534 



BUDDHISM AND DEMON-WORSHIP. 



[PART VI. 



immaculate virtue for a divinity, Buddhism accords 

 honour to all, in proportion to their approaches towards 

 absolute wisdom ; but as the realisation of this per- 

 fection is regarded as almost hopeless in a life 

 devoted to secular cares, the priests of Buddha, on as- 

 suming their robe and tonsure, forswear all earthly 

 occupations; subsist on alms, not in money, but in 

 food; devote themselves to meditation and self-denial; 

 and, being thus proclaimed and recognised as the most 

 successful aspirants to Nirwana, they claim the homage 

 of ordinary mortals, acknowledge no superior upon earth, 

 and withhold even the tribute of a salutation from all 

 except the members of their own religious order. 



To mankind in general the injunctions of Buddha 

 prescribe a code of morality second only to that of Chris- 

 tianity, and superior to every other heathen system that the 

 world has seen. 1 It forbids the taking of life from even 

 the humblest created animal, and prohibits incontinence, 

 intemperance, dishonesty and falsehood vices which 

 are referred to their formidable assailants, rdga or con- 

 cupiscence, doso or malignity, and moha, ignorance or 

 folly. 2 These, again, involve all their minor modifications 

 hypocrisy and anger, unkindness and pride, ungenerous 

 suspicion, covetousness, evil wishes to others, the betrayal 

 of secrets, and the propagation of slander. Whilst all 

 such offences are forbidden, every excellence is simul- 

 taneously enjoined the forgiveness of injuries, the 

 practice of charity, a reverence for virtue, and the che- 

 rishing of the learned ; submission to discipline, veneration 

 for parents, the care for one's family, a sinless vocation, 

 contentment and gratitude, subjection to reproof, mo- 

 deration in prosperity, submission under affliction, and 

 cheerfulness at all times. " Those," said Buddha, " who 



1 " Je n'he'site pas a aj outer que, 



sauf le Christ tout seul, il n'est 



point,parmi les fondateurs de religion, 



de figure plus pure ni plus touchante 



ue celle de Bouddha. Sa vie n 1 a 



point de tache." Le Bouddha, par J. 

 BAHTHELEMY SAINT-HILAIKE, In- 

 trod. p. v. 



2 The Kev. Mr. GOGERLY'S Notes 

 on Buddhism. LEE'S Ribeyro, p. 267. 



