rescue OF the ship
w...kei: fire escapes for persons shut up il
burning buildings; and the praise awarded t
every one who by personal efforts and bravery
saws another from d,ath are standing wit
r..-- q, to our profound conviction that bare cx
iS.n,, is blessing and the loss OF II a misIor
tIn. Tho Founder OF Christianity declared thai
"Gr-at,r love hath no man than this. that ma
ly.1wn his life for his friends. aud the sent
E'ui meets with tho instin Give approval c
ey ~ European heart. The common sayins
"Nall. there ia life there is hope" embode
IL, same idea. The efforts. again OF bot
p lnihropists and ofthe churches so to amen
t.. ysicu social and moral order OF thing
tt aT-rin- may be cN'inGuished. are proof
O. Uuir bsiiel In the possibility OF the resu
u.u., 10. The socialist AMI the church men
/ p. fu. p1s.tiy.stand ths Christian. the thoor'
Ga lf.l. man oi practical experience. unite
s.rflu- . eradicate human misery anu
CT lt-a paradise upon earth. One works IN or
wrgg another In another. but the unierlyin
.s. t'.uDfGll is the sane: that evil is an
e. Ata ll'mish % creation which We can an
s.. 'ner or later remove.
.Is.ons eption. however. TO this gencr
t--. u.ut 3D., the European mind on the su
or seuted by the Prss iulsm Of tho mo
ci4 GERMAN meaphysicians. Schopenhnu
uu! Hartmann. Th,s, two ingenious AMI.
s.' respects. able thinkers. have brought In
u-.l...nt notice. the Buldhstic idea that e.
f. D.. ius ,parAhl, from unhappiness, ~
1855 can end the ous only by putting an ei