The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-23
A BUDDHIST
CR|T|C|zES
PREACHERS
Reply of the Brahmacharin
to a Christian Min
lister.
HE SAYS THAT ORIEN-
TAILS KNOW CHRIST.
And That Occidental Interpre.
tation of the B.b.e Is
Wrong.
EINDUS BELIEVE IN THE
TRINITY.
Cases in Which Idolatry Should Be
Tolerated and a Philosophical
Reason Why.
EINDUS BELIEVE IN THE
TRINITY.
Cases in Which Idolatry Should Be-
Tolerated and a Philosophical
Reason Why.

There appeared in the columns of THE
CALL on Saturday. May Is, an article from
the pen of a reverend gentleman, in
which the writer finds fault with the teach
ings of my friend Anagarika H. Dharma-
paIa, and asks him and all of US who are
now working in different parts of the
United States to return TO India, leaving
the Christians to their own faith.
While l have no intention to controvert
what the gentleman says, l consider it
fair on my part while l am here to put
clearly before the public our position as
workers in the helping of humanity.
The lack of informa alton on the part of
otherwise well-educated Americans coz
corning almost all questions relating to
India excepting, perhaps, those that
have any bearings on commerce and
money-making-is SO great that they are
often most hopelessly confused whenever
they have to deal with such questions
The writer of the article above alluded to
is at least in this plight. Though min
lister of great religion he hardly seems
TO know the distinction between Brah-
manism and Buddhism-such as exists at
least in the outer forms.
ODJSCl, however,, III Writing TINS Is
neither to make this distinction clear to
the public-a distinction which, / say. is
only apparent-nor to defend the faiths of
India, which to-day give satisfaction both
10 the head and heart of the greater part
OF humanity, ncludin some of the bright
est minds OF Europe and America. All
l have to say Is only TO clear our position
here In this country.
In the first place we have come here,
none OF US as lar as l know, on our own
account | know MY friend Anagarika
Il. Dharm apala was sent for by Dr. Paul
Carus OF Chicago. Mr.. Gandhi, who rep
resents here the Jaina community OF
India, was also invited by his friends in
America 10 come here ana work. The
Swami Vivekananda and his friends were
also invited guests OF some thoughtful
the request OF friends in Chicago.
Thus coming, we never seek to
proselytlze. Nothing is farther from our
motives end more repugnant to our minds
than that we consider it a great sin to
speak evil of any religion whatever, so
long as 1t uplifts single soul from the
dust OF the selfish earth. And all re-
ligions can do 1t more or less. There are
pious men and women in all countries.
We tell such persons to follow their own
religion as long as they are satisfied with
1t. Mans salvation is not through what
he believes, but what he knows and what
he does.
Belief in particular doctrine, especial
ly when it rests on blind faith merely, is
OF little consequence. If, therefore, per-
son acts unseitishly, from pure motive,
it does not matter what his faith is. Let
him work righteousness and seek truth
honestly and gradually the tims will
come when he will no longer be salts
fed with any form OF belief resting on the
teaching OF others. He will seek truth for
himself and know it at first hand.
Till that point is reached what is the
use of substituting one doctrine for an
other? Will the belief in particular
dogma save him? Not only is it useless to
try to preach new dogmas to those who
are satisfied with their faith, but in so
doing we do them positive harm by speak
ing evil of their cherished ideas. The