1833.] European Speculations on Buddhism. 385 



an entirely new and difficult subject in those original Sanscrit authori- 

 ties* which I had discovered and placed within their reach, but no living 

 interpreters of which, I knew, were accessible to them, in Bengal or 

 in Europe. 



I had no purpose, nor have I, to meddle with the interminable sheer 

 absurdities of the Bauddha philosophy or religion ; and, had I not been 

 called upon for proofs of the numerous novel statements my two essays 

 contained, I should not probably have recurred at all to the topic. But 

 sensible of the prevalent literary scepticism of our day and race, I have 

 answered that call, and furnished to the Royal Asiatic Society, a copi- 

 ous selection from those original works which I had some years previ ■ 

 ously discovered the existence of in Nipal. I trust that a further con- 

 sideration of my two published essays, as illustrated by the new paper 

 just mentioned, will suffice to remove from the minds of my continental 

 readers most of those doubts of Remusat, the solution of which does 

 not necessarily imply conversancy on my part with details as absurd as 

 interminable. I cannot, however, be answerable for the mistakes of my 

 commentators. One signal one, on the part of the lamented author in 

 question, I have just discussed : others of importance I have adverted 

 to elsewhere : and I shall here confine myself to the mention of one 

 more belonging to the review from which I have quoted. In speaking 

 of the classification of the people, Remusat considers the vajra achdrya 

 to be laics ; which is so far from being true that they and they alone 

 constitute the clergy. The bhikshuka can indeed perform some of the 

 lower offices of religion : but the vajra achdrya solely are competent 

 to the discharge of the higher ; and, in point of fact, are the only real 

 clergy. That the distinction of clerus et laicus in this creed is alto- 

 gether an anomaly, resulting from the decay of the primitive asceticism 

 of the sect, I have endeavoured to shew elsewhere, and cannot afford 

 room for repetition in this place. 



The critics generally have been, T observe, prompt to adopt my cau- 

 tion relative to local superstitions, as opposed to the original creed of 

 the Bauddhas. But they have carried their caution too far, and by so 

 doing, have cast a shade of doubt and suspicion over things sufficiently 

 entitled to exemption therefrom. Allow me, then, to reverse the medal, 



* Nearly 50 vols, in Sanscrit, and four times as many in the language of Tibet, 

 were sent by me to Calcutta between the years 1824, and 30. The former had 

 never been before heard of, nor the latter possessed, by Europeans. 



[See the notices of the contents of the Tibetan works and their Sanscrit originals 

 by M. Csoma de Koros, and by Professor H. H. Wilson in the 3rd vol. Glean- 

 ings, and 1st vol. Journal. As. Soc. — Ed. 

 2 D 



