The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-06-06

TIVE Man ssd Mis- isflueaee The Good
That Shines Fnm Ms Truths
A winning Teseher.
From Mondays DailyD

'iA'h 'Nhoas fdiAa'
Rev. w NJ Kincaid preached the
fourth of his series of sermons on The
Prophets Of the Worlds Great Re-
ligions" last evening at the Central
Union church. The evenings subject
was "Buddha, the Light of Asia, and
the text John 81. That was the true
Light which lighteth every man that
cometfr into the world"
II was in India that the great re-
Iigion of Buddha had its birth. IL had
its origin in a rebellion against the
moral tyranny of Brahmanism and
today IL stands forth as one OF the
greatest human forces ever set TO work
beginning as a system of ethics il had
no temple, creed or dogma. To-day IL
is looked upon as one Of the six great
religions Of the world and Buddiia II
considered one Of the worlds great
prophets.
Myths and Legends cluster thiekly
around the son Of India born IN the
midst Of the vast country drained by
the Ganges. In the year $50 u. c. Born
of royal mother he was called The
All-PrOsperous One" But one day a
sage took him In his arms and de-
clared he should be- named Buddha
Thus he has been known 20 the ages
that have passed. Tender and gentle.
quick TO detect suffering. he shuddered
AT the mutual murder from man 90
man" At last, having lost faith IN the
religion around him he renowned bis
royalty and went forth. Crownless
and homeless be wanders away from
the compaDiOnship Of kings and the
power Of his throne. An my soul il
sick with pity for the world" be
mourned
He believed that the curse must be
lifted from the heart of man by man.
From the doctrines Of the Brabmin
priests be turns in vain 10 philosophy
and finally appeals TO nature He
teaches that the grief which comes 20
all grows Less 10 everyone. At a sac
riGce be pleads for the life which all
can take but none can give. With the
law that pity and need make all flesh
kin he breaks through the rules Of
caste.
Sorrow is universal, be admitted
Undue desire Is the cause, be en-
pounded. Conquer love Of living and
the lusis Of the flesh and you conquer
sorrow, he taught. His great com
maDdments, Thou shalt not Kill, steal
lie, intoxicate," parallel the Laws Of
Moses.
Notwithstanding the myths and leg
ends that gather about him, Of one
fact We are sure, and that Is that 2sOO
years ago there did arise IN India a
stately soul towering high above the
tinsel trappiDgs Of royalty and with
firm, yet loving hand, reached through
the ironclad caste, declaring that all
men are brethren. He taught mercy
and how TO lead a good life, not by
threats Of hell, but NY nObleness and
goodness.
Hardly was he dead before the pro-
cess Of dedication set IN. His follow
"rs collected his sayings and built
temples In his name. His bible has
been translated into many languages
It's teachings parallel those Of the New
Testament, and the great moral truths
are similar In both Today over forty
Of the worlds millions are followers
~ Buddha. Compared 10 Buddhism
other creeds are youthful, His teach
lngs are the hOliest and most benefi-
cent Of all with the single exception
Of those OF the Christ The believers
oi Buddhism receive missionaries will
ingly, but they do not tolerate any
thing disrespectful OF their great
hght DO not speak sligbtinRly Of our
Lord Buddba. We love 10 hear the
story Of your Jesus. TO MS be Is the
fairest Of the fair But do not belittle
our great Buddha, who is also very
fair IN our eyes, said one Of the Bud
dhists.
TO beautify today 10 sanctify the
present, and death 10 every form of
selbsbness was taught by this light Of
Asia, And as we study the words ~
ibis great teacher who lived IN ages
dim and distant, the heart bows with
love and faith and death t0 seldsb
ness"