378 



THE SINGHALESE CIIEONICLES. 



[Part HI. 



A.D. 



209. 



Buddhism, although tolerant of heresy, has ever been 

 vehement in its persecution of schism. Boldly con- 

 fident in its own superiority, it bears without im- 

 patience the glaring errors of open antagonists, and 

 seems to exult in the contiguity of competing sys- 

 tems as if deriving strength by comparison. In this 

 respect it exhibits a similarity to the rehgion of Brahma, 

 which regards with composure shades of doctrinal 

 difference, and only rises into jealous energy in support 

 of the distinctions of caste, an infringement of which 

 might endanger the supremacy of the priesthood.^ To 

 the assaults of open opponents the Buddhist displays the 

 calmest indifference, convinced that in its undiminished 

 strength, his faith is firm and inexpugnable ; his vigilance 

 is only excited by the alarm of internal dissent, and 

 all his passions are aroused to stifle the symptoms of 

 schism.^ 



This characteristic of the " religion of the Vanquisher " 

 is in strict conformity, not alone with the spiiit of his 



^ Plenee the indomitable liatred 

 with wliifli the Braliinans pursued 

 tlie disciples of Buddhism from the 

 fourth century before Christ to its 

 final expulsion from Hindustan. 

 " Abundant proofs," says Turnour, 

 " may be adduced to show the fa- 

 natical ferocity with which these two 

 great sects persecuted each other; 

 and which subsided into passive 

 hatred and contempt, only when the 

 parties were no longer placed in the 

 position of actual collision." — Introd. 

 Mahawanso, p. xxii. 



^ In its earliest form Buddhism 

 was equally averse to persecution, 

 and the 3Iahmvanso extols the libe- 

 rality of Asoca in giving alms indis- 

 criminately to the members of all 

 religions (Mahawanso, ch. v. p. 23). 

 A sect which is addicted to persecu- 

 tion is not likely to speak approvingly 

 of toleration, l)ut the Blahatvanso re- 

 cords with evident satisfaction the 

 courtesy paid to the sacred things of 

 Buddhism by the believers in other 



doctrines ; thus the Nagas did homage 

 to the relics of Buddha and mourned 

 their removal from Moimt Meru 

 (Mahawanso, ch. xxxi. p. 189) ; the 

 Yakkhos assisted at the building of 

 dagobas to enshrine them, and the 

 Brahmans were the first to respect 

 the Bo-tree on its arrival in Ceylon 

 {Ih. ch. xix. p. 119). CosmasIndico- 

 PLETTSTES, whose informant, Sopater, 

 visited Ceylon in the sixth centmy, 

 records that there was then the 

 most extended toleration, and that 

 even the Nestorian Christians had 

 perfect freedom and protection for 

 their worship. 



Among the Buddhists of Burmah, 

 however, " although they are tolerant 

 of the practice of other religions by 

 those who profess them, secession 

 from the national faith is rigidly pro- 

 hibited, and a convert to any otlier 

 form of faith incurs the penalty of 

 death." — Professor Wilson, Juurn. 

 Roij. Asiat. Soc. vol. xvi. p. 261. 



