The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-04-09
A BUDDHIST PRIEST.
TWO TRAVELLERS HAVE AN INTEREST
ING TALK WITH HIM.

Original buddhism Is Maintained-The
Chaplain Asked Questions, but Was Not
Converted by the Answers
| My companion, the chaplain, has a
keen interest in all psychological ques-
lions and especially in the development
Or the religious man. In Japan and
China he pursued his Investigations
without rest, but he had never found
the opportunity for which he longed-
to talk with some authoritative expo
nent of Buddhism. Here in Handy the
! opportunity offered, and it was speedily
embraced. l decided 10 go along to give
a layman's view of the interview. We
learned that we could see and talk with
! the high priest by means of am 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 cor
rupted. In Ceylon you still find the real
/ article. Besides, Randy, from having so
important relic as the Buddha's tooth
large enough TO serve as dentists
sign-is the very holy of holes of Bud
| dhIsm. To this place must the seeker
| after truth come, and here we were, the
secret almost within sight and hearing.
| So we meandered half way round the
| lovely EMPOWERED 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
~
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 gallery occu-
pied by single old man. He was re-
clining on a 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, 1 announced through the
interpreter that we were travellers from
America, having a lively interest in
the country, students of all forms of hui
man development and happy to be able
to meet and converse with one who
stands high in tls6 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 favor
able symptom, and the chaplain squared
himself for the delivery of questions
which had been growing hotter and hot
ter within him for three months. He
asked leading questions in his impa-
thence 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 way, and he
who obeys its laws obtains peace. The
five points of the law prohibit killing,
lying, stealing, unchastity and intern
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 inkormed that Buddhism is
kept in its purity in Ceylon, and that
Handy is undoubtedly the true center
of it, because it has the Buddha tooth.
They have 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
1t was state of perfect peace, no de-
sire unsatis6ed, 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 fame. 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 a cocoanut tree bears |
cocoanuts and no other fruit.
The old gentleman spoke contentious |
ly His teeth, unlike Buddha's, have
not been preserved. He seemed rather |
amused at some of thu questions, and he |
frequently scratched himself under his |
robe. There are about so priests and |
monks attached to this temple. They |