BUDIIISM, 



89 



There are three doctrines closely connected together and 

 singularly characteristic of Buddhism. These doctrines 

 relate to the nature of man, transmigration, and Mrwana* 

 On each of these points Mr* Gogerly's Pali studies led him 

 to conclusions which are clearly stated in the following 

 lecture. First — Buddhism denies the existence of a soul in 

 man 5 therefore,— Secondly, there can be no transmigration, in 

 the popular sense of the term— there is only a series of 

 beings-^-the later beings in the series inheriting the merit or 

 demerit of the earlier beings. Thirdly — Mrwana is no 

 Paradise, for when the series of sentient beings comes to an 

 end there is no soul to Continue, Sirwana therefore is 

 simply extinction. This is the view of Mrwana held by 

 the highest authorities on Buddhism; and it will be seen 

 that the independent investigations of Mr. Gogerly caused 

 him to arrive at the same Conclusion, 



The notes are written by the Rev. iDavid de Silva of 

 the Wesleyan Mission, lie was formerly a student of Mr. 

 Grogerly, and has acquired an extensive knowledge of the 

 Buddhist Scriptures in Pali, 



Budhism, which was once the dominant religion of India 

 is now completely unknown in its native country ; but 

 when excluded from that region it spread itself in other 

 directions, and at present prevails in Nepaul, Thibet, China 

 Burmah, Biam, Ceylon and other countries, and numbers 

 among its votaries a large portion of the human race. (1.) 

 Brahmanism certainly prevailed extensively at the time 



(1.) The kight Rev. P. Bigaildet, in his preface to the first 

 edition of the " Life or Legend of Coudama," says of Budhism, 

 5t that in our own days, it is s nndef different forrpg, the Creed pre- 



n , ?"■''.' 



