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* k Owing to its geographical position, and perhaps, also, to political 

 causes, Burraah has ever remained out of the reach of Hindoo influence, 

 which in Nepaul has coloured Buddhism with Hindoo myths, and habited 

 it in gross idolatric forms. In China, where already subsisted heroes' 

 and ancestors' worship, at the time of the arrival of the preachers of the 

 new doctrine ; Buddhism, like an immense parasitic plant, extended itself 

 all over the institutions which it covered rather than destroyed, allowing 

 the ancient forms to subsist under the disguise it afforded them. But 

 such was not the state of Burmah, when visited by the first heralds of 

 Buddhism." — pp. viii. ix. 



That being the case, let us ascertain what the Burmese autho- 

 rities say with reference to the introduction of Buddhism into 

 Ceylon. In the account given of the memorable occurrences 

 which took place when Phralaong at last attained the fullness of 

 the Buddhaship, it is stated, that after giving vent " to the feelings 

 of compassion that pressed on his benevolent heart, Phra [Bur- 

 mese for Buddha] glancing over future events, delighted in 

 contemplating the great number of beings who would avail them- 

 selves of his preachings, and labour to free themselves from the 

 slavery of passions. He counted the multitudes who would enter 

 the ways that lead to the deliverance, and would obtain the 

 rewards to be enjoyed hy those who will follow one of those ways. 

 The Baranathee country (Benares) would be favoured first of all, 

 with the preaching of the law of the wheel. He reviewed the coun- 

 tries where his religion would be firmly established. He saw that 

 Mahinda, the son of king Asoka, would carry his law to Ceylon, 

 236 years after his Neibban." Not; a word here as to the three 

 visits which Sinhalese authorities assert he made, and which if 

 he actually had made, or but one of them even, would undoubtedly 

 have been recorded as one of the things foreseen, just as it is 

 stated he foresaw the preaching of the law of the wheel at Benares — 

 an event which came to pass not long after he became Buddha : — 



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