THE BUDDHISM OF NORTHERN ASIA, PAGE 153
Buddha--sun myth or historic personage?--Buddhism one of the
protestantisms of the world.--Characteristics of new religions.--Survey
of the history of Indian thought.--The age of the Vedas.--The epic
age.--The rationalistic age.--Our fellow-Aryans and the story of their
conquests.--Their intellectual energy and inventions.--Systems of
philosophy.--Condition of religion at the birth of Gautama.--Outline of
his life.--He attains enlightenment or buddhahood.--In what respects
Buddhism was an old, and in what a new religion.--Did Gautama intend to
found a new religion, or return to simpler and older
faith?--Monasticism, Kharma and Nirvana,--Enthusiasm of the disciples of
the new faith.--The great schism.--The Northern Buddhists.--The
canon.--The two Yana or vehicles.--Simplicity of Southern and luxuriance
of Northern Buddhism.--Summary of the process of thought in Nepal.--The
old gods of India come back again.--Maitreya, Manjusri and
Avalokitesvara.--The Legend of Manjusri.--Separation of attributes and
creation of new Buddhas or gods.--The Dhyani
Buddhas.--Amida.--Adi-Buddhas.--Abstractions become gods.--The Tantra
system.--Outbursts of doctrine and art.--Prayer-mills.--The noble
eight-fold path of self-denial and benevolence forgotten.--Entrance of
Buddhism from Korea into Japan.--Condition of the country at that
time.--Dates and first experiences.--Soga no
Inamé.--Shōtoku.--Japanese pilgrims to China.--Changes wrought by the
new creed and cult.--Temples, monasteries and images.--Influence upon
the Mikado's name, rank and person, and upon Shintō.--Relative
influence of Buddhism in Asia and of Christianity in Europe.--The three
great characteristics of Buddhism.--How the clouds returned after the
rain.--Buddhism and Christianity confronting the problem of life.