aroundworldortra00peebiala-1

242 AROUND THE WORLD.
vation. Soon he became divinely illumined, and claimed the
title of Buddha.
His first public ministr}% attended with spiritual marvels,
was at Benares, where he made many converts. This
accounts, in all probability, for the Buddhistic ruins at Sarnath,
near this sacred city of the Hindoos.
Scholars generally agree in placing his death 543 B.C.
BIJDDHISTIC ETHICS.
The gist of Buddha's teaching was this : all earthly
objects, cognized by the senses, are unreal. All is change,
all is vanity. There's nothing but sorrow in life. This sorrow
is caused by ignorance, and the flow of the passions.
Accordingly, the passions must be subdued, the affections
toned down, the mind enUghtened, and the life consecrated to
good works : these moral and meritorious altitudes gained, and
the soul is at the threshold of salvation, the gate of divine
repose, conscious rest and peace in
Nirvana.
In addition to its prohibitory commandments, not to kill,
nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor lie, nor be drunken ;
it enjoined such positive virtues as purity, charity, integrity,
contemplation, forgiveness of injuries, equanimity of temper,
and self-abnegation. In brief, holiness of life released from
further transmigrations, and secured eternal salvation.
Nirvana ! Buddhism was never nihilism or atheism.
Nirvana— derived from the negative mr, and va, to blow as
the wind — implies calm unruffled, the peace and rest of a
spent breeze, perfect felicity. Until this high position is
attained, transmigrations are moral necessities.
" Buddhism," says Dr. Wuttke, " stands in history as a
religion not of one people, but of humanity. It conceived in
the commencement the grand idea of peacefully converting
the world." While maintaining the right of religious freedom,
its rejection of war and bloodshed has been absolute.
Priests
and others, both men and women, ministering in
spiritual things, must live celibate lives.
Buddha's doctrines