The sun., 1908-06-14
HEAD OF TEE BUDDHIsT FAITH.

-. /. i =. - -.
HEAD OF TKE>BUDDHIsT FAITH.
DaIai Lama, Though an Exile FROM Lhasa,
Stiii Bupreme-About to Visit Chine.
4 The two greatest spiritual authorities
Of Tibet. the Dalai Lama and the Tashi
Lama, are about to pay viait TO the Em-
peror OF China at Peidn. No white man.
excepting Robert yGeerts and one Russian.
has ever seen the present Dalai Lama. the
incarnation Of Duddha. the head Of the
Buddhist faith and the greatest power In
Tibet
It win be remembered that when the Brit
ish entered Lhasa In 1904 the Dalai Lama
fed from his famous palace and travelled
hundreds Of miles to Urga, far north In the
plain Of Mongolia. Il was no undignifed
flight. as he travelled with pomp and oiroum-
stance and 90 far ahead df the British that
he had no fear Of successful pursuit. His
baggage was carried by 400 carnels, many
Of the leading dgnitaries were In his suite
and when he reached Urga on November 81
10000 citizens went out to meet him.
Now he is going to meet the Chinese ruler.
who on September s, 1904, proclaimed that
confiscated and In his place Ia appointed
Tashi Lama This was done because
Dalai Lama did not remain to guard his
kingdom
So far as the real power that the Dalai
Lama has over the hearts Of millions Of
Buddhists is concerned the sdict Of the Chi
nese Emperor has been wholly Ineffective.
To-day the Buddhists regard the centre
Of Buddhism as the place where the Dalai
Lama Is abiding. The TasM Lama Of Shi-
gatse has made no pretenoe OF taking the
place Of the Grand Lama OF Lhasa, and
many thousands Of pilgrims have been con-
tinually crossing the sandy ways Of Mon
golia to do the master homage.
The Chinese Government knows well
that the deposition Of the Dalai Lama has
not had the slightest effect upon the rela-
tions Of the Buddhists to the head Of their
faith. The Government is giving him
about $l00. 900 year to enable him to sup
port his high dignity.
The outside world has heard little Of his
movements. but the fact is that he has lived
in his palace in Urga only part Of the
time for the last four years. He has spent
many months at the famous convent Of
great numbers Of the faithful from Tibet.
Mongolia. Cashmere. Siberia and other
lands have visited him there.
He will not have long journey to Pekin.
as he has been living for some time In great
state and with large retinue In the mon
astery at Wutai-shan, within five days Of
the Chinese capital. Mr.. Geerts while
in the service Of the Vioeroy Of Kansu
saw the party Of the Dalai Lama as 1t was
making it's way to Wutai-shan.
The cortege was composed Of several
hundred Lamas or Buddhist priests and
Tibetan soldiers mounted on camels. There
was an enormous amount OF baggage in
the train. and the immediate attendants
Of the Dalai Lama were mounted on horses
and surrounded the yellow palanquin
borne by eight men in which was hidden
from all eyes the man who Is distinguished
above all others among the hundreds Of
millions Of Buddhists.
MIR. Geerts secured very good picture
! of the camp Of the Dalai Lama. The tents
of his large party are scattered around
his own, but the habitation made sacred by
his occupancy is distinguished from the
others by the fact that It Is larger, with
! circular sides and conical top. and is iso-
lated by q high fence Of cloth.
A few hours before this camp was pitched
on the outskirts Of the large Chinese city OF
Lanohow the yiceroy Of Kansu. with all
| the other Chinese authorities, sailed forth
| to welcome the distinguished traveller
and thousandS Of Chinese on their knees
lined the road all the way to the camping
| Lamas ground.
Mr.. Geerts succeeded In taking another
photograph, which wonld seem to any one
not knowing It's story to be scarcely worth
looking at, but after all 1t is a remarkable
picture. One day the Dalai Lama sailed
forth on horseback, with an escort Of three
| ing temple. Geerts knew the route by which
he would return TO his camp and 30 he estab-
| lished himself and his camera in the bushes
by the roadside.
| It was not pleasant undertaking. for
Buddhist enthusiasm had been aroused to
head Of the Church. and Thousands would
have thought 1t an agreeable duty to aseist
in killing a wretch who should presume
to infiict upon the Buddhist Pope the un-
speakable indignity OF having his picture
taken. Geerts risked almost more than he
out through the shrubbery and snapshotted
the Dalai Lama.
The picture YVES taken at such long range
| that the figures on horseback are scarcely
larger than pins. and the Dalai Lama can
disting guishssdi only by the TACT that he
1
likely to be the only photograph Of the pres.
| ent Incarnation OF Buddha that the world
will ever see. This was the only opportunity
that Geerts found to see the Dalai Lama
and he writes Of him:
sHe Is a little man. not at all imposing
IN appearance and one could scarcely be.
heve that he is the most powerful per-
sonage In all Asia and the Religious chiei
Of e00. 900 900 Of human beings.
The only predecessor Of the present Dalai
| Lama who visited Pekin was the fifth Dala
Lama, who spent the winter OF 1852 at the
| Chinese capital as the guest Of the En-
peror Shun-ohe. the first ruler Of the present
+! dynasty It is reported from Pekin that
the young man will be received with the
distinguished honors that were conferred
upon his predecessor two and a half cen.
turtles ago.
The Tashi Lama has visited India, has
met the Prince Of Wales and many other
white men, has acquired much. worldly
wisdom and is said by those who have met
him TO be q learned good natured ano
admirable man. There 10 no quarre