Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
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large standing figure of King Kanishka
the great Buddhist ruler and conqueror
of the time the casket was made, and
mere were also inscriptions stating that
the maker was the head engineer of this
king.
Upon opening the casket lump OF rock
crystal was found within. This had been
followed out at one end for the recep-
sealed with clay, but the moisture had
detached the SEAL and this was found
lying at the side of the crystal. Coins
bearing the head of Kanishka were also
found. The government of India con-
siders the relics beyond any doubt
genuine.
During my present trip around the
world have Travelled extensively through
the great lands of the Buddhists I
first stopped In Japan, where the more
advanced followers Of this religion are
modifying their faith to suit our modern
civilization. 1 saw temple in Kyoto
which has an income of 100000 a year,
and in Korea found the missionaries of
that church at work
The BuddhfStS are adopting the same
plans. of propagating their faith as those
used by us Christians. They have Budd-
hist Young Mems Associations correspond
ing to our Young Mems. Christian Asso-
Citations. and are now publishing tracts and
distributing all sorts Of religious docu-
ments During my stay In China 1 visited
the great lamasares outside Picking.
where the Dalai Lama, who had come
from Tibet. was stopping while en-
gagged in conferences with the high Chi
nese officials. While In Burma / in
sspectea many of the Buddhist r1onas-
teries there. and talked with the high
priests. and laid flowers upon the shrines
OF the Golden Pagoda at Rangoon. That
hpyfy
came from the head Of the great Buddha.
and It's sanctity is surpassed only by that
OF the temple at Handy. which con-
tans Buddha's favorite tooth.
This tooth was brought to Ceylon
more than sixteen centuries ago by a
princess. who concealed it in her cloth
Ing. Since then it has been fought over
and captured and recaptured during
several wars. and it is now so holy that
1t Is shown only with the consent of
like the tooth Of crocodile than tina
OF man. It is a piece of ivor,
about an inch in diameter and a.
long as my little finger 1t reposes on
a lotus flower of pure gold under a
nest OF seven bells of gold set with
jewels. People come from all parts OF
the Buddhist world to Worship at this
shrine; and it is said that single pill
grim upon one occasion laid 5000 OOO
flowers upon IT.
Siam is the chief Buddhist country of
this part Of the world 1t has no relics
of the saint. but the splendor of it's
temples beggars description. 7 visited
one at Bangkok which has a carpet of
woven silver wire. and contains a little
gold god set with emeralds and other
precious stones. Bangkok has hundreds
of figures of Buddha plated with gold.
and in one temple there 1 saw what is
perhaps the largest idol of the world.
1t is a sleeping Buddha so heavily
plated that it shines like a new we'd
ding ring. 1t is $50 feet long. and its
arm is as big around as a flour barrel
India should have more BUddhists than
any other land. It was here that Bud
dina was born. Here he spent his whole
life, and from here his religion spread
to other parts of the world Today,
Of the three hundred millions of In
dia. not more than one in a thousand
Is follower of Buddha. There are be-
tween nine and ten millions of that faith
In Burma. and many more in Ceylon and
parts of farther India.
The Buddhists OF Hindustan number
less than 100000. They are found in small
numbers along the northern frontier OF
Bengal and upon the lower slopes of the
Himalayas. In Nepal, where Buddha was
born, he has still many followers. and in
Kashmir. near where these ashes were
found, there are of his believers perhaps
10000 all told.
The religion at first had great sway 1t