Buddhism and Buddhists in China, Lewis Hodous [people reading books .TXT] 📗

of the earth. Christianity starts with a personal God and holds up before the believer the goal of perfection for his own personality. It finds man without a self and confers a real selfhood upon him.

Early Buddhism taught that salvation is accomplished by the individual alone. It denies the possibility and the necessity of help from a divine source. Subsequent history has proved this to have been wrong. In India, Buddhism has been displaced by Hinduism, and in China, and Japan, the Mah�y�na has developed the idea of salvation through another. The great stream of Buddhism has recognized that man by himself is helpless. He must have the help of a divine power in order to obtain salvation. Christianity asserts that salvation is possible only through the intervention of God. The incarnation, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and his work in the world through the Holy Spirit on the one hand are the expression of God’s solicitude for man, and, on the other hand, correspond to the deep need which men of all ages have felt, for a power above themselves. From the early stages of magic to the highest reaches of religion we find this constant factor recognized by human groups all over the world. They bear witness to a power above themselves to whom they continually appeal. In Christianity we find this main tendency enunciated most clearly. The individual cannot save himself. Mankind cannot save itself. Both must rely upon the assistance of the divine power which started this universe on its way and which is the ever present creative force.

Christianity, moreover, has established the community of believers including all classes and conditions of men. Herein each one may realize him&if. Herein also he may realize the kind of community which is friendly to his highest aspirations for himself. Herein he has the opportunity to transmute the instincts above mentioned into forces which make for the larger development of his own person and the well-being of the community.

Accordingly, as Christians face Buddhists, they can do so with the consciousness that this great religion has been reaching out after the light which shines brightly in our Christian religion. They have the assurance not only that they have a message which brings fulfilment to the ideas of the Mah�y�na, but also that it has prepared the way for the hearts of the Chinese to receive the highest message of Christianity.

 

APPENDIX I

 

HINTS FOR THE PRELIMINARY STUDY OF BUDDHISM IN CHINA

The student should read and inwardly digest the booklet of K. J. Saunders

He should follow the directions given in Appendix One of that book, This procedure is important because the H�nay�na Buddhism and the life of Buddha are the background of Buddhism in China.

Then he may take Hackmann’s Buddhism as a Religion (No. 15). This will give a general orientation. This may be followed with R. F. Johnston’s Buddhist China (No. 20). Along with this he may read Suzuki’s Awakening of Faith (No. 32), and also his Outlines of Mah�yan� Buddhism (No. 33). McGovern’s Introduction to Mah�yan� Buddhism (No._ 23) will illuminate the philosophical background of Buddhism, and Eliot’s Hinduism and Buddhism (No. 13) will add historical perspective.

The translation of Mahdydna Sutras by Beal and in the Sacred Books of the East will give him some of the sources for the doctrines held in China. He may begin as the Buddhist missionaries did with the sutra of the Forty-two sections and then take up the Diamond Sutra, and then completing the sutras in Vol. 59 and the Catena of Buddhist Scriptures.

For the study of the ethical side he will find De Groot’s Le Code du Mah�y�na en Chine very helpful. For the study of the sects Eliot, Vol. III, pp. 303-320 Northern Buddhism_ (No. 14) will be helpful.

In all his study he will find Eitel’s Handbook of Chinese Buddhism (No. 12) indispensable. He must, however, make a Chinese index in order to be able to use the book.

Contact with monks will be helpful and is quite necessary in order to appreciate the human problems of the work.

 

APPENDIX II

 

A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. BEAL, S. Abstract of Four Lectures upon Buddhist Literature in China. London, Triibner, 1882.

Lecture II, on “Method of Buddha’s Teaching in the Vinaya Pitaka,” and Lecture IV, on “Coincidences Between Buddhism and Other Religions,” especially desirable.

 

2. –- Buddhism in China, London, S. P. C. K, 1884.

The best comprehensive account of Chinese Buddhism, written by an authority.

 

3. –- Catena of Buddhist Scriptures, from the Chinese. London, Triibner, 1871.

A good introduction to Chinese Buddhism from the sources.

4. –- The Romantic Legend of S�kya Buddha. London, Triibner, 1875.

Recounts Buddha’s history from the beginning to the conversion of the K�syapas and others.

 

5. –- Texts from the Buddhist Canon Commonly Known as D hammapada. London, Triibner, 1878. Pocket edition, 1902.

These “Scriptural Texts,” translated from the Chinese and abridged, are usually connected with some event in Buddha’s history. This translation has Indian anecdotes, illustrating the verses.

 

6. COULING, S., editor. The Encyclopaedia Sinica. Shanghai, Kelly & Walsh, 1917.

Contains, on pages 67-75, a number of brief articles upon Buddhism in China.

 

7. DE QROOT, J. J. M. Religion of the Chinese. New York, Macmillan, 1900.

Pages 164-223 contain a summary of the main facts about Chinese Buddhism by an authority.

 

8. –- Sectarianism and Religious Persecution in China. 2 vols. J. M�ller, Amsterdam, 1903-1904.

Treats from sources Confucianism’s persecution of Buddhism and other sects. See Vol. II. Index, under Buddhism, p. 572.

 

9. DORE, HENEI. Researches into Chinese Superstitions. 6 vols. Tusewei Press, 1914-1920.

A well illustrated miscellany of superstitions of all Chinese religions showing indistinctly their interpenetration by Buddhism. For Buddhism proper, see Vol. VI, pp. 89-233.

 

10. EDKINS, J. Chinese Buddhism. 2d edition. London, Tr�bner,

1893.

