NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 57 



his wife and child to become a wanderer seeking enlightenment and 

 salvation. It is said that he first tried philosophical speculation and 

 later, failing to find a solution by that method, tried asceticism. He 

 finally realized that this method also was useless, and at the age of 

 35 attained enlightenment. He perceived the four noble truths and 

 the noble eightfold path. The four noble truths are: first, all exist- 

 ence involves suffering ; second, all suffering is caused by desire ; third, 

 all suffering will cease on the suppression of desires ; and fourth, every 

 person should live according to the noble eightfold path. This path 

 is right belief, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right liveli- 

 hood, right endeavor, right thought, and right concentration. The 

 purpose of salvation, according to Buddha, is the attainment of 

 Nirvana. This is interpreted as "the highest happiness." Some 

 scholars regard this as the extinction of all consciousness and per- 

 sonality, but this interpretation is not accepted by all Buddhists. It 

 would seem to be a negative condition, "a passionless peace." 



Buddha rejected the gods of India, the monism of the philosophers, 

 and the many deities in the popular religion. He did not believe in 

 and teach about any god. He rejected caste, the numerous and elabo- 

 rate magical ceremonies and rituals, and the idea of a permanent 

 personality or soul. However, he accepted the prevailing pessimistic 

 view of life, that it is so full of disappointments, suffering, and sor- 

 row that it is of little value, and the belief in karma and trans- 

 migration. 



Having found the way of salvation and been enlightened himself, 

 he began to instruct disciples and to send them out to teach others 

 the way of salvation. While he gave a place to laymen, he required 

 celibacy of his closest followers and organized them into a society. 

 After his death they continued to preach his doctrines. Buddha him- 

 self was later deified, and the gods of India were again worshiped 

 by the Buddhists, who added many deities of their own to their 

 pantheon. Magic ceremonies and festivals similar to those of India 

 and the use of charms and incantations later became a vital part of 

 Buddhism. 



Buddhism spread into Ceylon, Cambodia, Burma, Siam, Tibet, 

 China, Korea, and Japan. In the southern countries it remained 

 truer to the historical doctrines and practices of Buddha and is 

 called "the lesser vehicle." In Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan it has 

 changed greatly. Here it has a large pantheon of gods and goddesses, 

 many heavens and hells, elaborate religious festivals and ceremonies, 

 many temples containing images of the gods, and charms and 

 incantations. 



