The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-20
A Buddhist ProDaRan

We have received from Rangoon the
prospectus Of the Buddhasasana Sama-
gama, or the International Buddhist
Society. This association, founded in
Mandalay last July has for its purpose
the extension of the system of ethics
and philosophy known as Buddhism, /"
in the firm belief that it will prove a
remedy for many of the evils Of the
present age
The vehicle to be used by the society
in its propaganda is to be a quarterly
journal called Buddhism, which will be
sent to all the members and to public
Libraries and like institutions generally,
with view to spreading correct and
scholarly appreciation Of the tenets Of
Buddhism. The hope of all our
hearts, says the report of the Secretary
General, is that from this small begin
ming our work shall extend over the globe
and the earth be brought beneath the
canopy of the Conqueror the Lord Of
Wisdom and of Love" The benefcent
consequences to mankind of such a re-
suit are suggested in the prospectus,
thus:
The teachings OF Buddhism being al ainst the
taking OF NE. their general acceptance would in
volvc the substitution OF arbitration for war OF
imprisonment for capital punishment. and the
abolition OF the slaughter OF animals-a practice
as degrading to those employed In It 1, Is cruel 20
helpless creatures.
The ethical system Of Buddhism further pro.
hibts the use of intoxicating liquors or drugs. one
OF the chief curses of this age--the use OF alcohol
alone being responsible for over 25 per cent, of
lunatIcs In our asylums. TO say nothing Of It's e;
tecS on the descendants Of those afflicted by this
deadly habit. Buddhism. again. is the sole great
religion OF the world which places men and women
on tho same footing: many Of the great disciples
OF the BuppHA were women. and In Purmeh where
Buddhism Is the dominant factor OF the national
NE women have more freedom than In any other
country In the world The spread OF Buddhist
tene,s would undoubtedly tend 10 do away with
the Injurious distinctions of sex that prevail In the
West"
We observe that consistently with this
principle of the equality of men and
women, the Honorary Treasurer OF the
Samagama is a woman, Mrs. NJ. HLA
DUNG of Rangoon, and to her alone is
given authority to receive money and
draw checks on account of the society.
The prospectus argues that Buddhism,
in its more philosophic aspects, adds to
"an agnosticism singularly in accord
ance with the more advanced phases Of
modern thought, system Of mental
training, by the practice of meditation,
which, werc it more generally known and
followed, would be of the greatest value
to mankind An accompanying tract,
on Buddhism and Science" aims to
show that all the progress Of scientific
thought bears out the doctrine of the
BrDpHA, expounded by him $500 years
ago v; but with the difference that while
science, based on materialism, has not
yet penetrated the laws which govern
the mind, Buddhism treats more of
the higher aspects of mind, basing it's
philosophy rather on minute analysis
of mental phenomena than on con-
sideration of the material world"
Buddhism teaches that our world OF life is but
one Of a system OF innumerable worlds, And so
conceive OF higher states and lower states Of
abstract thought In life processes. The abstract
thought ceasing To exist In a llfe process at its
death gives rse tn another where according to the
extent to which II has been successful In Its con-
trovesy with the up coming thoughts In Its previous