New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-24
MOTEL TIEWS or BUDDHISM And BRAH-
M1NISM


The Nineteenth Century Club was tho scene of an
animated discussion of Buddhism the other even
ing and some novel views ON the subject were adj
yauccd Undoubtedly the religion of five hundred
millions of people is deserving of study, and when
IFS investigation is conducted in a scientific spirit
much may be learned from 1t. But no good can be
expected from attempts to belittle whatever there
is admirable in that any other faith. or from as
sertions such AS made on this occasion, that
the teachings of Buddha were intensely selfish,
that he was moved by " cowardly desire to escape
existence" and that he preached pcSSimStic doc
trine of extinction ~ the best fate for the human
soulp For mono of those statements are warranted
by what is known of tho facts. The three essential
features of Buddhas code wcre sclf-con'rol, kind
ness 70 other men, and respect for all manifestations
of life lie taught that conduct was the sole means
Of salvation. and thereby he destroyed reliance
upon sacrifice As to the doctrine OF Nirvana, it IS n
safe assertion that il has been misunderstood and
mIsinterpretcd by Western Oricntasts and that II
does not mean annihilaton. As taught by Buddha
himself this doctrine says Beal, seems to have in
cluded i'm il no more than the enjoyment of state
of rest consequent the extinction of all causes Of
sorrow" Another high authority, w. W. Hunter,
SAYS that the mission Of Buddhism was to make men
moro moral, kinder to others, and happier them
selves; not to propitlate imaginary deitleS" The
Indian Ccyloneso and Chinese Buddhsts them
selves do not admit the Western Interpretation of
Niryana, and rs to the other views put forward at
the Nineteenth Century Club. neither Eastern nor
Western scholars would acknowledge them.
An attack was also made upon Brahmanism,
which was very contomptuously spoken OF. But
Orientalists know we'll that not only India but the
whole world is greatly indebted to Brahmanism,
which with all its defects aud shortcomings has
tl,o,,t broa tbnugqn1 fine chief
agency of progress and enlightenment in India.
The Brahman, says DR.. Hunter, " is nm example of
class becoming the ruling power i'll a country, not
by force of arms but by the vigor of hereditary cul
ture and temperance And he adds that the para
mount position which the Brahmans won resulted.
i'm no small measure, from the benefits which they
bestowed For their own Aryan cOuntrymen they
developed noble language and literature. They
were not only the priests and philosophers but also
the law-gvcrs, the administrators, the men of
science and the poets of their race" The phlos0-
ply they built up is certainly profound one, ana
buddhism has modified and improved their religion.
Both Buddhism and Bralimanism merit the most
careful examination by all who are interested in the
growth of religions, and it is fortunate circum
stance that of late the general interest in this class
of inquiries has much increased.
But it is necessary to point out that many of the
opinions expressed at tho Nineteenth Century Club
the other evening were altogether behind the times
and appeared to be based upon that general Western
ignorance of Oriental religion and philosophy which
prevailed generation ago. The more that is known
Of these religions the more reasonable they appear.
and when their suppOce1 doctrines seem to run
counter to any pronounced tendency of the human
mind, such appearance should suggest doubt as
to the correctness Of the Interpretation placed
them, rather than justify q sweeping denunciation
of the doctrines as irrational and absurd.