Mr. Fielding, in his book, _The Soul of a People_, brings all his unique experiences and intimate knowledge of the Burmese and the monkhood to impress upon us this marvellous object-lesson in the effect of a religion whose abiding principles are an ever-present, living force, and of which it may be truly said it is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Everywhere, intermingled with this light-hearted people, delighting in colour, dress, and decoration of all kinds, there is ever to be seen the serene and passionless personality of the monk; no reviler of alien creeds; no possessor of priestly power; poorer than the poorest, yet rich in the inheritance of the Dharma; no figure-head of some illustrious superstition, mitred, and heralded through the streets; nought--save a lowly follower of the Perfect One, whose law it is that guides to the Great Peace, which, "like a star, Beacons from the abode where the Eternal are." AT THE MALAGAWA TEMPLE, CEYLON. I. Hail! Gentle Master, Grave and Sweet! Here at Thy shrine we bend the knee; With island flowers we deck Thy feet, And golden corn we bring to Thee. Star of our Night, Orb of our Day, Thou art our Refuge, Thou our Stay! II. Thy pitying eyes we see downcast, Yet are they fain to tell us this-- Sometime, somewhere, life's ocean[AV] past, We all shall taste immortal bliss! Star of our Night, Orb of our Day, Thou art our Refuge, Thou our Stay! [AV] Samsāra--The ocean of Birth and Death. III. No adoration, praise, or prayer Hast Thou enjoined whilst here we live; But our great love can scarce forbear To pay Thee all our hearts can give. Star of our Night, Orb of our Day,[AW] Thou art our Refuge, Thou our Stay! [AW] "Atha sabbamahorattim Buddho tapati tejasāti." --_Samyutta-Nikāya_, edited by M. Léon Feer, p. 284. APPENDIX. _METRICAL ADAPTATIONS OF BUDDHIST LEGEND AND SCRIPTURE._ THE LAST WORDS OF GOTAMA BUDDHA TO HIS FAVOURITE DISCIPLE ANANDA. Weep not, Ananda, sorrow not! Have I not said ere this to thee That from all things which man most loves, From these, Ananda, man must flee? How can it be, Ananda, then, That Birth and Growth should not decay, That all things made, begotten here, Should not, Ananda, pass away? That cannot be. But thou for long In thought and words and holy deed The Perfect One hast glorified. Strive on, and thou shalt soon be freed. It may be so, that thou shalt say "The Word has lost its Master here," "We have no Master more." Not thus, Ananda, be thou fraught with fear. The Law and Ordinance I taught, These are your Master when I'm gone: Each man his own salvation is, Thus only is Deliverance won. SAMSÂRA AND NIRVANA.[AX] [AX] From _The Gospel of Buddha, according to Old Records_, told by Paul Carus. I.