CHAPTER VI

THE BUDDHISM OF NORTHERN ASIA, PAGE 153

Buddha--sun myth or historic personage?--Buddhism one of the protestantisms of the world.--Characteristics of new religions.--Survey of the history of Indian thought.--The age of the Vedas.--The epic age.--The rationalistic age.--Our fellow-Aryans and the story of their conquests.--Their intellectual energy and inventions.--Systems of philosophy.--Condition of religion at the birth of Gautama.--Outline of his life.--He attains enlightenment or buddhahood.--In what respects Buddhism was an old, and in what a new religion.--Did Gautama intend to found a new religion, or return to simpler and older faith?--Monasticism, Kharma and Nirvana,--Enthusiasm of the disciples of the new faith.--The great schism.--The Northern Buddhists.--The canon.--The two Yana or vehicles.--Simplicity of Southern and luxuriance of Northern Buddhism.--Summary of the process of thought in Nepal.--The old gods of India come back again.--Maitreya, Manjusri and Avalokitesvara.--The Legend of Manjusri.--Separation of attributes and creation of new Buddhas or gods.--The Dhyani Buddhas.--Amida.--Adi-Buddhas.--Abstractions become gods.--The Tantra system.--Outbursts of doctrine and art.--Prayer-mills.--The noble eight-fold path of self-denial and benevolence forgotten.--Entrance of Buddhism from Korea into Japan.--Condition of the country at that time.--Dates and first experiences.--Soga no Inamé.--Shōtoku.--Japanese pilgrims to China.--Changes wrought by the new creed and cult.--Temples, monasteries and images.--Influence upon the Mikado's name, rank and person, and upon Shintō.--Relative influence of Buddhism in Asia and of Christianity in Europe.--The three great characteristics of Buddhism.--How the clouds returned after the rain.--Buddhism and Christianity confronting the problem of life.