The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

yes shall recommend the doctrines we
preach; let us free our minds nrst from
superstltions that we may be better able
to lead Others out OF theirs
You see" continued Dharmapala,
the people of India, the laboring classes,
are very, very ignorant-oh, so ignorant.
Ihey know how to plow and SOW and reap
and that is all. Now, when the mission
ary comes to them and breaches his doc
trlne of REDEEM ption with all the force OF
his intellectual power the poor, ignorant
people accept il with all its superstitlons
rather than with its higher lights. When
they are told that cir sins shall be
washed away through the bloodeof Jesus
they see no need OF personal effort. Oh,
l think it is great sin. That which de-
stroys individuality IS wrong. Buddha
preached the utmost freedom OF thought
to clear the mind. Disciples are expected
to think for themselves. Then 1t comes
to this: that no priest is necessary. Each
individual must himself strive for the
heights"
Speaking of Buddha's teachings, Dhar-
mapala said: "rhis is the year 2480 of
the era OF Buddha. 1t is popular belief
among his followers that with the twenty
five hundredth year there will be a great
revival of his teachings, which will spread
over the western world as 1t has hitherto
obtained in the east. The discoveries and
III huAIS1s Vi OdINlIl, VI Nu-
dal, OF Herbert Spencer, Schopenheuer,
Haeckel and of Bishop Berkeley but an
ticipated the spread of the doctrine in the
west as that of Buddha anticipate them
by thousands or years in the east.
Buddhism flourished over India and
throughout Asia for 1900 years and il
marked the period OF lndia's glory. Oh,
yes, we have an ethical code; we are all
right there. But as all things contain the
seeds of decay, Buddhism died in India
and is now sIrong est in China and the
Penin-ula. We are making an effort to
revive it and have made very good be-
ginning. l would ask the Christian mis-
sionaries to study this religion that they
may at least know what it is that they
wish to supplant."
Asked about the famine In India,
Dharmapala lifted up his hands and said:
"Ah, they are starving there, starving. 1t
cannot be relieved by the new crops before
May, at least, and IN the meantime the
suffering is horrible. You see they had
no thought of the drouth. In ancient
times they used TO store up grain TO meet
such an emergency, but now the English
Government makes no provision for 1t,
and poor people cannot. The English
merchant offers them money, and OF
course they sell. Every kernel of grain in
the country is bought up and shipped out
of t country. The very lowest prices
are offered them, and they know nothing
OF the value in the markets of the world.
Consequently they are' unprepared to
meet any emergency. The crop failed,
and they starve.
The average traveller In India gains
little knowledge of the real condition of
the people. The traveller sees the hand
some houses of the English in the towns f;
everything looks trim and beautiful, and
they come away wit b the impression that
it is a prosperous, weil-goveTned country.
They do not see the abject poverty and
slavery OF the people that can be earned
by penetrating but a few miles away from
the station. They do not know that the
at the rate of , cents for days lahor-a
day extending from early morning until
late in the evenin.. If the laborer is
specially recommended be gets 21z cents.
And TO this rate OF wages is added noun
tain of taxes. They are taxed for these
splendid Improvements that they do not
understand or appreciate; they are taxed
Tor the support OF the military and for
strategic railroads and so on. If the
Queen invites the Sultan oil Turkey or the
Ameer OF Afghanistan and spends fabu-
lous snms in their entertainment, he
cost is assessed to India as being an affair
for the benefit Of that country"
Mr.. Dharmapala will speak this even
ing at Native Sons Hall under the au-
spices OF Golden Gate Branc Theosophi-
cal Society, on Buddhism and Chris
tianity."