1832.] Analysis of the Kah-gyur. 377 



A careful examination of the original Prajna Paramita, or a trans- 

 lation of one of the abridgements of it, is the only means of determin- 

 ing the real purport of the native doctrine of the Buddhas, as taught 

 by Sakya. It is indeed urgently required, in order to save many 

 eminent scholars from the unsatisfactory labour of endeavouring to 

 compose a regular system out of the disjecta membra placed within 

 their reach, by the study of inferior authorities or oral communication*. 

 It is to be hoped, therefore, that Mr. Csoma may be prevailed upon to 

 undertake the task, however difficult and irksome it may prove, not 

 only from the inherent obscurity of the subject, but the very desultory 

 and vague manner in which it is treated by Sa'k ya, or his disciples — a 

 style of discussion which renders it impossible to give a satisfactory 

 analysis of the contents of the Sher-chin. 



Speaking generally, the volumes of this division contain the meta- 

 physical and psychological doctrines of the Bauddhas, as taught by 

 Sakya to his pupils, and to other Bodhisatwas and Buddhas. There 

 are especially one hundred and eight leading topics (Dhermas), which 

 with numerous subdivisions admit of argument, of affirmation and ne- 

 gation. Thus of aggregation or body, five predicates may be asserted 

 — shape, perception, consciousness, faculty, and discrimination. The 

 senses are said to be six — sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, and un- 

 derstandingt ; there are also six organs of sense, six objects, and 

 eighteen regions. There are six elements, earth, water, fire, air, 

 ether, and spirit, (or intellect+.) 



There are twelve concatenated causes of existence, whether of mat- 

 ter or spirit — 1. ignorance; 2. faculty ; 3. discrimination; 4. definite 

 form; 5. sensation ; 6. perception; 7. knowledge ; 8. desire; 9. priva- 

 tion- 10. vitality ; 11. birth ; 12. old age and death. There are six trans- 

 cendental virtues — 1. charity ; 2. gentleness ; 3. patience ; 4. vigorous 

 application ; 5. meditation ; 6. wisdom. To these four others are some- 

 times added — method, salutation or prayer, fortitude, and prescience. 



* Mons. Remusat states in a note on his Review of Mr. Hodgson's Sketch of 

 Buddhism, in the Transactions of the R. A. Society (Journal des Savansl, that sub- 

 sequently to its publication, " il a paru dans le Journal Asiatique, et dans les Me- 

 nioires de l'Academie de Petersbourg, plusieurs morceaux ou l'existence d'un Dieu 

 supreme, dans le Buddhism est discutee contradictoiiement." 



f This is contrary to the statements hitherto published : disputed points be- 

 tween the Nyayikas and Bauddhas being the number of the organs, reckoned by 

 the former, six, including mind, and by tae latter, five, excluding mind ; and the 

 including of the alias as a distinct element, which the Bauddhas do not recognise. 



2 b 2 



