Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-02

ment hospitals and other institutions
under the direction Of a minister Of &C.
clesiastical affairs. Although there is no
actual connection or recognized authority,
the King Of Siam is regarded as the
head of the Buddhist faith. Perhaps this
is due to the fact that he is the only
monarch at the present time who pro-
fesses to believe in Buddhism, although
tendency toward Christianity, and has en-
couraged the Introduction Of Christian
missions and schools among his people,
contributing literally to their support
from his private purse.
In the early part Of the year 1897 the
government of India came into possess
sion of certain alleged relics of Gautama
Buddha, which were found IN tope, or
tomb. in a village named Preparahawa.
situated in the state of Nepaul, in north
ern India one of the six places in which
the great prophet is said to have been
buried In this tomb was an immense
stone sarcaphagus. in which were found
five caskets of various shapes. One OF
shaped like fish upon the cover. In
each Of these caSkets were bits OF de-
cayed bone and human ashes or dust.
with gold and silver flowers, gems OF
small value and other articles, evidently
relics which had been inclosed with the
dus. Of some human being before burial
Supposed Remains Of Buddha.
Only one Of the caskets bore an in
scription. and that was in the ancient
Pail language, which Is susceptible of
three different TRANSACTIONS, as follows:
First translation: This is the burial
place of Gautama's body made by his
relatives and friends
Second translation: This is the burial
place of Gautama's body. together with
his relatives and family.
Third translation: This is the burial
place OF Gautama's relatives and family
There is an active dispute as to the
accuracy of the various TRANSACTIONS.
which naturally involves the genuineness
that they are merely those of the fam
lily, and not of the great prophet him.
self. Nevertheless. Lord Curzon. who was
always very careful about such things,
directed they be presented to his majesty,
Somdet Phra Paramindr Maha Chulalong-
kora Phra Chula Chom klao. King OF
Siam, who received them with great
ceremony and had them placed for VEN
The discovery of these relics revived
interest in the prophecy of Gautama con-
corning his successor, and the imaginative
priests have noticed several condolences.
such as the debased condition of the
church in certain countries, the famines
in India the wars between Japan and
China and Russia, the frequency Of
earthquakes and other phenomena re-
ferred to in the Anagatavin, or BOOK or
Prophecy.
Two Divisions Of Buddhists.
There are two divisions Of Buddhists
in Siam, as there are in Japan-the lib
erals and the conservatives. In Siam
the Maha Nekaia, or large body" Is
the older and more conservative. which
includes the great mass Of the ignorant
and superstitious people and perhaps 30
per cent of the priests and monks. The
minority. or liberal branch. Is known as
the Hamayuta Nekaia the body which
follows RELATIONSHIPS Among its nlem-
bers are princes. mobiles, the aristocracy.
the scholars and tho educated portion Of
the community under the leadership OF
his royal highness. Prince Va1irayana,
plicity Of life. nobility OF his character
and charming manners. Both from the
sanctity OF his Office and his personality
he exercises q powerful influence in Siam,
and all men. from the crowned head to
the lowest cOOlie, PROSTATE themselves be-
fore him.
There is a similar wing of the Buddhist
faith in Japan, led by Count Otani, a
learned and accomplished gentleman who
Is trying to find a way of matchmaking
the Buddhist and the Christian churches.
He believes that Jesus may have been
the Fifth Buddha.
The most primitive and debased form of
Buddhism is found in Tibet, where the
practices of the priests and monks are
not only repulsive. but are in direct con-
tradiction of all the teachings of Gau-
tanla. The dalai lama. the head Of the
Tibetan Church. who is supposed to he
divine, and ID SO much venerated by The
people that they even bow their fore
heads to the earth when his cows pass