The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-04-18
THE OBSERVATORY.
Relixions Of India

In our last we were observing
Buddhism; if it had not contained
some good it would not have attracted
such multitudes to its fold; and one
of its chief good features was its at
tack on caste, for Gautama decreed
| it's extinction in his order, and de-
clared that the path to Nirvana was
open to the lowest outcast as to the
purest Brahmin. Such teaching was
hailed with joy by the lower and
down-trodden castles. But it is GER
tain that while Gautama tried to re-
form religion as it had existed in
Brahmism, he did not think his sys-
tenn was necessarily opposed to it.
An eminent scholar who is an author
ity on Buddhism says:
$50 far from showing how depraved
and oppressive Hindooism was, it
shows precisely the contrary. for none
will DENY that there is much that is
beautiful and noble in Buddhism, and
Buddhism was the child, the product
of Hindooism. Gautama's whole train
ing was Brahmanism; he probably be-
lieved himself to be the most cor
rect exponent of the spirit, as distinct
from the letter of the ancient faith,
and it can only be claimed for him
that he was the greatest and wisest
and best of the Hindoos."
Prof. Max Muller once paid his re-
spects to esoteric Buddhism, pouring
out the "vials of his ridicule" on
Madame Blavatsky, in particular and
Theosophy in general. and convicted
her of either ignorance or duplicity.
And in general he says: much as in
its later development Buddhism diff
fers from Brahmanism, Buddha' s
teaching would be quite inconceivable
without the previous growth of Brah-
manism. -. Many words and con-
cepts are treated as peculiar to Buddh-
ism which were perfectly familiar to
the Brahmans. In many cases, it is
true Buddha gave a new meaning to
them but he borrowed the substance
from those who had been the teach
ers of his youth. 1t is generally i'm
lagined, for instance, that Nirvana,
about which so much has been writ
ten. was term coined by Buddha
But Nirvana occure in the Bhagavad-
Gita, and in some of the Upanishads
1t meant originally no more than the
blowing out, or the expiring of all
lpassion, the calm after the storm. .
1t meant in the beginning the extinc.
ton of the fire of the passions. But
that beginning lies outside the limit.
of Buddhism; it is still within the ole
domain of Brahmanism."
herent strength to impart help il
overcoming sin, and many heinou
. evils have been sheltered under it
robes. 1t has no supreme god, ant
/, has finally recognized many deities
it contained no purifying power t,
clarity society and uplift it; has &C
quiesced in woman's degradation, hu
man slavery and other kindred evil:
II 1t is generally supposed that W
| Yankees are a hard-headed lot, no
easily led by thin notions or shallo,
| pretense, but is it SO? AS look bac
| recall many of whom | should NO
expect it declaring faith in some var
DRY idea. | recall queer experience
| | had been riding all day in the stag
from Challis in Custer county in col
| October and had stopped for suppe
on the summit of Ketchum mountain
In the person in charge l found
lady acquaintance of mine who, I
help another had good-naturedl
consented to spend few days in thi
elevated position, overseeing the stag
business and comfort of the patron
This showed fine trait of her chal
acter. She was an intelligent woma,
and l spent pleasant hour, roamin
far afield through books and idea
when something led her to say, a
though she had made wonderful di
covery: Il am believer in Ne
| Thought; Theosophy is wonderf
and | enjoy Madame Blavatsky,"
have said she was an intelligent W,
man, and yet reaching out after II
dreamy. uncertain guesses it struc
me queerly. We were in a log cab
on a high mountain top-evidently