386 European Speculations on Buddhism. [Aug. 



and to shew the grounds upon which a great degree of certainty and 

 uniformity may always be presumed to exist in reference to this creed, 

 be it professed where it may. 



Buddhism arose in an age and country celebrated for literature ; and 

 the consequence was, that its doctrine and discipline were fixed by means 

 of one of the most perfect languages in the world (Sanscrit), during, or 

 immediately after, the age of its founder. 



Nor, though furious bigots dispersed the sect, and attempted to 

 destroy its records, did they succeed in the latter attempt. The refugees 

 found, not only safety, but protection, and honour, in the immediately 

 adjacent countries, whither they safely conveyed most of their books, 

 and where those books still exist, either iu the original Sanscrit, or in 

 most carefully-made translations from it. The Sata Sahasrika, Prajna 

 Paramita, and the nine Dharmas, discovered by me in Nipal, are as indis- 

 putably original evidence of Buddhism as the Vedas and Purdnas are of 

 Brahmanism. TheKdhgyur of Tibet has been proved to have been render- 

 ed into Tibetan from Sanscrit, with pains and fidelity : and if the numer- 

 ous books of the Burmese and Ceylonese be not originals, it is certain 

 that they were translated in the earlier ages of Buddhism, and that they 

 were rendered into a language (high Prakrit) which, from its close 

 affinity to that of the original books of the sect, (Sanscrit,) must have 

 afforded the translators every facility in the prosecution of their labours. 



But if the Buddhists, whether of the continent or islands of India, 

 or of the countries beyond the former, still possess and consult the 

 primitive scriptures of their faith, either in the original language, or in 

 careful translations, made in the best age of their church — wherefore, I 

 would fain know, should European scholars, from their study, incessant- 

 ly prate about mere local rites and opinions, constituting the substance 

 of whatever is told to the intelligent traveller by the present professors 

 of this faith in diverse regions — nay, constituting the substance of 

 whatever he can glean from their books ? In regard to Nipal, it is 

 just as absurd to insinuate, that the Prajna Paramita, and the nine 

 Dharmas were composed in that country, and have exclusive reference 

 to it, as to say that the Hebrew Old, or Greek New, Testament was 

 composed in and for Italy, France, or Spain exclusively. Nor is it 

 much less absurd to affirm, that the Buddhism of one country is essen- 

 tially unlike the Buddhism of any and every other country professing 

 it, than it would be to allege the same of Christianity. 



Questionless, in the general case, documentary is superior to verbal 

 evidence. But the superiority is not without limit : and where, on the 

 one hand, the books referred to by our closet students are numerous 

 and difficult, and respect an entirely new subject, whilst, on the other 



