A Summary of the Contents of the First Book in the Buddhist 

 Canon called the Pdrdjika Book. — By the Rev. S, Coles. 



The subjects of the following paper are extracted from a 

 portion of the Canonical Books of Buddhism, which, as far as 

 we know, has not generally been unfolded to Oriental scholars 

 and philologists. It is well known to all whose investigations 

 have been carried on in this direction, that the Canonical 

 Books of the Buddhist system have a three fold-division, and are 

 designated the Tun Pitakas, or The three Caskets. The first 

 of these is called the Winiya Pitaka, from the root "Ni" "to 

 guide," with its intensive prefix u Wi" and signifies, propriety, 

 good conduct, or discipline; and it is in this latter sense 

 especially that this word is used as a distinguishing epithet to 

 the first five books of the Buddhist Scriptures, which entirely 

 belong to the Priesthood, and contain injunctions and regula- 

 tions relative to their moral and official course of actions. And 

 inasmuch as the contents of these books afford us information 

 on Buddhism as it practically existed in the time of its founder, 

 we are bound to examine them carefully and impartially, to see 

 whether the theories advanced in the Sutta Pitaka, the por- 

 tion delivered to the laity, and which contains the doctrines of 

 Buddha, are there maintained. It is well known that as to its 

 doctrines, Buddhism is a system of Atheism, since, according to 

 its tenets, there is no Creator nor Preserver of the Universe ; 

 no one to reward the virtuous or punish the ill-doer; but that 

 every animal is ever serving under one master — " Kamma," the 

 fruit of actions ; and that every state which he arrives at is de- 

 termined by his previous deeds. Buddha never rewards nor 

 punishes. lie was only the Teacher, and declared that 



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