New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-08
BUDDHISM.
SIR Observation-Disclosures NEW BOOK

Kc. L E. svo. PIP xxx-oes. Macmillan q 'O"
psny.
We opened this book in the hope Of finding
candid. penetrating and broad-minded study OF
Buddhism. Sir Monier-Williams certainly pos
sesses the knowledge of Eastern languages, tne
literary attainments, and the opportunity
write such a work. But the conditions unoer
which he labored-having to cast his Thought IN
the form Of lectures TO be delivered unoer the
trust OF q religious oundation-evidently inter-
fered far more than be realized with the al
mosphere Of his work, and reinforcing oecioeoiy
strong original prepossessdons have gwen
,olan,ical aspeet TO the book which seriously de-
tracts from its value an authority. AS an ex-
ar,nl. NJ thu curious one-sdedness resulting from
.hese conditions we may refer to the authors
Argument or statement, in the preface, concern
ing the numerical proportions Of Buddhism. He
urotests against the prevalent estimate OF hve
hundred million Buddhists, and attempts TO
diminish the number by observing: 1t is Tor
gotten that mere sympathizers with Buddhism,
who occasionally conform to Buddhlstc prac-
soe are not true Buddhists." Sir Monier-Wlll-
Jams evidently fails to perceive that this con-
s5deration applies with precisely the same force
10 the estimates of all religions. If, as is no
doubt the case, many who are mere sympathizers
with Buddhism are counted among its adherents,
IL ia obviously no less true that many who occupy
the same relation toward Christianity are counted
among its adherents. There is no country TO
which any particular religion is ascribed, many OF
whose people are not either mere hp-worshippers
OF passive land at times doubtfuD sympathizerS'
To ascertain with even approximate accuracy
the number Of the truly religious is plainly I'M
possible Even if some arbitrary rule were APP
piled, such as taking the church attendance as
the measure of genuine religion, the results would
not give, within broad margin, an IDEA Oh tne
number of church members. 1t would now
ever. necessitate the reduction Of the current
estimate as regards some parts OF Christehoon
materially For example, the statistics OF cnurch
attendance in England show that the percentage
of the population SO registered IS nowhere hlgner
than SO, and often as low as % per cent Inc
average percentage is 81, and this far exceeds
che percentage Of church members; yet In general
estimates the whole nation is classified roundly'
II rnnst he added that Sir Monier-Willlams is I'M
able to advance any trustworthy reason Tor his
on;nion that there are no more than one hundred
million Baddhists, one of his references being a
missionary who, living in treaty port OF Ohna,
has guessed at the religious statistics OF the VasV
Fmuire. which is unknown to him. Ii Is hoU
thus that scientific conclusions are reached.
In examining Buddhism Sir Monier-Wiihams is
hammered and BIASED by the 1nfehcltouS anu un-
philosophical methods of comparison whlch ne EN-
nlovs. and almost equally by want OF sym
yathv with. and apprehension of, the inner spirit
az Rnadha's doctrines which renders this volume
less fair and consequently less useluI, tn'n us
preceting one on Brahmanisn and hinduism Al
some respects, too, his plan appears cohIuseu anu
contradictory For example, while he admits that
the actual teachings of Buddha reveai many loiVS
and noble ideas and rules Of life, he seems 10 IN
H., 30 fhn
with which he very justly visits the later per-
yers;ons and corruptions which have SO meta
morpbosed the early doctrine. Here again IL 10
obvious that he applies to Buddhism canon VI
criticism which he would be the last 10 aoihlo One
eouity of were Christianity concerned; yeU IL 10
no less apparent that the growth OIL legenu' my'n'
-...lis,, idolatrv and sacerdotal ceremonlallsm
have pursued the same general course III Oo'ii
Gases and not only these instances, put IN every
ancient religion mankind have known. we can
however. hardly credit our eyes when We re"u
the deliberate statement that persecution was NV
4 factor In the decline Uf Indian Buddhism that
p,aS,~an;sro in fact never prosecuted 1t is true
that subsequently Sir Monier-Wilbams finds IL
necessary to aualify--we might say to CONTRADICT
this extraordinary statement, but the mystery Oh
,ts annearanee continues unexplained. VI course
Ruddhism suffered persecution. and oltter perse'
ertion at that, in many parts OF ndia' ms
however, may not have been q main lacU"r III i'0
decay. for. as rule, and except when IL reaches
n determination, persecution Is apt rather 10 III
yigorate than destroy religion.
Sir Monier concludes that the principal cause
NJ the decline of Buddhism in India was l'h
pessimist doctrine. Before accepting that theory
we must remember that the faith hourlsned 1or
thousand years, and that only ai.ei
that long fruition did decay se' IL
Now this points to conclusions "ipTn
.ora,.t radically with those Of the WORK
before us. Buddhism has now. and tOr many
centuries has possessed, an Agnostic and fesslmiS
aect The existence and especially the literature OF
This Aeabxric sect have been endless sources OF
a.rfusion to Western students, who, In theh
efyorts 70 disentangle the perplexIng facts' nave
,nisinterpreted the early Buddhist canon-whlcl
conld alone have revealed the truth 10 theih
That truth is that Buddha was Gnosuo' mo-
- Aorostie That he did not teach fesslmism
na,a+ he taueht the same doctrine OF the VahlVS
:, aa,tbIv possessions and affections ana am
b;tions which Jesus was TO announce hve centurie
later. That in regard to the chlei ailn VI Ga
;stence he encouraged his followers 70 s'fiVe aiV
n condition which, allowing ior oiherenooo
- and inherited conceptions correspond
.N-si., e. the very highest ideal Of Heaven eve
1890 nv Christian thinkers. Nor is the eVl
s sar.e =, all this far to seek. The student mus
=. ho,alesslv preiudiccd who can read the booi
80 the Great Decease," the Dhammapada' IN
sIalita- yistara," the Maha-Sudassana sutta,
.s.s sutta called The Foundation Of the Kingdom
Of Righteousness' tall of which arc among =. ~
grliest collections Of Gotama's teachings. ana IN
essence of all Of which had been transmitoeo orai
from his lifetime with the absolute oH'ua, ." ~
,as-,ai fidelity which during ages has oeen on
a the eommcnest Hindu accomph slul.r h.s ",
va LICENCES of the doctrine taught.
f,f course, Sir Monier-Winiams depends cnie ~
a. M aenreeiatiye view of Buddhism upon IA
modern Interpretation of Nirvans, and here asa s
10 stands convicted of violation Of the mo
vital principles of historical criticism hls aGt