The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-21
DR.. HERR ON BUDDHISM
Thinks the Doctrine Dark,
Unattractive, Forbidding
and Nirvana
Nothing.

Buddhism was splendidly disposed of
yesterday afternoon in Hasbrouck Insti-
tute, when the Rev. Charles Herr, d. D.,
of the First Presbyterian church lectur-
ed before the Ramblers and their guests
on that subject. There was an excellent
attendance, including d large representa-
ton from the Woman's Club Literature
Department.
DR.. Herr gave a very clear idea of
the doctrine of Buddha, contrasting it
with Christianity. The great subject of
all religions said he, must be God. The
very word religion implies a Coda per-
sonai God-that is to say, he is distinct
in himself and perfect without relation
to anything else in the universe. This
is the God of Christianity. Now what is
the God of Buddhism
On this subject the speaker said there
was a great diversity Of opinion. While
some, he said, held that Buddha taught
a personal God, most students were Of
a different opinion. Buddhism" said
he. lis a characteristic doctrine. There
is no permanent fixity anywhere, and
this makes a personal God impossible Z
In Persia, the speaker said, the
Buddhists taught the HE is not doctrine,
that is, Goo is not.
Another characteristic of Buddhism, Dr.
Herr said, lay in the matter of sin. While
Christianity magnifes sin to the utmost
and teachers there is no reconciliation
except through God. Buddhism provides
relief from sin only.
There is no room I'M Buddhism" con-
tinued the speaker, "for sin. Where there
is no personal o there cannot be sim.
Sin grows out of the relationship be-
tween a personal God and man. The
Buddhist by sin means desire. The fun
damental rule of Buddhism is that life Is
full of sorrow and sorrow is he fruit Of
desire. Desire is IN inevitable part OF ex-
istence.''
The speaker here gave the ten Buddhist
sins, among them Love of Life OIL
earth,'' and Desire for life in Heaven"
which, he said, proved the Buddhist idea
of salvation as non existence, quoting
That by which they say he is exists for
him no longer," as the Buddhist doctrine.
The Nirvana, he said, was sometimes
represented as am ethical state in this life,
a deliverance from sin. Christianity
teaches that no man can save himself;
Buddhism teaches the exact opposite,
L SDGdhttlS "a t1C IA VI AZ
dhist, mot to kill anything" DR.. Herr
said in order to carry this out there could
be no salvation, not only for the butcher
and hunter, but for the physician who
introduces into the human system auinine
to xiii fever germs.
This. DR.. Herr explained, was orthodox
Buddhism. but In the Northern countries,
he said. they were becoming dissatisfied
with it, and had begun to believe in a
Savior-the coming of another Buddha.
EVERY religion" said he, must talk of
the future. There is nothing more
fascinating to the human soul. Chris
tianity teaches that all men are inn
mortal, but Buddhism that man consists
mainly of form and name
The Buddhist, DIR. Herr further said.
did not believe in the RECONSIDERATION of
souls as the Hindoo did. He believed in
transmigration of merit. There would
come Buddha after Buddha, each to lift
his followers a little higher, then the
world would gradually sink to be lifted
again. In conclusion the speaker said he
wished to warn the audience against
books of Ibis country and Europe OIL
Buddhism. Here, he said, the religion
was adapted to the Western belief-to
what we want II, and not to be trusted.
A vote of thanks was rendered DR..
Herr at the conclusion Of this address, and
the Ramblers felt themselves better ac-
quainted with Buddha and his doctrines.