Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-10-02

probable that any Christian you might
ask would express the same lelief re-
garding his own religion as applied to
America and Europe. At the same
time, fancy an impartial and disin-
terested man might say that both have
their value and usefulness, because the
human mind is so constituted that
different principles and dogmas are ao-
cepted by one and rejected by another,
just as among Christians. Believers
are divided into different sects, such
as Presbyterians. Methodists and Cath
olics, on the line of their natural ten
denotes and their individual interpre-
tations of the teachings of Christ.
Buddhism is divided into sects in a
similar manner over differences of
opinion regarding the meaning of the
teachings of 3uddha, but all genuine
religions and all honest sects have the
same purpose and the same tendency,
and suppose that all good men will
enjoy Immortality together in the
place where the souls of the good will
spend eternity, whether we call it
heaven or nirvana.
81 encourage all of my students and
friends to study Christianity and other
religions, because it makes them broad
minded. 1t can do no harm to any
intelligent man to investigate other re-
ligions than his own. do not believe
in proselyting. I would never ask a
Christian to become a Buddhist. but
if he should come to me and ask me
to explain the creed and the principles
of my religion ! should take great
pleasure in doing so. Thus far, ap-
prove of missionary work. l believe.
too. that it is fair and proper for the
aries capable of teaching the principles
upon which they are based, but ] do
not think it is right for Buddhist or
a Christian missionary to try and coax
people to leave one religion and accept
another. I should simply encourage
all men to study all religions and
adopt that which is most suitable to
their tastes, just as travel develops a
man and enables him to choose the
most agreeable country to live in. I
have Travelled in the United States and
Europe. but returned to Japan satis-
fed with my own country. A little
couplet says:
"Go east or west.
But home is best.
"In the same way have studied all
religions and have come to the COIL
clusion that l will remain Bud
dhist."
"Are the Buddhists of Japan beoom-
ing more tolerant?"
''I think Buddhism is the most lii :
eral religion in the world. Some
Buddhists are very intolerant. All
religions have narrow-minded men as
we'll as broad minded men, but one of
the chief principles of Buddhism is
liberation. The Buddhist priests came
to China and to Japan from India, not
to destroy other religions, but to offer
consolation to those who desired it.
Our church never carried ON a propa-
ganda by force. 1t never attempted
to overthrow any church that existed
before it, but practically amalgamated
with Shintoism and Confucianism. ALI
three tolerate each other and it is not
inconsistent for the same man to ac-
cept certain doctrines in each of them.
I am Buddhist, but I accept certain
points in the Shinto faith"
"What is Shintoism?'
"That is difficult to explain. IN a
single sentence Shintoism may be de-
scribed as the worship of the emperor
and other great men of the nation, 1t
teaches patriotism. I also accept many
of the doctrines Of Confucius.
"Have the Christian missionaries
done any good in Japan?"
"Some have done a great deal of
good; others have done harm. The
Christian religion has attracted many
men who left our church and were
drifting into materialism. They have
adopted Christianity and amended
their lives. Christianity has also been
influential in the introduction of
modern methods and the sciences of
civilization. 1t has not been necessary
to accept the Christian religion to en-
joy those advantages. The Buddhist
colleges now teach modern science.
We encourage the study Of all modern
methods and are glad to have foreign
teachers. The more a man learns the
more liberal he will be in matters OF
religion, just as he will be more use'
full as citizen. 1t was not necessary
however, to import new religion in
Japan. as Buddhism was sufficient fol
the spiritual wants and moral educa
tion of the people. Nevertheless
Christianity has benefited the country
and / am glad the missionaries came. ;
"Do the Christian and Buddhis
clergy associate with each other?''
"No, I am sorry to say that they d.
not. / hope that by and by, after th'
new treaties 60 into effect, that th'
clergy of both religions will inter
mingle in friendly manner, just a
the representatives of the different de
nominations do in America. Let eacl
preacher preach his own doctrine ant