The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07
THE RISE Of
BUDDHISM
IN INDIA
It's History Outlined by
Dharmapala the
Hindoo.
HOW THE MOVEMENT
STARTED.
India Once More, After 700 Years,
the Holy Land of
Buddhists.
THE PRIESTS MISSION TO
AMERICA
Came in the Cause of Love and Truth
and Brotherhood, and Recog.
nizing No Greed.
THE PRIESTS MISSION II
AMERICA.
Came in the Cause of Love and Truth
and Brotherhood, and Recog.
nizing No Greed.

The following history of the revival of
Buddhism in India has been contributed
by Anagarika H. Dharmapala. the dis
tiuguished Hindoo priest, who was in
this City some months ago:
In the wear 1891 a movement was founded
in the island OF Ceylon under the name of the
Maha- Bodhi Society, 'for the reSusci tatlon OF
Buddhism in the land of its BIRTH" AS the
chief representative and general secretary OF
that society l established its headquarters in
Calcutta and common ced 10 work Tor the uni
fieation ana consolidation of the different
branches of Buddhism in Asia, as well as to
work III harmony with the Aryan nations OF
India.
In 1892 the society had become individual
lied and Buddhists of Ceylon, Burmah. China,
Japan, Tibet, Siam and Arakan began to look
up to India once more, after 700 years, as the
holy land of the Buddhists.
The historian OF the Indian empire, Sir w.
W. Hunter, in his monumental work, 1.-THE
Indian Empire, in mentioning the society,
says that revival OF Buddhism is, repeat,
one of the present possibilities IN India. The
lie ana tea chings of Buddha are also begin
nInC to exercise a new influerce on religious
thought in Europe and America. As that
teaching becomes more accurately known to
the Western world, it will be Invested of the
mystical pretensIons with which certain OF
Its modern professor have obscured it, Budd-
hism will and forth as The embodiment of
the eternal verify thai as man sows he viii!
reap; associated with the personal duties eff
mastery over self and Kindness TO all men,
and quickened into q popular religion by the
example OF q noble and beautiful life
In 1898, as the representative OF the Ceylon
BuddhlsIs, accepting he cordial invitation of
DR.. John Henry BarTowS, l came in Septem-
Der, 1893. to take part in the deliberations OF
the parliament OF religions.
In 1898 and 1894, having visited the Budd-
hist countries OF Japan, China, Siam, Burman.
Ceylon, l returned 10 India in May and re-
From May 1894. to May, 1896, I was en-
TyN2r 10 OF
peace, which resulted in resculng the sacred
site which, like the holy sepulcher to the
Christians is held in veneration by all
Buddhists. 1t is called the Maha- Bodhi,
where Prince Siddhartha became Buddha.
For over seven hundred years the place was
held by aliens after The destruction OF Budd-
hism IN India by the Mohammedan con-
querors. For full five years had TO struggle
and toll hard to accomplish the work which l
had pledged my lie for, and having sue
for the consolidation OF different Buddhist
nations, and having established a bond of
brotherhood between the Buddhists and the
Aryan people of India, [ have come to the
United States to give my services 10 the people
whom | love and admire.
Emerson, your beloved poet-philosopher,
has said, America, thy name is opportunity"
and your other poet, James Russell Lowell,
has said that, "Once to every man and nation
comes the moment to decide in the strife of
truth with falsehood for the good or evil
side.' The New World" says DR.. Paul
Carus dis like new dispensation with new
possibilities for a higher. nobler and grander
covenant. What was left uudone in Benares,
the center of an old civilization, in Jerusalem
a city sacred 10 three religions, in Rome the
venerable see of the Popes and in London the
home OF modern science, and industry, has
been accomplished by the bold spirit OF Chi
cago enterprise. A parliament OF all the re-
ligions of the world has become an actual TACT
o. history"
NJ mission to the people of the United
States is one of love, truth and brotherhood.
recognize no creed, dogma, nor caste; and
II mo &c he crit n m " {
greatness. l owe allegiance to truth and
righteousness and welcome every man who
leads the unselfsh life, to cooperate with me
in the work OF uplifting man from the mire OF
superstition, ecclesiastical dogmas and ignor-
ance.
The spirit of Buddha and of Jesus is based
on love. Man, fallen man, is the subject OF
their service. To save him they sacrificed
everything. The one for four mum berless and
100, 600 world periods incarnated Life alter life
TO become Buddha. During his last earth
life, as Prince Siqdhartha, he renounced wife,
chlId, parents and throne for the sake OF suf-
fering humanity, and for the purpose of saw
ing the world from the letters of priesicrGft It,
ceremouiallsm theology and faithlessness;
the other died the cross preaching for
glYenesS.
Religion to-day consists too much in paying
"tlthe of mint and anise and cummin," and
have omitted the weightier matters of the
law. Judgment, mercy and ialth" Matt
xiii :23.)
In the Bible read:
"Bi essed are they which do hunger and thirst
''He that loVeth hi life shall lose It; he that
hateth his life N this world shall keep 1t unto
life eternal"
"a new commandment give unto you, that
ye love one another"
III thou be perfect, sell all and give to the
poor."
Neither do condemn thee; go and sin no
more"
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter the kingdom OF Heaven but
he that doeIh the will of my Father"
''IhOSe who Qesplse others and eXalt them
selves shall be Gbase d."
All men cannot receive this saying: ''There
shall be eunuchs which have made themselves
euuuchs for the kingdom OF heavens sake.
He that is able to receive ii, let him receive
L."
''If thou wilt enter the life keep the COM
mandments:
Thou shalt not Kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
"Ihou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness"
And substantially the same teachings are
found in the Old Testament l read in Isaiah
Xvi, "He that kilieth an OK is as If he slew
6 man; and in Exodus xxii:2S Thou
shalt not revile The gods; and in Habakkuk
ii:15, "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor
drink, that putteth thy bottle to him and
makest him drunken also; and in Isaiah
Wills, Butter and honey shall he eat that he
may know to refuse the evil and choose the
good; and in jeremiah xviii g, 1.-THE
prophet that prophesieth OF peace when the
word OF the prophet shall come to pass then
shall the prophet be known that the Lord
read: 81 will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel, not according to the covenant
made with their fathers.
''In those days they shall say no more, The
fathers have eaten sour grapes and the chill
dren's teeth are set on edge, but every man
shall die for his own iniqGity; every man that
cate tn the sour grape his teeth shall be set on
edge"
In Isaiah % 1 read: "Woe unto them
that mighty to drink wine and men OF
strength to mingle strong drink"
And in Daniel i.S | find the following:
''But Daniel proposed in his heart that he
would not defle himself with the portion of
the kings meat nor with the wine which he
drank.
"Then said Daniel: Prove thy servants l
beseech thee ten days, and let them give US
pulse 10 eat and water to drink
Again in Daniel iv:27, the following &C.