Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished dataDuka, Tivadar
History
Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished data
Duka, Tivadar
Kőrösi Csoma, Sándor, 1784-1842
The second system or school is Sautrántika, followers of the Sútras,
with two subdivisions. The one will prove everything by scriptural
authority, the other by argument.
The third system or school is the Yogáchárya, with nine subdivisions.
Arya Sangha was its founder, in the seventh century A.D.
The fourth is the Madhyamika school; they keep the middle faith. This
is the true philosophical school, formulated 700 years after Shakya’s
death, by Nagarjuna.
The two first systems are dogmatical; the two latter are philosophical,
and are studied by the learned few.
There is another classification of Shakya’s followers, namely, the
Tri-yánam or the three vehicles; because all Buddhistic Scriptures are
destined for the lowest, the middle, and the highest capacities. Some
authors use the name of Lám-rim, classifying men under three degrees of
intellectual capacity, according to this:
1. Men of a common capacity must believe that there is a God, that
there is a future life, and that all will obtain, according to their
deeds in this life, a reward hereafter.
2. Men of a middle degree of intellectual or moral capacity, in
addition to the above doctrines, must understand that every compound
thing is perishable; that there is no reality in things; that every
imperfection causes suffering, and that deliverance from suffering, and
eventually from bodily existence, is final beatitude.
3. Men of the highest capacities will know that between the body and
the supreme soul nothing exists by itself, nor can we prove whether the
supreme soul will continue for ever, or absolutely cease; because
everything exists by a casual concatenation.
Concerning the Course of Life.
Those of common capacity are content with the observance of the Ten
Commandments.
Those of the middle degree also endeavour to excel in morality,
meditation, and wisdom.
Those of the highest capacities practise, besides the above, the six
transcendental virtues as well.
Regarding Salvation.
Those of the first degree, seeing the miseries of those who, by virtue
of the metempsychosis, suffer in the bad places of transmigration as
beasts, &c., desire to be born again among men, or among angels
(asuras), or among gods.
Those of the second class are not content with the lot of the former,
and wish to be entirely delivered from all bodily existence.
The highest class, regarding existence, under whatever form, as
suffering, crave for final emancipation, and by arriving at the supreme
perfection, are enabled to assist others out of their miseries.
Several philosophical sects are mentioned, but the general principles
of practical Buddhism are these:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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