A Buddhist writer sums up the aims of new Buddhism as follows:
“Formerly Buddhism desired to escape the sinful world. Today Buddhism not only
desires to escape this world of sin, but longs to transform this world of sin
into a new world dominated by the ideals of Buddhism. Formerly Buddhism was
occupied with erecting and perfecting its doctrines and polity as an
organization. Today it not only hopes to perfect the doctrines and polity, but
desires to spread the doctrines and ideals abroad so as to help mankind to
become truly cultured.”
_4. The Attitude of Tibetan Lamas_
Not only the Chinese Buddhists, but the Lamas of Mongolia and Tibet are feeling
the impulses of the new age. Quite recently an exhibition was held in the Lama
temple at Peking which attracted thousands of visitors. Its object was to
obtain money to repair the temple, and thus to give its work a fresh impulse.
That these impulses are not necessarily hostile to Christianity is shown by a
letter written by the Kurung Tsering Lama of Kokonor district to the Rev. T.
Sörensen of Szechuan:
“I, your humble servant, have seen several copies of the Scriptures and, having
read them carefully, they certainly made me believe in Christ. I understand a
little of the outstanding principles and the doctrinal teaching of the One Son,
but as to the Holy Spirit’s nature and essence, and as to the origin of this
religion, I am not at all clear, and it is therefore important that the
doctrinal principles of this religion should be fully explained, so as to
enlighten the unintelligent and people of small mental ability.
“The teaching of the science of medicine and astrology is also very important.
It is therefore evident if we want this blessing openly manifested, we must
believe in the religion of the only Son of God. Being in earnest, I therefore
pray you from my heart not to consider this letter lightly. With a hundred
salutations.”
Enclosed with this letter was a poem written in most elegant language.
“O thou Supreme God and most precious Father, The truth above all religions,
The Ruler of all animate and inanimate worlds! Greater than wisdom, separated
from birth and death, Is his son Christ the Lord shining in glory among endless
beings. Incomprehensible wonder, miraculously made! In this teaching I myself
also believe—As your spirit is with heaven united, My soul undivided is seeking
the truth Jesus the Savior’s desire fulfilling, For the coming of the Kingdom
of Heaven I am praying. Happiness to all.”
_5. The Buddhist World Versus the Christian World_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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