New-York tribune., 1900-05-27
THE BONES OF BUDDHA.
THEIR PROPOSED REMOVAL TO JAPAN
PROBABLY ONLY A MONEY
RAISING PLAN.

ceptlOn, and that an elaborate structure VIII pe
erected for their permanent housing, has been
widely circulated and has caused much com
ment.
The japanese COnsul-General when asked re- |
gardng the matter said that he had official
knowledge of the contemplated transfer, but he |
thought it might possibly be a scheme the |
part of some of the Buddhist priests in Japan to |
raise money.
There are many Buddhsts in Japan" he |
said "and these divided into many sectS |
just Christianity is divided into sects and |
churches. The Buddhists belong for the most |
part to the lower working classes, and may |
easily be imposed upon with bones and similar |
religious relics. Their priests having priests in |
other countries in mind have probably decided |
on the scheme for mercenary motives. have no
doubt they will collect much money"
David Banks Sckels who lived in Siam a |
number of years, speaking of the transportation |
of the bones of Buddha with ceremonial pomp |
from Siam to Japan said:
This remarkable statement will SIrprise |
many Oriental students who are familiar with !
the history and traditions of the Buddhistic
order
In order that one may fully appreciate the |
absurdity of the statement contained in the ar |
ticle referred to. it should be known that the |
bones of BUddha never were inferred in Siam |
and even if they had been, the Siamese are such |
profound believers in the ancient faith of the |
great Enllghtener, as Sir Edwin Arnold has |
entitled him, that they would never consent to |
thelr removal to any other country, and they
are SO conscientious in their devotion to their |
religious faith and to all of it's sacred traditions
that they could not be induced by any considera- |
MON to dispose of such precious relics even If |
Hey existed. But the bones of Buddha do not !
exist anywhere to-day, and in all probability
were consumed soon after his death according
to the ancient records. contained in the |
Thibetan annals:
When the Blessed One expired the mighty
,arth was shaken: thunderbots did fall and
Inc gods in the sky did Shrek and when the
earth quaked Rajagriha thought what might he
me reason, and he saw that the Blessed One |
seven days be allowed them to get evervtbine bha
ready for the funeral. On the seventh dav
having prepared golden bier and got to-
sether all the perfumes, garlands and musical
instruments. they went out of the town to the
naa Tree Grove, and they carried his body to |
tne western gate OF the city, and having re- |
placed the cover of the coffin, the fire burst
Whd IT1th from f the pile and consumed the body.
Malas put out the fire with milk and put the
remains in an Indian vase, and they placed it
On she golden bier, and having honOred it with
to Kusirara. ' '00A ~
1T is the consensus of opinion among Oriental
scholars and the highest authorities in Ruddhis
uc lore as well as the testimony contained in
pe records among the Siamese and Cingalese
thdt Sahy amuni Gautama Buddha died a nat
uiaI ueath when he about eighty wears of |
age and that this event occurred during the
'egn of Adazathat. According to Sir Edwin
Arnold, Buddha was born about ti20 wears r {, |
md died in J42; but Professor Max MILLER who |
fnay be regarded as the most Trustworthy an
thorlty in such matters, maintains that the
time or Buddha's birth 553 years b c
There seems to be considerable diversity Of
opinion among Oriental students upon this sub
1ect, but l think they generally agree that he
was born some time between 800 and 600 wears
before the birth of Saviour.
According to the legends of the Buddha as
SerlVed from the Pail and Sanscrit texts as we'll
as from the sacred books of the order especially
those found in the royal library of the King OF
Siam at Bangkok, it would appear to be "a we'll
established fact that Buddha was born in the
little village of kapOavastu, where he was
known as Sakyamuni the Wise. His father was
Itajah Of Mahadha and chief of one of the
Aryan tribes
According to the Siamese version of the life
OF Buddia, which is doubtless the commingIinn
or uncertain historical records With ancient /
legends it was predicted by the Brahmins that
JOY great prosperity. During his early bovhood
II IS stated that he visited a sacred ternpla to
worship and there, it is alleged he astonfs1aJ
the most learned doctors by his UNDERSTANDING
a l L.