BUDHISM. 



91 



The state of caste at that time was also different from 

 that which prevails at present, the Warrior tribe being re- 

 garded as the first, and the Brahmanical as the second in 

 the scale of dignity. Many princes having embraced the 

 doctrines of Buddhism, the Warrior tribe became its suppor- 

 ters, but were ultimately subjected by the ascendancy of 

 the priesthood. Much obscurity rests upon that historical 

 period which we shall not attempt to remove ; confining 

 ourselves briefly to the doctrines of Buddha as recorded in 

 their sacred books. 



Although the present system of Budhism is of compar- 

 atively recent origin, Goutama affirmed, that in the most 

 remote ages the doctrines which he taught had been pro- 

 claimed by"an* incalculable number of Buddhas who lived 

 in previous kalpas ; as well as by three who preceded him 

 in the present kalpa. The doctrines taught by them are 

 represented as being identical with those of the present 

 Buddha. (4) The whole field of truth is stated to have 

 been open before each Buddha, who is therefore named 

 es§) -2332551 sabannyu, omniscient ; ©^g©3 chackhuma, the 



is no reference in the Vedas to Trimnrfci, Brahma, Vishnu and 

 Siva, to Durga, Kali, or Rama, or to any other of the gods that 

 are at present the most popular in India. The principal dieties are 

 Agni and Indra. 



(4.) When the priests of Buddha were assembled in the sitting 

 hall of Kareru in the garden of Anathapindika at J etawana near 

 Sawatty, they were anxious to be taught respecting the former 

 states of existence. Buddha addressing them, says, that 91 kalpas 

 previous to his time there appeared a Buddha whose name was 

 SossS Wipassi; 31 kalpas previous, there was one Sikhi ; in 



followers of Confucius and Laotse, the first nlaee on the scale belongs 

 really to Christianity," 



