Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 146

THE BUDDHISTS
106
one embracing the fables of the Trimurti and the other
the religion of Buddha.
The creeds of these two sects probably sprang from the
common source of Brahminism, and are only corruptions
of it.
Some modern authors believe that originally Bud-
dhism reigned supreme throughout India, on either side
of the Ganges, and, perhaps, even throughout the whole
of Asia from Siberia to Cape Comorin and the Malacca
Straits, and from the Caspian Sea to the Gulf of Kamt-
chatka. In any case, Buddhism appears to have been as
ancient as the cult of the Trimurti. In both Tibets, in
Tartary, and in China, we know that Buddhism still pre-
dominates. According to the historian La Loubere, it
was introduced into China from Siam in bygone ages, and
not, as is generally supposed, from Cape Comorin.
In
Burma, Siam, Laos, Cambodia, Cochin China, Japan,
Corea, and in most of the kingdoms beyond the Ganges,
Buddhism is the recognized religion. The Singalese in-
habitants of Ceylon are also Buddhists, and the cult was
introduced to them by missionaries and colonists, who
a long time ago came over from Burma to settle there.
In fact, this religion, with the immortal Grand Lama of
Tibet as its sovereign pontiff, is still beyond dispute of all
existing creeds the one that embraces the greatest number
of adherents.
If the last census published by order of the Chinese
Government is correct, their vast empire numbers about
300,000,000 inhabitants, and if one estimates the popula-
tions of the remaining Asiatic dominions where Buddhism
prevails at 150,000,000 only, which is a very moderate
calculation, then about one-half of the human race has
!
Buddhism
Besides
for its religion.
these
two predominant
creeds,
there
exists
a third about which, until recently, little was known.
I refer to the religion of the Jains.
This sect stands quite
aloof, hating equally both Brahminists and Buddhists, as
Like a second Phoenix the Grand Lama never dies. When he is
about to divest himself of his earthly coil, the Bonzes choose a child of
three or four into whose body they cause his soul to migrate, and this
child is declared his successor.
All faithful Buddhists believe implicitly
in this miraculous rebirth.
Duboi