the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第31章
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Buddhism can agree so well； and can both join with Confucianism in
helping to form that happy family of faith which is so singular a feature of
Far Eastern religious capability。 It is not simply that the two contrive to
live peaceably together； they are actually both of them implicitly believed
by the same individual。 Millions of Japanese are good Buddhists and
good Shintoists at the same time。 That such a combination should be
possible is due to the essential difference in the character of the two beliefs。
The one is extrinsic； the other intrinsic； in its relations to the human soul。
Shintoism tells man but little about himself and his hereafter； Buddhism；
little but about himself and what he may become。 In examining Far
Eastern religion； therefore； for personality； or the reverse； we may dismiss
Shintoism as having no particular bearing upon the subject。 The only
effect it has is indirect in furthering the natural propensity of these people
to an adoration of nature。
In Korea and in China； again； Confucianism is the great moral law； as
by reflection it is to a certain extent in Japan。 But that in its turn may be
omitted in the present argument； inasmuch as Confucius taught
confessedly and designedly only a system of morals； and religiously
abstained from pronouncing any opinion whatever upon the character or
the career of the human soul。
Taouism； the third great religion of China； resembles Shintoism to this
extent； that it is a body of superstition； and not a form of philosophy。 It
undertakes to provide nostrums for spiritual ills； but is dumb as to the
constitution of the soul for which it professes to prescribe。 Its pills are to
be swallowed unquestioningly by the patient； and are warranted to cure；
and owing to the two great human frailties； fear and credulity； its practice
is very large。 Possessing； however； no philosophic diploma； it is without
the pale of the present discussion。
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The Soul of the Far East
The demon…worship of Korea is a mild form of the same thing with the
hierarchy left out； every man there being his own spiritual adviser。 An
ordinary Korean is born with an innate belief in malevolent spirits； whom
he accordingly propitiates from time to time。 One of nobler birth
propitiates only the spirits of his own ancestors。
We come； then； by a process of elimination to a consideration of
Buddhism； the great philosophic faith of the whole Far East。
Not uncommonly in the courtyard of a Japanese temple； in the solemn
half…light of the sombre firs； there stands a large stone basin； cut from a
single block； and filled to the brim with water。 The trees； the basin； and a
few stone lanternsso called from their form； and not their function； for
they have votive pebbles where we should look for wicksare the sole
occupants of the place。 Sheltered from the wind； withdrawn from sound；
and only piously approached by man； this antechamber of the god seems
the very abode of silence and rest。 It might be Nirvana itself； human
entrance to an immortality like the god's within； so peaceful； so pervasive
is its calm； and in its midst is the moss…covered monolith； holding in its
embrace the little imprisoned pool of water。 So still is the spot and so
clear the liquid that you know the one only as the reflection of the other。
Mirrored in its glassy surface appears everything around it。 As you peer in；
far down you see a tiny bit of sky； as deep as the blue is high above； across
which slowly sail the passing clouds； then nearer stand the trees； arching
overhead； as if bending to catch glimpses of themselves in that other world
below； and then； nearer yetyourself。
Emblem of the spirit of man is this little pool to Far Oriental eyes。
Subtile as the soul is the incomprehensible water； so responsive to light
that it remains itself invisible； so clear that it seems illusion！ Though
portrayer so perfect of forms about it； all we know of the thing itself is that
it is。 Through none of the five senses do we perceive it。 Neither sight；
nor hearing； nor taste； nor smell； nor touch can tell us it exists； we feel it to
be by the muscular sense alone； that blind and dumb analogue for the body
of what consciousness is for the soul。 Only when disturbed； troubled；
does the water itself become visible； and then it is but the surface that we
see。 So to the Far Oriental this still little lake typifies the soul； the
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The Soul of the Far East
eventual purification of his own； a something lost in reflection； self…
effaced； only the alter ego of the outer world。
For contemplation； not action； is the Far Oriental's ideal of life。 The
repose of self…adjustment like that to which our whole solar system is
slowly tending as its death；this to him appears； though from no scientific
deduction； the end of all existence。 So he sits and ponders； abstractly；
vaguely； upon everything in general； synonym； alas； to man's finite mind；
for nothing in particular； till even the sense of self seems to vanish； and
through the mist…like portal of unconsciousness he floats out into the vast
indistinguishable sameness of Nirvana's sea。
At first sight Buddhism is much more like Christianity than those of us
who stay at home and speculate upon it commonly appreciate。 As a
system of philosophy it sounds exceedingly foreign； but it looks
unexpectedly familiar as a faith。 Indeed； the one religion might well pass
for the counterfeit presentment of the other。 The resemblance so struck
the early Catholic missionaries that they felt obliged to explain the
remarkable similarity between the two。 With them ingenuous surprise
instantly begot ingenious sophistry。 Externally； the likeness was so exact
that at first they could not bring themselves to believe that the Buddhist
ceremonials had not been filched bodily from the practices of the true faith。
Finding； however； that no known human agency had acted in the matter；
they bethought them of introducing； to account for things； a deus ex
machina in the shape of the devil。 They were so pleased with this
solution of the difficulty that they imparted it at once with much pride to
the natives。 You have indeed got； they graciously if somewhat
gratuitously informed them； the outward semblance of the true faith； but
you are in fact the miserable victims of an impious fraud。 Satan has
stolen the insignia of divinity； and is now masquerading before you as the
deity； your god is really our devil； a recognition of antipodal inversion
truly worthy the Jesuitical mind！
Perhaps it is not matter for great surprise that they converted but few
of their hearers。 The suggestion was hardly so diplomatic as might have
been expected from so generally astute a body； for it could not make much
difference what the all…presiding de
