Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-03-04

Perak, transferred his allegiance to the
British government, and, as plain Mr..
p. Choomasi, was during tho last few
years employed as first assistant mag
istrate and settlement officer of Perak.
Even now the Prince Is In the pay Of
the British government, his leave of
eight months not yet having expired,
at the end Of which period he will for
mally tender his resignation.
1t was about p. m on Thursday,
November 5, 1896, when, In the small
upper room of the octagonal pansala
at Waskaduwa, Prince Prisdan was ad-
mitted to the monkhood.
Appearing in his state dress, wear
ing his full complement of decorations,
the Prince scattered among the vast
crowds assembled round the pansala
numbers of silver coins, in token that
so he renowned all his wealth and
worldly greatness. Then he addressed
the people in English, his words being
translated into Singhalese, setting
forth the nature Of the duties he was
entering upon, and with an effort he
broke In two his sword in token Of
surrender to his conqueror. All this
was before the vast concourse Of the
assembled multitude, amid shouts Of
applause and ringing cheers Of jubila-
ton. But all the loud beating Of
drums, the shouts of Sadhu, and the
many and varied cries Of men, women
and children had given place to re-
markedly imposing stiffness and calm,
when the Prince, clean shaved and clad
In spotless white, presented himself at
the door of the octagonal upper room
of the pansala. On an elevation, which
resembled Catholic altar, was an i'm
age Of Buddha, with seven candles
burning before 1t in row. All the
Princes costly apparel and personal
belonglngs-three uniforms, wrought
with ornaments of fine gold, two
swords, helmets, a naval cap, etc.
were placed on salver In front Of the
image as an Offering to the pansala.
On the floor, spread with gorgeous car
pets, on circular cushions of soft cot
ton, sat dozen priests. The Prince
was questioned as to his intentions to
be admitted to monkhood, and then it
was touching to see Prince Prisdan,
prostrating himself before the image,
repeat in solemn, half-heard, half
hushed voice, after the still more SOL
emn intoning of the officiating monk:
Buddham, Saranam Gacchami,
Chairman Saranam Gacchami,
Sangham Saranam Gacchami,
the expression of embracing the Three
fold Refuge of Buddhism, meaning, 81
go for refuge to the Buddha. l go for
refuge to the Law. 1 go for refuge to
the Order" 1t is remarkable that this
is the only prayer Of true Buddhism,
The novice was then robed In yellow
and shown to the people. Thus 1t came
to pass that Prince Prisdan Of the royal
family of Siam was made Buddhist
monk, at Waskaduwa, in Ceylon.
After instruction in the Ten Pre-.
cepts Of the Desa-Sila, and complete
ordination, known as upasampada, the
novice would be full monk AT pres
ent the Prince Is at Waskaduwa, ant
he has not yet decided whether he is tc
work in Ceylon or go abroad. AS there
is not in the ranks of the Buddhist
monks another man so learned in
English and in French as the royal
mendicant and trained to western ways
and western culture as he, it is prob
able that the princely monk will be
sent next year to England on mis-
sionary tour. In the meantime he will
be taught Pail and Singhalese to enable
him to understand the Buddhist Scrip
ture in the original.
The Prince is an affable, courteous
and kind-hearted man, and what is
most characteristic Of him, more even
than his devotion as a Buddhist, is his
great humility.