The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-12
Buddba's Diamond Chrome
NAY Yet Be Uncovered.

| " III, dS Oh OlU, serve as a place OF WOr-
ship, but it will also be aSsort of inter-
national monastery, or, in other words,
a haven of rest for all foreign believers
IN Buddha who may from time to time
make pilgrimage to this site of his
ancient shrine.
According TO this novel plan,'' says
Prince UchtOmskij, "a whole town is
practically to be established at Buddha-
Gaya, and TheOSOphists and Buddhists
/ VIII unite in spreading its reputation as
the one central school of Oriental learn
ing and of Buddhist belief. By doing so
they hope to exert a beneficial influence
on Brahminized India and to gradually
WIN back countless members of the
/ numerous heterOdOx sects to a belief in
the doctrines of the great teacher"
| singular as ii may seem, the eStab-
hshment of an International headQuar-
tiers for Buddhists at Budda-Gaya is
| likely also to be of exceptional political
| significance. 1t would not if Buddha-
Gaya were merely to become a religious
| center, but the reason why it probably
will is because a famous Lama of
| Ihlbet is to become the presiding gen
| luS OF Buddha-Gaya. Lamaisnn is the
buddhism of Thibet, and hence it is
hitting that a great Lama should be-
| come the PontifeX Maximus of this new
| school OF nineteenth century Buddhism.
| Yet at first sight there seems to be
lnsuperable difficulties in the way of
TINS project. In the first place, there
are no persons in the world who are
quite so exclusive and in a sense so in
tolerant OF foreigners as the Thibetans.
and in the second place there is no city
or town In the world of which so little
| is known as Of Lha-Sa. and vet IL ia
from Lha-sa that the Lama will come
VINO is to preside over Buddha-GaYa.
Inc question" says Prince Uchtom-
| Skill is, In view of the peculiar situa-
/ tlon OF Lha-sa is it possible for a Lama
ndlllng from ii to do effective work In
the fatherland of Buddhism? 1t must
De remembered that no foreign power
mas as yet to any extent exercised an
influence on Thibet. China is the only
country which regards herself as hav-
ing TO any degree the authority Of a
Suzeraln and the untamed Goorkhas of
Nepaul are the only persons who have
ever Yentured to lay a rough hand on
ner. During the past century the
Goorkhas plundered Dashchilhumbo. a.
powerful center in southern Thibet. and
IN revenge the court of Pekin sent an
army TO Nepaul, which, after making
several forced winter marches over the
mountains, captured and slew the free
pooters, recovered the booty and i'm
posed onerous conditions Of peace. Ever
since then, and even long before. the
name OF the emperor of China has been
potent throughout Thibet. In vain
england knocks at the door Of this
land, the people of which 10y IL,
strange gods and the rites and customs
OF which are unlike those in any other
part of the world
Now If Lama or Thibet goes to
Buddha-Gaya and exercises a supreme
power there, it can readily be seen that
through his influence Thibet is bound
sooner or later to discard much of her
eXcIuslVeness and to become even less
OF terra incOgnita than she is at pres
ent. Doubtless the Buddhists and
IheOSophistS who are labOring TO eS
tabiIsh a school of philosophy and re-
llglon at Buddha-Gaya had this object
IN view when they conceived the idea
OF placing full power in the hands of a
Lama; at any rate, the conviction
among those who are competent to
speak with authority is that this new
school viii do more to make Thibet
known to the outside world than dip
loInats and warriors have been able TO
DO during all the past centuries
mat Thibet is worth knowing and
that there are many mysteries in the
country which have never vet been re
Vealed TO foreigners is well Known. and
even a curSory glance through Prince
OchtomskiJS book shows that no one
can nope to acquire a thorough knowI
cage OF Buddhism and of its influence
IN the east unless he can find Soma
means OF studying religious life in
Ihlbet Buddhism in this mysterious
lahd is lar more than a mere worship OF
6uddha, since instead of one deitv the
IhlbetanS worship several. both gods
ana goddesses, and also are ever on their
guard against host of demons. Quaint
indeed are some of their rites. notablv
the Tsam dance, which has a deep oc-
cut religious significance, and well
worthy OF study also is the curious pic
Iure or Lama'S house, showing. as if
does, the figure Of Buddha and other re-
hgious emblems.
In this country and throughout Fur-
oPe there are many persons who. while
/ not progressed followers of Buddha. are
yet hrm believers in his doctrines. and
WlIhoat exception they will be glad IN
know that movement is on foot TO eS-
taollsh great international school of
oriental philosophy and religion in the
Tar east. The general public will also
surely be interested to know that after
long centuries Of seclusion Thibet is al
last showing unmistakable signs of a
| Willingness to open her doors to for
elSners. Finally, to archaeoIogists as
! Wen as 10 BUddhists and Theosophis+s
/ the news must certainly be welcome
that at last there is a good hope of find
ing the long lost diamond throne and
the JeWeled statue Of the great god
Buddha.