Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-09
MAHAyANA AND HINAYANA.
Kinxs Hirai's Talk Last Might ON jana,
ese Buddhism.

| MAHAYANA AND HINAYANA.
Kinza Hirai's Talk Last Might ON Jap.,.
ese Buddhism.
A cultured Japanese, Kinza Hirai. ad.
dressed last evening the inquirers into
Theosophy at their regular meeting. His
theme was Buddhism and Its Prospect
in Japan. After giving brief history
of Buddhism he demonstrated that ssits
many sects are based upon one truth
Just as the many denominations of the
Christian church. In 552 A. D.. or 150o
Hars after Buddha, the King of Kadara
presented the Japanese court with an
image of Buddha and some sacred books
This was the first introduction of Budd-
hism to Japan. Since then there have
gradually sprung up twelve sects and
their sub-sects, some of which have long
ceased to flourish. But they may all be
divided into two chief classes, the Ma
hayana or higher doctrine and the Hin
ayana or lower doctrine. The
last has ceased to flourish. 40
The present Buddhist sects all set
images in their temples which leads
people to think that Buddhism ia idol
airy, but this is grievous error. The
image is intended to represent the uni-
vereal truth or spirit to be incarnated IN
humanity; but this is not GENERALLY
grasped by the ignorant people who can
not see deep abstract truths but onlv
the outside Of material things and facts.
The image is but as penmanship for
children-a vehicle for an idea. There
is no other convenient way in which to
chow an abstract truth and purity to
the ignorant and depraved.
You may say that modern Christian
ity does not worship idols or images.
Well, l would much like to agree with
you, but call your attention to this:
Are those who pray to the God of
heaven not drawing an image of God in
their minds? If so, they are vet in a
state OF idolatry-not true Christians.
Spirit is formless, To worship anv idol
or to pray anyhow is not the truth of
Buddhism. Worship is only an outside
ceremony.
81 believe in the existence of God
My God is the perfection of being. the
omnlpresent,. omnipotent humane
truth, natural reason having its purest
inner spirit, the goal of Nirvana. If
my conception OF God is true and in
harmony with the Christian conception,
then Christianity may be called Rudd,
hism and vice versa.
"From the primary political svstem
such as the theocratical and patriarchal
government, there proceeded MANY diff
ferent forms. But now the Representa-
tive system is gaining influence every-
where in civilized countries, and prob.
ably the democratic government will
some time in the future exist everv-
where. Just so in religion. There was
no division in its first stages, but with
dlfferentlatlon OF races and change
IN environment there came ineouali.
ties, and different climes introduced
different sensations, desires and thouphts
causing their religious notifications
Ii my inference is correct all the re- |
ligions in the world must again enter
one circle. And this is the ideal of |
We have Japanese poem which con-
tains the following lines running
,,Wake noborn fumoto no michirva ookeredo
onaJ1 takane no Tsnki wo niurn kama"
Though there are many ascending
roads on the mountain base, those who
have ascended can see the moonlight on
the same mountain peak"
After the lecture by Hirai short me-
mortal services we're held for Nine. II.
2. Blavateky, it being the anniversary
of her dea5h.
Chopin's funeral march was beauti-
fully rendered by Miss OFF.
Services were conducted by Miss
Walsh. They opened with a reading
from the Song Celestial, which is a
translation of the Bhagvat Gita, by
Edwin Arnold. The following are some
of her remarks:
Never the spirit was born; the spirit shall
cease to be never;
Never was time it was not; end and begin
ming are dreams.
Birthless and deathless and changeless re-
Death has not touched it at all, dead thoagh
the house of it seems"
''It is thus that we mourn the passing
away from our sense-world of that re-
narkable and much-suffering woman
Helen P. Blavatsky. Belonging to
noble Russian family, related to princes,
wealth and position, hers byv right
If birth, she turned away in early
youth from this sphere of luxury to
seek in mountain Businesses, in des-
,rt ruins, among half-forgotten peo.
oles, the secrets of ancient wisdom. She
Found some of this wisdom, and she
onged to give it to humanity. Martyr
1om awaits all those who reveal to the
orofane wisdom's hidden secrets. She
accepted the worst martyrdom-that of i,
,alumny and ingratitude." :"
Miss Walsh's remarks were listened
TO with intense interest, and the meet J
ng then adjourned until next Sunday
evening.
The haat anripo r,ood;o;na 10 - H..