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ZEN BUDDHISM
Few doubt today that the West has need of a new enlightenment, which means that the old light, for the Light is one, is in need of a new expression. Our vaunted science changes its mind repeatedly, exchanging this month's final conclusions for those of the last; and its discoveries are handed over, with a gesture of washing the hands of all responsibility, to those whose ambition and livelihood is to kill their fellow men. Religion, too, has failed in the hour of adversity. Two world wars have struck such a blow at Christianity as may prove mortal; truth may be deathless, but its forms must die. It is just because Zen has no form which it is not willing on the least occasion to discard that it is immortal, for it is a wine that will use any bottle which comes in handy, or will make new bottles of its own. With the failure of Christianity, enquiring minds have sought new outlets for the religious sentiments of the mind. "Having lost the old faith, they turn eagerly to new ones, and science, psycho-analysis, spiritualism, social reform and nationalism have all in turn acted as substitutes for religion. Of these, nationalism has unfortunately proved to be the most successful. ..."
And the West is ripe for Buddhism in one form or another. As already indicated, the Theosophical Societies which, with thousands of individuals, together make up the Theosophical Movement, have for half a century taught the unity of life, Karma and rebirth, the impersonal approach to life and the universe, and many another principle which, as the two movements sprang from the same source, no genuine student of both will be surprised to find that they teach in common. And one
1 Diagnosis of Man, KENNETH WALKER, P. 243.
