New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
HOME OF BUDDHISM.
Religion of anomalies Chief End
of Man NirU0na or Non-Erlstence.


Burmah Is the home of the purest form OF
Buddhism. the religion which some thought
originated In a laundering attempt to copy the
Christian religion. striking are the many
points Of resemblance AT the same time there
are things about this religion that seem odd to
the Occidental mind. because Of their striking
contrast Ranking next to Christianity IN point
OF numbers. II Is now known to be older. ths
supposed date OF its foundation being fixed at
about the middle OF the sixth century B. C II
is what might be termed an atheistic religion.
for It recognizes god The founder Of tho
religion. according to the Buddhist books. was
prince named Siddhartha, son OF a petty rajah
living on the southern border OF the district Of
NepaI He was a person OF contemplatiye.
| ascetic disposition His father, anxious to pre-
vent him from deserting his high station and
taking to a religious life. married him to q
beautiful princess and surrounded him with an
the splendors OF which the mind could con-
ceive. 1t was of no avail Siddhartha con-
tinued to think of all the evils to which flesh
Is heir and OF ways Of evading them He had
his long hair. the mark of his high caste cut
on as sign of his severance from all secular
ties. The shortened hair turned up. and there
fore his images represent his hair as curly
After much thought upon the subject OF old
age. misery and death he reached the logical
conclusion that if one was not born one would
II
| further conclusion that ignorance Is the uIti-
mate cause OF existence. Therefore IL a man
| becomes wise he will have fewer and fewer de-
sires as his wisdom grows. and in his repeated
| re1ncarnadons will approach nearer and nearer
to the goal OF existence. Nirvana, or compIets
obliteration. According to the manner OF a per
sons life when he died he would be reincar-
mated in a higher lower form OF life, birth
| being only passage from one form OF existence
10 another. In each Of vic
| being had an opportunity to struggle toward
| perfect wisdom and annihnation- Siddhartha
was said to have attained this perfect wisdom
MS final triumph. one night while sitting under
a tree about five miles from Gaya near Patna
| India. II Is said that this tree, known az the
Do-ree' or tree of wisdom. was standing 100
years later. or In the seventh century. A Young
tree now stands in its place Oddly, whfls
Buddhism originated In India and spread al
over Asia, the monastery at Gaya Is the only
| nome OF the faith IN India proper 'eBuddha-
Is title applied to Siddhartha In his state OF
perfection 1t means enlightened" or "he to
whom truth is known" The worship OF Buddha
who is supposed to be non-existent. having at
| tanned Nirvana, is really the veneration of
memory.
| Buddhism has a set of ten commandments
| which are called 'precepts Of aversion" good
| Buddhist must not kill. steal. commit adultery
lie or become drunken, and IL he is making
| special effort TO attain Nirvana he must eat
food only at midday and abstain from dances
theatrical representations. songs and music per-
sonal ornaments and perfumes, a lofty and IuxJI-
rious couch and from taking gold and silver. It
has been said Of Buddhism that for pureness,
excellence and wisdom it is second only to that
| OF the Divine Lawgiver Himself"
| In the Presidency of Bombay. India, are about
nine hundred Buddhist rock temples which havs
| excited the wonder Of all who have seen them
| 1hey are relic OF the suppression OF Buddhism
! in India in the fourth fifth century liz I,
/ believed that the Buddhists. being driven from
| the cities. fashioned these cave temples
| Buddha. the perfect wisdom, Is represented In
the statues which are found in the temples as a
figure seated on crossed legs. This attitude =
intended to represent contemplation In Burrnah
| the people never tire of plastering these statues
over with gold leaf