The Washington herald., 1914-04-18
Storm Brewing for Mongolian Buddha
RUSSIAN BEAR is EATENING THE KHUTUKHTA
Chinese President Is in Conspiracy

ence at Pekin. Japan was brought to
acquiesce by an agreement on spheres
OF interest. The indignant protests OF
the other powers were somehow smoothed
over. Pekin was having much more
trouble with the Southern provinces, the
richest of the empire. There was no
possibility of sending the necessary mill
tary expeditions to Crga.
Mongolia become free still to a de-
gree under the nominal suzerainty of
China and now under the protection" of
Russia.
The Russians surged in. Their mer-
chants fill the market places. Their
consular agents are everywhere. and
these agents are very easily offended.
And with each offense there is a further
decrease OF Mongolian power.
Threat to T-hutuLhta.
On the Buddhist New Years Day the
Khutukhta dared to plead indisposition
and stay away from paying his respects
to the Russian diplomatic representative.
AS a result he was forced to appear in
the most obsequious fashion. with as
ruuch kowtow.ns as was ever given to
the Dowagsr Empress Tsi An.
The Russians are using Yuan Shih KaI
to discipline the Khutukhta Yuan,
president of China. has known how
~ ASC iClA6lOH " own Dur-
poses. He has re-established the state
religion of China over the protests of the
Christians and the European powers Now
he writes to the Khutukhta informing
him that in the opinion of the Tibetan
clergy. his manner of living is open to
grave objection on account of profanity
and that unless he mends his WAYS he
Is likely 10 be repudiated by the Bud
Ghist church.
Calls Wife Goddess.
The message goes on to enumerate some
OF the Irregularities committed by the
khutukhta, making special mention OF
MS Wlte and children as a worldly pos
session Incompatible with monastic life.
But he might have gone further. 4
monograph and an automobile are among
the frivolities of the ruler of Mongolia
and he is very fond of betting on athletic
contests.
As one of the heads of the Buddhist
church, the Khutukhta has no right to
marry: YET no sooner did he become in
dependent Cas he thoughO than he not
only took TO himself a wife but actually
proclaimed her to be the reincarnation
OF the goddess Chagandara, To be any
oody In Mongolia you must be the rein
carnation of somebody. This takes the
place of Norman blood.
For three years he has been allowed
TO maintain this standing scandal at his
monastery at Urga, the Russians en-
couraging him. But now the Russians.
using Yuan and the Dalai Lama as cats
paws. are about to put the Khutukhta
TO the question through the last-named
worthy. There will be little sympathy
wasted on the Khutukhta himself He
Is certainly most unworthy representa-
five of the Buddhist church.
Living Buddha Provided.
The Khutukhtas OF Urga originated at
the beginning of the seventeenth CEN
tury, when the Dalai Lama, after a long
period of real If not nominal captivity
at the capital of Mongolia. returned to
Lassa.
The question arose: How would the
Mongols continue TO live without a liv-
ing Buddha in their midst? The Dalai
Lama then discovered that the son Just
born into the house of Tushetu Khan. |
the most powerful of the Mongollan
princes, direct descendant of the great !
conqueror of Ghenghis Khan, was him
self reincarnation of Buddha.
The marvellous boy was taken to Lassa |
there brought up and afterward sent |
home as the first Khutukhta Cgrand alb |
ooD of Urga
1t was from this great appointment |
mat the present hhutukhta, the eighth |
N the order of succession, has descended |
though not in the flesh For the Khu-
tukhtas have no business TO marry and |
TO- establish a dynasty. but are selected |
each time on the death OF the last holder
of the Office from among the babies born
II that very moment. At first the selec-
lion lay entirely in the hands of the
Lamas learned in the mysteries of rein
,arnation' but experience having shown
hat the selection always fell on some
scion Of the house of TIshetu Khan, the
oekin emperors transferred this sacred
iuty to themselves. with the result that
he present Khutukhta was picked from
he family OF poor Tibetan customs off,
,ial.
None of the previous seven Khutukhtas
vas allowed to live too long 1t is a sign
If decadence of the old Pekin authority
hat the eight khutukhta, who was born
n 1871, has succeeded in asserting his
light to live so long as this.
Rule Nearing End.
But his life has been a worthless one.
lie has a great prediction for strong ,
liquors, he is very fond of cards, he likes
he yellow, glittering metal more than {
else in the world, and, SO far
rom passing his time in pious devotions,
Ie rides in a motor car, plays the piano, ,
istens to the phonograph. and has sur
ounded himself with little harem. (
II is these worldly qualities which have I
made him accessible to Russian influence, !
nut it would not surprise the Mongoiian {