The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03

csnuI0u W tho UVets ~ the next Dest thing
The educated classes never did that,
- Is unjust to charge the people Of India
e IT.. general neral with this mode Of aisposins Of
The religion Of ceylon Is. mainly. Bud.
this philosophical belief Is to make tho
people who profess 1t simple. honest, and
transformations. and the morals Of the
people will safely compare with yours.
"A tree is known by Its fruits Now, &C.
cording TO the last census, the proportion
Buddhists Is is TO 4!
=, ! it wish 70 sHy something about the charge
They arc no moro Idol ,worshippers than
tho Roman Catholics. The Buddhist uses
the idol to concentrate his thoughts while
IN meditation, just rs a Christian when he
knecls down TO pray. brings before his
minds eye the image Of Christ On the Cross
.r ana y, n ths very lsrEe and in,eligeat num-
pay attention to idol worship In all re-
ligions, the most illiterate want something
tangible to worship, while the truly en-
lightened Buddhists know that IL is only
Important to purify the heart, to be loyal
TO ones self. to ones neighbors, and to do
"The moral life of the Cingalese people
is exceptional. The young are brought
up carefully. ard we have no child mar
riages. Neither have our young men any
sowing Of wild oats period. Divorces are
almost unknown; 1t is very, very seldom
mentioned, and there are no such things
as assertions.
Perhaps should not appear to draw
comparisons between the customs OF your
country and Of mine. and ! do not wish to
appear critical What | have met with
here in New York, as elsewhere in the large
cities OF the United States. il all unexpected
interest that people Of education take
In the. esoteric teachings of Buddhism.
In England also. this interest Is wide spread
That man has another consciousness
besides that with whose workings the public
Is familiar seems to be well understo God,
subject. And find that women are much
better acquainted with spiritual laws and
their practical application than are men,.
How do you account for this!
@The conditions Of Western civilization
are such that women Of education find
themselves shut out from the commercial
lives Of their husbands and brothers; women
have no part in public life; political careers
are not open 70 hem. and even the Christian
church, which Ia supported by her work.
does not recognize woman as public
teacher OF its doctrines.
If she goes into philanthropy, 1t is to
play secondary part, for men manage
the business Of philanthropy seemingly
as they do the cattle or the stock market.
ton of America, and women are not factors
in commerce."
DO YOU find women here who are Bud
dhists77
MANY know and appreciate the real
teachings OF Buddha. Simnly stated,
Buddhism teaches l1nowledge Of tho
original fact Of tho universe itself; that
the universe is within every mans soul.
A training that divssts n Westerner of his
or her porsonality--and makes ali in
dividuolity-is evolution and esoteric
Buddhism il scientific evolution carried
to it's last analysis
What OF your caste system?'
-The caste ~ ten WAS on important
ins titut ion when we were IN political rover;
when kings Of our own blood we're reigning
the power Of the West, II has bscon1e an
abominable in titut!on, productive of much
harm and in us tice.
II say it was an rnnortant institution
because it had helped the advancement of
arts and sciences. man who belonged
to one caste AIMED to perfect hirls eli in
the purs nit Of that vocation which lie wGS
compelled TO follow. An aqricuitnri,t
becaue his line OF ancet tors followed the
anne vocation, became also perfect in that
line. A sculptor became perfect sculptor
for the same reaso on a philosopher became
a perfect philosopher. DC.
To-day low cas- to man can follow any
vocation he choof es and there is no longer
any real caste system
Have you public schools?"
NO. but We have excellent private schools
and what are called 'grant-n-aid' schools,
which ara helped by the Government a
,,rall tuition fee is charged at there schools.
therefore. is not cornpuls Dry.
are educated In Ceylon than is the case in
India and the majority of the Cinghalese
<now how 10 read and write their native
language,
And is Ceylon progressively
we have. as n people. suffered greatly
our country, came with the sole idea OF
themselves. and, stunned by
he blows Of there c!es pots, the people began
o stand still. To stand stiil is to go back,
md we have been standing still n long
ime.
But there is a Philosophical aspect to
II things. II We view them correctly No
M n, no M ton c. hold ts own for en-
unlimited length of time. A day of &C.
ivity is, in obedience to law Of nature.
ollowed by night of rest. To-day we
i've. Tomorrow we die, and after enjoying
est for the entitled length OF time, we
eturn to this plane Of activity to complete !
'uf work, and ara located in our proper !!
,l,ces.
"Ceylon he's not We. opened her eyes !
med and are active, but others are still :
leeping. Our decline W. slow; our revivs |
will be gre duHl: but. ha ppily the spiritual !
light that is beginning to light the whole )
world will brighten every part Of 1t, and |
'eeylon, like this oountrry, will prosper,
n the world. !
.The pa tn Of evolution is a long one. and I
requires mpny many carnations for !
M ton, 20 for an individual TO reach /
mr. ncipr ton, We are slowly but steadily ,
progressing to that condition.