The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-03-14
A BUDDHIST PRIEST
TWO TRAVELLERS HAVE AN INTEREs7
ING TALK WITH HIM.


Chaplain Asked Questions. but wac Not
Converted by the Answer.
Ny companion. the chaplain, has q
keen interest in all psychological ones
lions and especially in the development
Of the religious man. In japan and
China he pursued bis Investigations
without rest, but he had never fonnd
tho opportunity for which be longed-
to talk with some authoritative expo
nent of Buddhism. Here In Handy the
opportunity offered, and it was speedily
embraced. | decided to go along TO give
q layman'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. Ia japan
and China it has been modified and ccr-
rupted. In Ceylon you still find the real
article. Besides, Handy, from having so
important a relic as the Buddha's tooth
large enough to serve as o dentists
sign-is the very holy of holies OF Bud
dhlsm. 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 q pure mountain stream-and came
to a maze of stone buildings. under DO
trees and spreading palms.
At the entrance W. 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 overs both shoulders. We were
conducted through narrow ways, under
projecting leaves, which gave a pleasant
shelter from the tropical sun, and with
considerable furry were introduced
into a room opening on a gallery occu-
pied by a 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 fo1
us, and We sat down, while the attand-
ant priests stood about, curious in pic
turesque attitudes. afa'
Saving the chaplain for tha more
knotty points, / announced through the
| interpreter that we were travellers from
America, having a lively interest in
the country, students OF all formsof hu-
man development and happy to be able
TO meet and with one who
stands high in the Buddhist faith; that
the name and fame Of Buddha were not
unknown to us, and that we am re-
spectfully to learn more of his teach
ings; that there were admirers of Bad
dha and Buddhism in our country who
would be glad to hear what he could
tell as better than anybody else.
The high priest bowed and furtively
scratched his side under the loose folds
Of his robe. We took this as a favor
able symptom, and the chaplain squared
himself for the delivery OF questions
which had been growing hotter and hot
ter within him for threa- months. He
asked leading questions in his indpa-
thence to get on, and'l cannot undertake
to follow, them in their order. Butth6
substance of what we learned was that
Buddhism is the one true way, and he
who obeys its laws obtains peace. The
Ave 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 cam 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 il
kept in its purity In Ceylon, and that
Handy is undoubtedly the true center
of it, because it has the Bnddha'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 lie very strict.
The chaplain asked the high priest IL he
would kill a cobra. He said he would
not. What would you do IL 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
IL was a state OF perfect. peace, no de-
sire unsatisied, conscious happiness.
One Of the other priests put in a remark
which seemed intended to modify the
last expression. He said: In q warm
day we are famed. We cannot see the
air, but it gives nj pleasure" They
used metaphors in several cases. They
spoke of life as q 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 arc
many gods-some good, some bad. But
who created the world? II came into
existence spontaneously. It coulo aot
do otherwise, as q ~cocoanut tree bears
cocoanuts and no other fruit.
The old gentleman spoke contentious
~. His teeth, unlike Buddha's, have
not been preserved. He seemed rather
amused at some of the questions, andhe
frequently scratched himself under his
robe. There are about go priests and
mo . attached to this temple. They