The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-02-08
BlD3dhism.

Buddhism.
A synopsis of Rev. Heib's lecture
last Sunday night at the Congregation
al church.
Buddhism is the religion professed by
millions Of people in Japan China.
Tibet. Burma. Siam and Ceylon. aggre-
eating nearly $50. 600. 200 according to
best recent estimates.
Probably more than any other of the
great religions of the world Buddhism
has been changed and altered in each
land in which it has attained adherents.
The two principal divisions are the
Nothern Buddhism and the Southern
Buddhism. The former regards SAM
scrit ~ its sacred language. the latter
adheres to Pail. The Southern writings
called the Tripitahas are contemporary
termed "The Lesser Vehicle" by the
Northern Buddhists in distinction to
their own "The Greater Vehicle" In
converting on one occasion with Bud
dist Priest Mr.. Heb quoted some words
which . western writer had given as
''the prayer most frequently used by
the Buddhists. The priest smiled
very contemporary and said that Ceylon
Buddhists were not accountable for
the Buddhism of Tibet which used the
formulary in question.
The founder of Buddhism was Cot
anna Siddhartha born about GO B. c.
Some authorities say $50 B. c. Got
amas father was King Of Sakyas, an
Aryan tribe IT North India noting ''the
divineunrest of the soul''in his son and
heir theKing threw about thePrince all
possible restrictions to keep him from
knowing the miseries of life but in
vain. The Prince forsook his wife
and only child and went out home
less wanderer, mendicant, an ascetic
with one idea. to know the secret of
life. For six years he tried Brahmam-
ism ~ few ever tried but found no
peace, one day seated under fig tree
(ficus religioss) he msditatsd and Stud.
led and questioned = day and = night
Prince Gotama sat there and arose the
enlightened one" The Buddha. From
henceforth all Buddhists hold as sacred
the fig tree, or Bodhi tree, tree of
wisdom.
What was the nature of Gotama's
enlightenment? One of the Cardinal
doctrines of Biahmanism is that of
the transmigration of souls. Gotama
firmly believed this and it is funda-
mental in his philosophy. He himself
is said to have had $50 rebirths-had
been rat, pig COW etc. but
never vermin nor woman. How escape
this wheel invisible" whose ''spokes
go round unceasingly?" Buddha said
get rid of desire. all emotion. 1.-The
aching craze to live" and there will be
no unsatisfed longings to be reborn and
the end will be Nirvana. To get rid
OF these desires Gotama Buddha pro-
duced system known as the ''Noble
Eight Fold Pathway
Nirvana, the Buddhist's haven of
rest from the endless round of
sorrowful existence is the flame of a
candle after you have blown it out. it
is as near annihiliation as anything
can De WHici Is sui Supposeu W De
the Christian asks what must | do
the life beyond? The Buddhist's great
desire is what must do to Inherit eter-
nal extension of life?
( In the development Of his teaching
"a ddah gave some wholesome ethical
rules obligatory upon all Buddhists.
some of these pfecepts are supposed
to be superior to the christian laws
# lie, for example ''thou shalt not
kill' is binding rs respects toad as
man, who knows perhaps your depart
cd grondmocler is now that toad, but
in pratiae the Buddhist does not more
highly esteem the life Of insects etc.
but does have less regard for human
life, here Mr. Heib read m editorial
from recent issue Of the Cevlon OBJ
server depioring the crulety to animals
as practiced in tiiat essentially Budd-
hist country.
In Ccylon. where Mr.. Heb was Y. N,
G.. A. Secretary for eight years Budd-
hism obtained foot-hold Il. c. $50
wears and is generally conceded to be
found there in its purest form, there
Fare many notable Buddhist Shrines in
Ceylon which makes this utmost Indian
Isle the mecca for Buddhists of the
whole world, among these We're men,
toned the sacred Bo Tree at Buhurad
hapura the famous temple of the Tooth
in Handy and the dainty foot print Is
#. by 2 ft) on Adams peak which is
averred by the faithful to have been
made by Buddah on a visit to Ceylon.
there are eight thousand Buddhist
Monks in Ceylon, most of whom are
declared by one of the chief Of their
own number to be so many centers of
self hood as would disqualify them at
once for all spiritual and recognizable
claims to the priesthood and religious
life. priest at the temple of the tooth
told Mr. Heb that not only is the pre-
sent priest hood degenerated but that
during the last 500 years not one at
tanned Nrvana the object of their sup
renucation of the world.
tContinur1 next Week0