River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-27

| Itself must snow the uNe supernatural
marks on its body: a crescent mark on
its forehead. a dimple in its chin.
bright glistening eyes. a red spot on
its stomach and similar mark on its
right foot. Every male infant born in
in this strange country is subjected to
the strictest scrutiny.
When several such babes have been
heard of, they with their parents are
escorted TO the city Of Lhassa and con-
Quoted TO the monastery OF Lha-Brang.
or Sanctified House. This building is
! regarded as the center and heart OF
Thibet, from which all the religious
/ life. as well as the main roads, radiate
1t is not merely religious center. for
here are the seats of the civil, political
and judicial officials OF Thibet. Here
the chief Lamas OF all the mOnasteries
meet, and after a week Of fasting,
/ prayer and meditation. each in his APP
| pointed cell, they come together in the
temple. open TO the sky in the middle,
towering in many-stOried roofs all
around, and on its huge gates. standing
out in strong relief. eolOssi of the
spirit guardians of the fOnr corners of
earth. Here they wait in profound
silence the hour appointed for the
| ceremony Of diviniug in which of the
babes the pure spirit of Buddha has
/ deigned to become incarnate.
At sunset these baby-candidates for
divinity are ushered with great pomp
into the temple; here they are prayed
over, then examined as to the accuracy
of the supernatural marks. This done
/ their names are written on the backs
of artificial golden fishes, which are
then cast into a golden urn of water,
which stands on the right of the altar
throne of Buddha. Then the chief of
the Lamas puts his hand into the urn,
and with his eyes lifted up TO the blue
sky, he draws out a fish and reads
with loud voice the name of the babe
Loud trumpet blasts repeat the name
through and through the ancient tenn
pie. The parents, overcome with JOY,
fall on their knees before the wonderful
babe and worship it. not doubling its
divinity. The other babes are looked
upon as semi-incarnatiOns and reserved
to become Teshu Lamas.
The next day the sacred babe is car
ried through the city at the head Of
vast cOncOurse of priests and people.
with music. shOutings and hymns OF
JOY, and placed in the Potala until he
shall have become of age and his mind
illuminated with the indwelling spirit
Ofthe Buddha. Strange TO say this ripen-
ing Of the spirit of the Delai Lama va
ries; in some incarnatiOns it takes
place at the age of fifteen, in others
not until eighteen or twenty. The evil
dence of this maturity is to be per-
ceived by a certain rare fragrance
emitted by the body of the Delai Lama.
and an almost profound expression in
the eyes.
After his Inauguration. the Delai
Lama appears at stated times on his
various thrones or affairs openly to re-
ceive the alteration of his fellow-men.
But of his private life the public knows
nothing. Those whose business it is
to wait in private on this strange fiction
are vowed to the strictest silence and
secrecy. His death, which often hap
pens early in life, owing to the un-
natural life forced upon him, is pre-
served as secret until new baby
candidate TO divinity has been heard
Of His remains are privately burned
in the great Lha-Bhrang temple. His |
ashes are preserved in a golden urn.
and his clothes as holy relics of great |
marketable value. are cut up and sold |
TO the highest bidders.
For nearly a thousand years the king |
dom planted by the Chinese rebel, |
Wong Chou. in Thibet, had remained,
il is said, stepped in the grOssest SUPER !
stitiOns OF spirit and devil-wOrship. Ii I
was in the seventh century of our era,
the Indian King, Srongdsam-Gampo.
for some political cause of offense, in |
vaded the country, took possession of |
the throne. stamped out shamanisen or
spirit-wOrship, and introduced in its |
place his own religiOn-Buddhism his /
wife introduced the arts OF reading and |
writing. and caused all the new learn
i.g and literature of Thibet to be writ
ten in the Sanskrit or, as it is called, |
the Dewanagri alphabet. Ever since |
the Thibetian language, though of the |
family, has preserved the
Aryan characters.
The Chinese Government has always |
regarded Thi0et with an anxious and /
Jealous eye. They have an ambassador
with a strong force resident at Lhassa /
who are literally spies on the Delai /
Lama, on the regent. and on the Soma
Delai Lamas. and all report their doings |
at headquarters. But in the spiritual |
sense even the Emperor of China is |
forced to render homage and alteration /
TO the great Delai Lama. that dwells in /
Thibet.- HIde Quake.