KAPILAS THEORY OF CREATION 413
lyte of the sect addressed to one of its wise men. The latter replied that the evil was born of the fourth wife, or sakti, of the divinity, called Maya or Illusion, which fascinates and deceives mankind, making them look upon what is false as true. It, moreover, misleads them into the belief that there are gods; that there are such vicissitudes as living and dying, pollution and purification; and, finally,
that there are sufferings and rewards after death. The only method of preserving oneself from Maya is to cling
to the doctrine of Buddhism in acknowledging no other god but the material body.
The author from whose work I have extracted this very obscure account of the system undertakes to explain the
theory of Creation, and to show how God, united to Maya, produced men differing so greatly in their inclinations.
But all that he advances on this subject is merely the result of an extravagant imagination, and is no more worthy of attention than the talk of a sick man deprived of the use of his reason by delirium \
Returning to his doctrines, I may remark that he sneers at the Brahmins for their ablutions, fasts, penances, sacrifices, Vedas, & c. The true Veda, or rather the true religion, he declares, is for a man to procure for himself all sensual enjoyments; to gratify all his desires; to avenge himself on his enemies, even unto death; to renounce all feelings of humanity, and to live but for himself. Such sentiments as filial affection, kindness, gentleness, and pity are regarded in this infamous book, not as virtues, but( who would believe it?) as sins. As an illustration of this
principle, mention is made, in terms of the highest praise, of a certain king who scarcely ever quitted the apartments of his wives, and who condemned to death a person whose only crime was to pity the sufferings of his fellow-creatures.
It is not, therefore, to be wondered at that human monsters who professed doctrines so detestable and so
opposed to all considerations of social well-being, became objects of general execration, and that they were almost
1
This description of Buddhism conveys an altogether false impression, and readers are recommended to consult more modern authorities on the subject. Ed.