The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-06
BUDDHISM IN RUSSIA.
Its DlseIples There Asserting that It will
Become the RslIGisa OF the World.

Its DlseIples There Asserting that IL will
Become the Religion Of the World.
ST. PETERSBURG. March 4.-According to
Russian law no subject Of tho Car. whether
born In or converted to the Russian Established
Church. that is. the Greek Eastern Church. can
abandon his religion under any circumstances
whatever. And there Is no punishment severe
enough for the traitor tn his religion. Neither
gibbet nor bullet nor Siberian mine is deemed
enough for such criminal. He must either
return to his religion or die In an underground
cell in some religious prison. Under such con-
ditions Russia certainly would seem to DO not
no other country shows to-day such g. powerful
religious fermentation ns Russia. The Hpper
classes are last abandoning the Established
Church for desm. atheism, spiritua,tsm Free
Masonry. positivism. and Professionalism. and
among the lower classes tho Raskol or Russian
Professionalism il assuming multifarious forms.
from the purest rationallsm to the crudest su-
Dy, virtue Of hor geographical situation. Rus
sia lies In tho Centre OF all tho cardinal re-
lixions Of the world. On the west she faces the
south the Mohammedans. and on tho past the
Duddhists. the Bra hmanists. and the Con.
Ss an o.
100000 Hebrews, and as many Pedestrians.
besides several million psgtns: Since steam
stroyed the barriers between The nations OF the
world. q monientous question has presented IL.
SOIL. NnlrQ r0lIklOu Will De Iue T0llkt)u Oh
the world i" TO day. in the immense domains
going on. q which No other country has nny
and final battles will be fought TINT shall for
ever. settle the question rs TO whore humanity
What curious th!nGs would happen here II
religious freedom should 30 proclaimed In lins-
wh nsEs hsa ons Sr ,a
science. But with freedom Of Religious many
-k<n ~e1l.. t,.ll sln.
turn Roman Catholics, or Proles'antN. or Ras-
komiks or MGhammsdans. or Hns,itiyists or or
'0 TRs Of Buddhism in Russia is OF
rather rscen, origin: and II Is SrreadinE among
Is. l have long seon Russians Sntertatni ng in
secret all sorts OF beliefs md unbeliefs, but it
ausIntancs Q, Russian Duddhis,s
ao ,bs ocs % seo afs
my now religion. Yet feel that Buddhism has
had. Willie was = Christian had to believe
in many things against which my mind revolt
cd nnd SO knew no reace IN my CO.
" Do You You BELIEVE thai at buddhism can be inoo-
"f do. indeeI.s ' he answered. There is a
notion that religions are formed according. to
OF r anG II
origin. and yet it holds al the European ma
tons. Consider that truth, eternal truth can
DO but one. There Ia only ono system OF math-
ematics in all the world, one science Of astron-
omy ono exposition 81 physics and physocry:
can Be- only i ono for ali the world. i am sure
that today moro than three-q,iarters Of man.
hs hSs to s or n From nHn "1y o
force upon your children my things but pure
moral principles. and You will SEQ that all mon.
60. WIN have the sumo religion. which will be
': nd that religion will be-"
Buddhism in substance"
Are there many Buddhsts In Russian
Well Yesterday there were hundreds Of
But who will and who can count them I3uddh!-
sfH n En- snS
inv out the. Buddhsts OF Europe and Amsriea.
buddhism Ia already the prevailing religion Of
tho world eoSnnsn Isa, hundred million
SPREAD n orss nsSsf bs 9esa
| the commandments aud moral precepts
familiar to them. but they, will learn also that
ss ys indie
paradise, To believe is not enough for Buddh-
j y w RbsSsssry e practise a sSTsspinS
to elsays with tho thupdsrbolt Of science ihe
h,; Of In order to reach the
| Learned from other persons that the Buddh.
Ism thst Il spreading among the Russians Is q
pshaS 5hs1 s
intend 70 part with music. songs. and tie thea
| tire. aud they fnd 1t unpractical In our aga to
,bstnin from taking gold and silver. although
| Buddha counts oil OF these among forbidden
| things.
The question Of a universal religion Is warm
ly discussed here ut private tea parties. and tile
statistics are conned over which show that In
the world there are 1000, 300 jews. 10000 900
OOO,0 Hindus or Brahmanists. 4SO. 0OO. 900
Buddhists. about 900, OOO. OD0 payans. and q fow
posltivtsts. spirituslists. Free Nasons. and