The herald., 1894-03-13
A BUDDHIST PRIEST
TWO TRAVELLERS HAVE. AN INTEAEsT-
ING TALK MtFRH Nm,

Cnaplalh Ast2eds .eueet1p1R, hat Was Not
csnverted by the AnsweSS,
Wy companion, tie chsplain, bas a
keen interest in all Psychological quss-
tons and especially in the development
Of the religious man. I'm JaFnn and
China he pursued his Investigations
without rest, bat hsihad never found
tho 0ppor4 unity for which ihe iopged--
to talk with seme Authoritative expo
nent of Buddhism, Eere ia Handy the
opportunity offered. apd,itwas speedily
embraced. | decided 10 go oalong to give
a 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, Cey1on, you nast know,
is the place where the original Bud
dhism has been maintained, In japan
and China it has been modified and cor
rupted. In Ceylop you still find the zeal
article. Besides, Kandy, fromlhsving SO
important relic az. the Buddhs's tooth
large enough to serve. ASA dentists
sign-is thevery Sh0lyofs shglfhs of Bud
dhlsm. To this piace. N nstj the seeker
after truth come, and heresweswere. the
secret almost within sight ,and hearing.
So we meandered half way reund tkR
lovely embowered lake which adorrls
Kandy-an artificial construction Of
the Kandyan kings, 500 years old, fed
by pure mountaln stre2m-and came
to maze of stone buildings, under. DO
trees and epreaaing pa4ms.
At the entrance we were Joined by a
numerous retinueoE priestssand monks,
draped in 1aptiesF about the size Of
sheets, yellow in icoler, arranged to
leave the right arm and shoulder bare.
This is the eostuale OF one sect. The
other covers both shoulders. We were
conducted througE narrow ways, under
projecting leaves, which gavea pleasant
shelter from tbe4srppieM sun, and with
considerable furry were introduced
into a room opening on gallery occr-
pied by a single old man. He was re-
clining on loGnge, and as his yellow
robe had slipped down he. presented the
appearance ofa spare bronze figure. Me
slowly rose to IeoaiveFus, Adjusting his
flowing robe. Chairswere. brought for
us, and we sat down, while ,the.attend-
ant priestsfsteed about, curiogsin pic
turesque attitudes. r ''g
Saving the chaplain for sthe.. more
knotty points, i annogncsd sthPeuRh the
interpreter that we were trsFeIeEs from
America. having lively interest in
the country, stadentsaf all firms of hn-
man development and happy to be able
to meet and converse with one who
stands high in the Budd dhist faith; that
the name and fame of Buddha were not
unknown TO us, and that we came re-
spactfully to learn more Of his teach
ings; that there were admirers of Bud
dha aud Baddhissn inSour coupbry who
would be glad to hear what he could
tell US better than any body else.
The high priest bowed and furtiveiy
scratched his side under the loose folds
of his robe. We took this as favor
able symptom, "a nd 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 qIestions in his impa-
tience to get ON. and l 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. gnohastity and intem
perance. The chaplain asked if all the
priests in Ceyfon are celibates. The
answer caneout rather slowly that they
are all required to.he, and that when it
is discovered that Gne issnpt he is, dis
robed and can be priest p0smors-
We were INFORMED that Buddhism;is
kept in its pueity il, Caylon, ana that
Randy is undoubtedly the true center
of it, because IL hHstne Bud ddhais tooth.
They have catechism which!is taught
to the youth, andtheprieste give .ethiasi
instruction to the people by preaching
and teaching spstated times. Theiaw
against killing ami mails ais1 very stFiEt.
The chaplain asked the nigh priest Il no
would kill cGhSa. Helsaid heswlctiad
not. What wcaiid yentde iSs SRaas
into your roomT' asked The al 4atn.
The reply was that he would sahldse
him. TO the question, What Endss-
stood by Nirvsna@' the answst that
it was state Of perfect peao& Rb De
sire unsatisfed, conscious uapEsEi6sa. (
One of the Othesopr5ests putli 8 Fsnnask'
which seemed intended to modify the
last expression. He said: ina WRFfn
day we afesfanued. We Gsnnat the
air, but it gives usspleasdra.ss q sThey
used metaphors II, ,several eases. They
spoke of. life as a candle .hHr6 the
wind, wtitch 4 dsstaFhea itsi1slsSA. =. \ EEsfo-
tected, it b,irns lsteadssy. ~ -
THE chaplain asked IL tISH ssad
in GOD. The8EepIy tlfat iage
many geSss- s0nissgeEa, some bad E1t
who created tAe %ofid? yIf GAME into
existence spontaneously ~, ecgaa not
do otherwise, as q coeoan9f tres Asars
cOcoantlts and nd other fruit -
The old gentlspan spokgs3entenbious-
ly. His teeth, unlike Bnadhgla hRve
not been preserved. He seemed EGsher
am used ~ some u the auestienss aud he
frequently saratebsN h5tnseM aiSasSsEss
robe. Thsye are about dQ pT4asts snd
noaEs attached to this ssgsA s1G4y
srgso at 4o'tleck in thleN ifsofiii ug d.
yete somS lleuis to study, stileH geS Soiit
with thsifsbewis on beshfIfg sHFsiTl sqns,
return 70 sthdy IN the aftsfH6sil dean
up the buildings and grounds, g0ltgsbed
at 10. They are not YhelEY dephhdeRt
on what flynv esat hv baafaua