Essays Lectures on Religion of Hindu Vol 02

Author(s): H H Wilson
Publisher: Trubner and Company London

Page 13

BAUDDHA TRACTS FROM NEPAL.
has enumerated, and which for the far greater part, it is believed, are written in the language of Tibet, and not in Sanskrit, as he seems to suppose. We must wait therefore for the acquirement of this language by European scholars, before we can pronounce with confidence upon the character and contents of the Bauddha Scriptures, and how far they may be originals or translations. If the latter, which, except to a limited extent, is very unlikely, we may safely assert, that the Sanskrit originals are no longer procurable in Hindustan.
The paper already referred to furnishes us also with the only outline of the BAUDDHA philosophy and mythology that can be consulted with advantage, for, although some of the particulars are to be found in Georgi's ponderous volume, they are so obscured by his parade of learning, and spirit of theory, that they are to be selected only with great trouble and uncertainty. The account given by PALLAS, as quoted by BUCHANAN, seems also to be derived from oral information only, and to be confined to superficial and popular details. To what extent the Doctrines or Divinities of Bhot Buddhism are of local origin or modification, can only be determined when the condition in which this form of faith exists in other countries is
Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. V, p. 28 ff., 71 ff. (reprinted in his
Illustrations” p. 94-136), and Burnouf's "Introduction à l'histoire du Buddhisme indien". Paris: 1814. p. 1 ff. J. B. Saint-Hilaire, “Bouddha et sa religion". Paris: 1860, p. ix ff. A. Weber, "Ind. Studien", III, 135 ff.]