New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-16
RHYS-DAVIDS ON BUDDHISM.
THE ENGLISH PROFESSOR DELIVERS AN
INTERESTING LECTURE.
IT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE COLUMBIA Uni
vERsITY coURsE-rHE SPEAKER INTRO

1T WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE COLUMBIA Uni
vERsITY corRsE-THE SPEAKER INTRO
DrcED BY PRESIDENT Low.
The first lecture OF the University Course of Co.
lumba College was delivered last evening by Pro-
fessor r. w Rhys-Davids at Carnegie Chamber
Music Hail on THE History and Literature OF
Buddhism" The speaker introduced by Presi-
dent Low. who welcomed him In behalf OF the col
lece. Professor Rhys- Dav!ds prefaced his lecture
with the information that he should say nothing In
particular about Buddhism but would. as clearly
as possible In tho allotted time. describe the In
tclleciual surroundings out OF which Buldnsn
arose. Mention was first made or the common
saying that NO nation or tribe exists Whlch IL
without some RELIGIOUS belief" but the meaning o.
the word religion" he said varied With the ne
lever or non-beeyer each writer on the subject
extending or changing the meaning so that II
should cover his chosen dogma OF faith The deiin-
iiOns of various writer's were given. That OF MAI
thew Arnold being Morality. touched by emotion
No definition stable 1t was said no TWO
individuals regarding 1t ia the same light and the
counotation Of word being. in reality. what pop
ular acoeptat!on made Il. That nothing 80 deeply
affccted A community as religion was declared to
be a eact.
This revival Of the study of Buddhism con
tinueA the speaker, rs most instructive and IN
tcresting and the action OF the college In adopt
ing it's present course is wise The religion
Of tho East Is worthy OF thought ard study No
where else do We find 1t stretching back over 5000
years Nowhere else do We find such freedom OF
thought such generous acceptance Of the faith
% others such evolution OF belief. such marvel
lo,Is continuity from the early faith up to the
present re lcious dogmas. In Persia The original
belize is but jus; beginning to be known. The his
tory OF China IL almost blank. systematic
record being available. and only In india do we
find real continuous knowledge. ON the main lines.
history IL remarkably clear. reaching It's culminat-
ing POINT In Buddhism. one step further than Is
reached by any other religion which is offered to
our view Primitive has left no records. but
ono or tno principal thoughts generally adj
mittcd. one being that primitive man made no
difference between experience in real NE ana
dreams. IN fact he ooked upon dreams as reality.
and from this simple seed. soul theories grew but
how. has been cite Of the battle-srounds Tor stu
dents"
The various forms OF life which, supposedly. we're
invested Nl,h soul were referred t.. also the NUM-
h,riess leiiics Who the objects of worship.
~ ihe original gods had been said to b. goddesses
ne spoaker considered that the original deities
must have originated In the matriarchial ag" Il
heinz known thai the moon was worshippci before
tn, -Iu. and mother 'arth before al.
GOD had no existence. excepting In the brains
of vorshiprers" said the speaker. "Worshippers
OF . new god looked un1n themselves ~ r'tormeis
ami upon the believers n old theories As atheists
Neither sect wcrs reformers atheists. or found
cas- Of any lasting theories. hut progress 81 thought
Wa reverted which was followed by other beliefs.
l. seems To bc fac, that no collection ot sacred
books ever bears = date hut scholars agree to the
inI'spuiabie proof that 80 far back "a l9' before
,hfi.t ne records 81 Ina how 'l advanced thought
in soul theories This az" reveals AN interesting
piofur- of clans which were closely Formed i'S''h'r
They a,e-lei 90 Do n' 'nsely religious ~ certain
wa, hut ihoy had No. morality outside their clan.
their ruling passions being 20 ncre.se their num-
B.. ~ I IL Irobauie that their
religion sat but lightly upon them. they being "N-
,~.n ns.y simple AMI ch.ld.ikc, hut history shows
IN unfortunate increase In the domination 81 Aryah
o. though ihe boiier spirits were puannS on into
mo hot plain. 81 India Before III" rise Of Budd
r'.r' re country WAS almost co.npleteN Ayan
I'll The darker ..d~ ~ their relgon was sno"n
b. mir be.cf in omens. spells and superstiiions
ana for riine inc whole intellectual power Of the
e,iariy 81 ,hc ancient hymns o Ida
said 10 be- the selection OF a different goa 10y eacn
tooci,r.S Ina, wherever suiicien, intellect to
be- found IN connection MN the rss'l, %,
boz llpldual soul making an "nort 10 ssSei Hih w
Identity vim he great sou, wherein al ha ck 'n fhr
bcing All o.her beliefs were sald 10 iAcN ne
clenrueas OF India's theories. II VAS alleged ~
European sch.sIs ara others tha, nos
g,fiy ~. nr Inc stepping stone u being known that
iht va ln1 % ,h ""cIusiom being reached
ihat kaplla vas the founder OF THIS reIieious SIS
buddhism, arose the list occurring In diaiogue
- Buddha" Tho speaker declared his belief that
herr~lc~
Vas created hy his reading OF IN" lst me ~
- nco.la ha.,ns different beliefs were divided
into elasscs Tie dogma Of the world hai Tour
Gets ~ followers. the hrst class believing ~ 10 pe
finite the second infinite, the MIRO botn' 'ne
fourth neither Al phases % soul belief ara OF us
condition before and after death were icluieii III
me horcsics The beliefs OF NOV" 10 tt,dlii S'itn
lion were many one class believed In ne lul
u-. of he I've another class IN con 'ch'ii
lion ~ thought. third In action without th""th'
a fourth in meditation untarnsAed by inquiry, ana
Vet another IN peace without thought or ACTON.
IT {, not likcly." continued IN" speaker thal
any Of these various scots Mere orsaIii%d put thS
l.st gives some idea Of prevailing thoughts ana
fheo,ies The Buddhist scheme az "thlDs ana
psychology is put forward a answer I" all th'Se
spcculations. 49,, - ......,,,.,
'Th, speaker closed ly afscrunS that the POSITIVE
side Of BUD lhlsm was very Inherent from 'hr
negative eil. which ignored God and the soul. ana
of which h. would speak m later lecture me
next lecture OF the corrs" VIII De h"lh III 'h' sahe
hall Tuesday evening, January -