Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-03-07
A BUDDHIST PRIEST.
TWO TRAVELLERS HAVE AN INTEREST
ING TALK WITH HIM.

They Found Him III ( ion, Where the
Original EuCdi;@--. i--aiatained-The
Chaplain asked tens, but Was Not
Converted l,y tl,, I :, ,rers
My companion, the chaplain, has a
keen interestin ali psychological ques-
tions ard especially in the development
Of the religious man. II japan and
China he pursued his Investigations
without rest, but he had never found
tho opportunity for which he longed-
to talk with Some authoritative expo
nent of Buddhism. L.ere il Randy the
opportunity offered, and it was speedily
embraced. | decided to go along to give
a layman's s view of the interview. We
learned that we could see and talk with
the high priest by means of an inter
prefer Now, Ceylon, you must know,
is the place where the original Bud
dhism has been maintained In Japan
and China it has been modified and ccr-
rupted. In Cey.on you still find the zeal
article. Besides, Handy. from having SO
important relic as the Butldha S tooth
large enough TO serve as dentists
sign-is the very holy Of holies of Bud
dhism. To this place must the seeker
after truth come, and here we were, the
secret almost within sight ard hearing.
So we meandered half way round the
lovely embowered lake which adorns
Kandy-an artificial construction of
the Kandyan kings, 800 years old, fed
by pure mountain stream-and came
to maze of stone buildings. under DO
trees and spreading palms.
At the entrance we were joined by a
numerous retinue of priests and monks,
draped in mantles about the size of
sheets, yellow in color, arranged to
leave the right arm and shoulder bare.
This is the costume of one sect. The
other covers both shoulders. We were
conducted through narrow ways, under
projecting leaves, which gave pleasant
shelter from the tropical sun, and with
considerable furry were introduced
into room opening on a gallery occu-
pied by single old man. He was re-
clining on lounge, and as his yellow
robe had slipped down he presented the
appearance of a spare bronze figure. He
slowly rose to receive US, adjusting his
flowing robe. Chairs were brought for
us, and we sat down, while the attend
ant priests stood about, curious in pic
turesque attitudes.
Saving the chaplain for the more
knotty points, announced through the
interpreter that we were travellers from
America, having a lively interest in
the country, students of all forms of hu-
man development and happy to be able
to meet and converse with one who
stands high in the Buddhist faith; that
the name and fame of Buddha were not
unknown to Us, and that we came re-
spectfully to learn more of his teach
ings; that there were admirers of Bud
dha and Buddhism in our country who
would be glad to hear what he could
tell us better than anybody else.
The high priest bowed and furtively
scratched his side under the loose folds
of his robe. We took this as tavor-
able symptom, and the chaplain squared
himself for the delivery of questions
which bad been growing hotter and hot
ter within him for three months. He
asked leading questions in mis- impa-
tience to get ON, and | cannot undertake
to follow them in their order. But the
substance of what we learned was that
Buddhism is the one true We and he
who obeys its laws obtains =. The
five points of the law proh killing,
lying, stealing, unchastity and intem-
perance. The chaplain asked if all the
priests in Ceylon are celibates. The |
answer came out rather slowly that they |
are all required to be. and that when it |
is discovered that one is not he is dis |
robed and can be priest no more.
We were informed that Buddhism is |
kept in its purity in Ceylon, and that |
Handy is undoubtedly the true center
of it, because it has the Buddha's tooth. |
They have a catechism which is taught |
to the youth, and the priests give ethical |
instruction to the people by preaching |
and teaching at stated times. The law |
against killing animals is very strict. |
The chaplain asked the high priest if he |
would kill cobra. He said he would \
not. "What would you do if one came |
into your room?" asked the chaplain. |
The reply was that he would remove
him. To the question, "What is under |
stood by Nirvana?" the answer was that |
it was a state of perfect peace, no de-
sire unsatisied, conscious happiness. |
One of the other priests put in remark |
which seemed intended to modify the
last expression. He said: "In a warm |
day we are famed. We cannot see the |
air, but it gives us pleasure. They |
used metaphors in several cases. They |
spoke of life as candle burning in the |
wind, which disturbed its flame. Pro- |
tected, it burns steadily.
The chaplain asked if they believed |
in God. The reply was that there are
many gods-some good, some bad. But |
who created the world? 1t came into |
existence spontaneously. 1t could not |
do otherwise, as cocoanut tree bears |
cocoanuts and no other fruit.
The old gentleman spoke sententious-
ly. His teeth, unlike Buddha's, have
not been preserved. He seemed rather |
amused at some OF the questions, and he |
frequently scratched himself under his
robe. There are about 60 priests and
mo Is attached to this temple. They
ir Sc at o'clock in the morning, de-
vote some hours to study, then go out
with their bowls on begging expeditions,
return to study in the afternoon, clean
up the buildings and grounds, go to bed
at 10. They are not wholly dependent
on what they get by begging.
/ do not think the chaplain will be-
come Buddhist. He did not get any
thing to convince him that Buddhism is /
the only right way.-Cor. Boston Her
aid.
Vashington's Quiet Sarcasm.
lFapx, ta1sc occnT.t cd fha