Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

In different countries Buddhism has had a different
basis; in India it was Hinduism. Note the Lord Buddha's
numerous preachings to many Brahmans about the way
to the Brahma-worlds, when he used the same terms
found in their systems but gave them quite different
meanings. Similar methods were employed in China,
where the teachings of Confucius and Lao-tzu were its
foundations. Before a Buddha's preachings are heard in
any country, some wise men are sent by the gods to
make good preparation for it.
This seemed a very good interpretation of the many
religions in different lands, according to which
other religions are "expedient teachings" until
people are ripe for the Saddharma. Both listener
and transcriber looked up and exchanged glances of
appreciation.
4.We now turn to the correspondences between Western
religion and the Buddhadharma. The history of the
East-West relationship opened at the time of Alexander
the Great. Buddhist missionaries, aided by the slightly
later efforts of Asoka, spread the Dharma even to
Macedonia, Cyrene, and Epirus, through the states of
the Greek-Asiatic successors of the great conqueror.
The Dharma appears to have been quite well established
in Egypt. Especially in the area of Alexandria, that
center of spiritual ferment, early Christian writers speak,
though rather vaguely, about the Buddha and the
sramaneras, his monastic disciples. But we have very
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