A very full account of Buddhism as seen by a Sinologue of the last generation.

 

11. EITEL, E. J. Buddhism: Its Historical, Theoretical and Popular Aspects. Hongkong, Lane, Crawford and Co., 1884.

Written by an observant scholar and descriptive of Buddhism of South China especially.

 

12. –- Handbook of Chinese Buddhism. Presbyterian Mission Press, Shanghai.

This is a Sanskrit-Chinese dictionary, a reprint of the second edition of 1888 without the Chinese index necessary for identifying Chinese Buddhist terms.

 

13. ELIOT, SIR CHARLES. Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch. 3 vols. Edward Arnold and Co., 1921.

This is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Buddhism by an experienced student. The parts especially related to Chinese Buddhism are Vol. II, pp. 3-106; Vol. Ill, 223-335.

 

14. JETTY, A. Gods of Northern Buddhism. Oxford, Clarendon Press,

1914.

This work is helpful in identifying images in the temples, though unfortunately few of those given are Chinese.

 

15. HACKMANN, H. Buddhism as a Religion. London, Probsthain,

1910.

Gives a general view of Buddhism from first-hand investigation. For Chinese Buddhism see pp. 200-257.

 

16. HASTINGS, JAMES. The Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. New York, Scribners, 1908.

Articles Asvaghosa, Bodhisattva, China (Buddhism in), Mah�y�na Missions (Buddhist).

 

17. HUME, R. E. The Living Religions of the World. New York, Scribners, 1924.

A clear comparative study of these religions in the light of Christian standards.

 

18. INGLIS, J. W. “Christian Element in Chinese Buddhism.” International Review of Missions, Vol. V, 1916, pp. 587-602. An excellent article by a veteran missionary and scholar of Manchuria.

 

19. JOHNSON, S. Oriental Religions … China. Boston, Houghton, Osgood Co., 1878.

Pages 800-833 give a comprehensive summary by a student of comparative religion.

 

20. JOHNSTON, R. F. Buddhist China. New York, Dutton, 1913.

A well-written, interesting book. The author knows his subject, and is held in high esteem by Buddhists in China.

 

21. KEITH, A. BERRIEDALE. Buddhist Philosophy in India and Ceylon. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1923.

A study of the historic development of the Buddhistic philosophy in India and Ceylon which throws much light on the Mah�y�na.

 

22. LODGE, J. E. Chinese Buddhist Art. Asia, Vol. XIX, June,

1919.

Some of the choicest half-tones illustrating its character accompanied by interesting descriptions.

 

23. McGOVERN, W. M. An Introduction of Mah�y�na Buddhism. Dutton,

1922.

Though written from the point of view of Japanese Buddhism it gives a good treatment of metaphysical and psychological aspects of the Mah�y�na system.

 

24. M�LLER, F. MAX. Sacred Books of the East. Vol. XLIX, Buddhist, Mah�y�na Texts. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1894.

A book of sources necessary for understanding Northern Buddhism.

 

25. PARKER, E. H. China and Religion. New York, Dutton, 1905.

A sketch of Buddhism by a scholar long resident in China is found in Chapter IV.

 

26. PAUL, C. T. The Presentation of Christianity to Buddhists. New York, Board of Missionary Preparation, 1924.

A carefully prepared study of Buddhism from the viewpoint of missionaries working in Buddhist lands.

 

27. REICHELT, K. L. “Special Work Among Chinese Buddhists.” Chinese Recorder, Vol. LI, 1920, July issue, pp. 491-497.

An article by a pioneer in work among Buddhists, of rare insight and sympathy.

 

28. RICHARD, T. The Awakening of Faith in the Mah�y�na Doctrine. 2d edition. Shanghai, 1918.

A loose translation by a very large-hearted and sympathetic student with an irenic spirit. See 32 below.

 

29. RICHARD, T. Guide to Buddhahood; Being a Standard Manual of Chinese Buddhism. Shanghai., 1907.

 

30. SAUNDERS, K. J. Epochs of Buddhist History (Haskell Lectures), Chicago University Press, 1922.

A good summary of the main developments in Buddhism.

 

31. STAUFFER, M. T. The Christian Occupation of China. Shanghai Continuation Committee, 1922.

The introductory section contains articles upon China’s religions.

 

32. SUZUKI, T. A’svaghosa’s Awakening of Faith in the Mah�y�na. Chicago, Open Court Publishing Co., 1900.

A far more accurate translation of this work than No. 28 above.

 

33. –- Outlines of Mah�y�na Buddhism. Chicago, Open Court Publishing Co., 1908.

While written from the Japanese point of view it is necessary to the understanding of Chinese Buddhism.

 

34. WATTERS, T. “Buddhism in China.” Chinese Recorder, Vol. II, 1870, pp. 1-7, 38-43, 64-68, 81-88, 117-122, 145-150, Shanghai.

A valuable series of articles by an excellent Chinese scholar, discussing the history, persecutions, and various Buddhas of China.

 

35. WEI, F. C. M. “Salvation by Faith as Taught by the Pure Land Sect.” Chinese Recorder, Vol. LI, 1920, pp. 395-401, 485-491.

A good article on the sect whose ideas have spread over China and Japan.

 

36. WIEGER, L. Bouddhisme Chinois, 2 vols. Ho-Kien-Fou, Roman Catholic Press, 1910-1913.

This contains the Chinese text and French translation of the life of Buddha as known to China; also the ritual observed in ordination. A useful source book.

 

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