New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-30
THE LIFE OF THE BUDDH1.
PROFESSOR RHYS DAvIDS DESCRIBES THE CIR
CUMSTANCES SURROUNDING TIE BIRTH
AND CAREER OF GOTAMA

PROFESSOR RHYs- DAvIDs DESCRIBES THE CIR
CUMsTANCEs SURROUNDING TIE BIRTH
AND CAREER OF GoTAMA.
1.-The Life Of the BIddha" was the subject OF
the third lecture Of the Columbia Course which
was delivered last evening by Professor T. w.
Rhys- Davids. in Chamber Music Hall 1t de-
clared by the speaker that II was a strange fact
but characteristic Of Buddhism. that the life OF
Gotama. the Buddha. never had been written. in
terest in the details OF the religion not having been
sufficient TO bring this about. Most Of the circum-
stances and the dongs Of his life were made known
by the 1S dialogues Of the Buddha- each one con-
tanning some details in connection with II.
1T is generally supposed" the speaker continued.
that Gotama. the Buddha. was the son OF king
There is nothing IN the older books to confirm this
opinion. He born In the sixth century before
Christ in a clan called the Sakyas, who lived about
a hundred miles northeast OF Benares. and occupied
there a small territory about two hundred miles
square in extent. The valley OF the Gauges was al
that time occupied by number OF such clans. VINO
were republican In government-some OF them arts
,ocratic and some OF them democratic In two
places kingdoms had been formed. but the SakyA
clan had still maintained It's independence IL
was governed by a sort OF town meeting IN when
the heads Of houses took part and the relatives OF
Gotama among the most influential leaders vi
tho clan In the same way Is generally sup
posed that Ciotama was born IN palace anu
brought up In the midst OF Oriental luxury. ms
10 not the case His people probably HVed IN
mud hut and had never stone building
While the level OF intelligence in the clan was very
high the economical conditions were very simple.
The people were agrculturists, dependent on their
lands and animals. GOtamas mother d'ed "he'
he was seven years DID, and he was brought up Dy
an aunt his mothers sister
"Of his early life nothing is known In MS
twentv-n,nth year he abandoned his wife and son.
10 thrash out for himself the problems OF existence
IN those DAYS II was considered quite rehg,ous
act He studied under teachers or cIninence put'
becoming dissatisfied with their aystems. ne oe
voted himself to decentralization TOT Peilou VI
two or three years which 40 excited the admiration
OF the people that his fame was noised aoroan Dr.
the sound OF a great gong hung In tne shy. ,
he was still uncertain and undecided one uas
he came the conclusion that ,ihca rh
was OF no service and told his disciples go Then
they forsook him. and he passed through a me' .x
crisis which is described in the books win all ,ne
is so great master At the end OF the day he had
made I'D his Imind clearly as 10 the docuihe ne
should preah. ana from the time OF his men,aI
combat and enlightenment Gotama became '"e
Buddha. -, ,t..u. -h.r.
''He went TO Benares. 10 the hermitage. where
his disciples staying. and explained 10 men,
the new faith In a conversation which is caiIei
The Foundation OF the KINGDOM or Righteoushess
Then he stayed there. gradually making other con-
yerts and finally. at the approach OF the rainy
season sent them forth In companies TO preach the
that time he devoted himself 10 walking up and
down the valley for forty-hvc years preaching ana
teaching. During this period. he had iuii oppor-
tunity 10 talk all OF the details OF his system
he left behind him complete record OF ms
scientific system OF psychology and ethics. which
we call Buddhism. The next lecture VIII contain
an account OF what that system was