Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-07-05
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-
tons and especially in the development
Of the religious man. In japan and
China he pursued his Investigations
without rest, but he had never found
the opport unity for which he 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
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, 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 zeal
article. Besides, Handy, from having SO
important relic as the Buddha's tooth
large enough to serve as dentists
sign-is the very holy of holies 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 mountaiH stream-and came
to maze of stone buildings, under DO
trees and spreading palms.
At the entrance we were Joined by
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 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 a room opening on gallery occu-
pied by single old man. He was re-
Ginning on lounge, and as his yellow
robe had slipped down he presented the
appearance of spare bronze figure. He
slowly rose to receive US, adjusting his
flowing robe. Chairs we're 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, announced through the
interpreter that we were travellers from
America, having lively interest in
the country, students of all forms of hu-
man development and happy to be able
to meet and converse with one who
stands high in the 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 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 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 informed that Buddhism is
kept in its purity in Ceylon, and that
Handy is undoubtedly the true center
of it, because it has the Buddha 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 is very strict.
The chaplain asked the high priest if he
would kill cobra. He said he wo1ld
not. What would you do il one came
into your room?" asked the chaplain.
The reply was that he would remove
ului. IL tuo QuoSIlOu, WHAT 10 uuuoI-
stood by Nirvana?" the answer was that
it was state of perfect peace, no de-
sire unsatisfied, 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? It came into
existence spontaneously. 1t could not
do otherwise, as cocoanut tree bears
cocoanuts and no other fruit.
The old gentleman spoke sententious-
ly. His teeth, unlike Buddha's, have
not been preserved. He seemed rather
amused at some of the questions, and he
frequently scratched himself under his
robe. There are about so priests and
mo ks attached to this temple. They
fr Sc at O'Clock in the morning, de-