SIR ANDREW WINGATE, K.C.I.E., ON INDIA. 



53 



offspring. In both respects Brahmans and Jews have developed 

 along similar lines, but the low estimation accorded to Jews 

 perhaps saved Europe. 



Jainism rejected the Vedas and animal sacrifices, but con- 

 tinued to venerate the Hindu gods and main doctrines and to 

 accept the services of Brahmans. Consequently, it has been 

 tolerated by the Brahmans and survives in Rajputana and 

 Western India. Jains are a well-to-do and influential body, 

 believing in prayer and fasting, but carrying respect for animal 

 and tree life to extreme limits. 



Buddhism, on the other hand, cast out the false gods of 

 Hinduism, but as it left no place for God at all, it failed to keep 

 free from idol worship. Buddha accepted Karma and Trans- 

 migration and regard for animal life. The motive power of 

 his reform lay, however, in its spiritual appeal. His call was 

 to purity in deed, word and thought, the renunciation of the 

 world and its lusts, and obedience to ten commandments, such 

 as not to kill, steal, or commit adultery, not to lie, slander, or 

 swear, not to covet or hate. 



Karma means action," and the doctrine is concisely defined 

 by Dr. V. Smith to mean, " that the merits and demerits of a 

 being in past existences determine his condition in the present 

 life." Therefore, as Mr. Farquhar explains (A Primer of 

 Hinduism), every act of a man works itself out in retribution in 

 another birth. The doctrine of Transmigration of the Soul is 

 the necessary companion of Karma. The idea is that after 

 innumerable lives during myriads of years, the soul rises to 

 perfection, an idea now being adapted by a shallow Christianity 

 to the moral evolution of mankind, flesh developing into spirit. 

 The facts of life in India have so little encouraged this hope, 

 that pessimism has laid its paralysing hand on all religious thought. 

 Not only so. These doctrines paralyse philanthropy. " Who 

 did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind ? 

 (John ix, 2-3). Hinduism was unable to answer, That the 

 works of God should be made manifest in him," that Love would 

 strive to cure or alleviate' suffering. Karma and Transmigration 

 have become the synonyms for perpetual retribution. The 

 uplifting power of the Forgiveness of Sins and the Fatherhood 

 of God are thus lost. The widow, specially the child- widow, has 

 borne the age-long, relentless cruelty of these doctrines. 



The earliest known date in the history of India is the invasion 

 of Alexander the Great in 326 B.C. He marched from Kabul 



