________________
176
MODERN BUDDHISM. religions have set themselves to conquer many races Missionary outside their original home; no others have
religions. achieved so much peacefully. Hinduism professedly restricts itself to the Hindus, though it has displayed great powers of absorbing aboriginal races into itself. Buddhism, Mahometanism, and Christianity are for all people who will receive them; and their followers have proved their faith by their missionary efforts.
Sir Monier-Williams, in his recent work on Buddhism, well expresses the great variety of aspects under which
Buddhism it is necessary to study Buddhism. In various many-sided. countries and periods, its teaching has become both negative and positive, agnostic and gnostic. It passes from apparent atheism and materialism to theism, polytheism, and spiritualism. It is, under one aspect, mere pessimism ; under another, pure philanthropy; under another, monastic communism; under another, high morality; under another, a variety of materialistic philosophy; under another, simple demonology; under another, a mere farrago of superstitions, including necromancy, witchcraft, idolatry, and fetishism. In some form or other it may be held with almost any religion, and embraces something from almost every creed.”
At the first Buddhist Council, held at Rajagriha, after the death of Gautama, the teachings of the Enlightened
The first One were sung in three divisions, namely, the Buddhist Sutras, or Suttas, or words of Buddha to his
councils. disciples; the Vinaya, or discipline of the Order; and the Dharma, or doctrine; forming together the Tripitakas, or three baskets or collections. A hundred years later, a second council, held at Vesali, condemned the system of indulgences which had arisen, and led to the splitting of Buddhism into two parties, who afterwards gave rise to as many as eighteen sects. But these controversies did not hinder the spread of Buddhism in
Northern India. About the middle of the third King Asoka.
kd. century B.C., Asoka, the king of Magadha, or Behar, grandson of Chandragupta (Greek Sandrokottos), founder of the kingdom, and noted for his connexion with Alexander the Great and Seleucus, became a sort
