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BUDDHISM IN THE MODERN WORLD

BY K. J. SAUNDERS

AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF BUDDHISM," "GOTAMA BUDDHA," ETC.

PROFESSOR OF THE HISTORY OF RELIGION, BERKELEY AND LECTURER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

                                LONDON
               SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE
              NEW YORK AND TORONTO: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
                                 1922

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

PREFACE

There are many books on Buddhism, and to produce a new one almostdemands an apology. Yet most of them deal with the dead past, andBuddhism is a living religion which is showing remarkable powers ofrevival and adaptation. This is a movement of so great significancethat I hope this small volume may prove of value, not only tomissionaries but to all sympathetic students of a religion which hasplayed an immense part in the world's history, and which is still adominant influence in the lives of scores of millions. During twelveyears of somewhat intimate study of Buddhist countries I have foundthat while there is much that is degenerate there is much that is verynoble, and the object of this little book is to estimate the livingforces of the religion rather than to emphasise its weaknesses. It isat once more scientific and more worth while to look at the strongthan at the weak points of a religion, and there is an increasingschool of missionary thought which believes in building the ChristianChurch of Asia upon the great foundations laid through so manycenturies. Not only is it true that God has not left Himself without awitness amongst these peoples; it is even truer that during the longand on the whole noble history of the expansion of Buddhism His Spirithas been at work. I am convinced that any who really study thisremarkable chapter in human history will come to this conclusion, ifthey have any belief whatsoever in a meaning in history and in aDivine Providence.

The missionary amongst Buddhist peoples should aim at studying allthat is noble and of good repute, whilst of course he will not shuthis eyes to what is degenerate and unworthy, and inasmuch as anincreasing number of missionary teachers are doing me the honour toconsult me as to the method of approach to their Buddhist friends, Iventure to dedicate this small volume to them as a token of heartysympathy in the noble work that they are doing in seeking to fulfilthe age-long purposes of God. I think that many of them agree with methat already a nobler form of Christianity is being produced onAsiatic soil than that which we have brought thither, and it may wellbe in the providence of God that a new and splendid era of ChurchHistory is opening up as these responsive and religious peoples of theOrient are captured by the Gospel of Christ. In spite of the failuresof Christendom an

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