Hence the prince Siddartha, as soon as he had found the wisdom of inward motive and the folly of outward rite, shook off the yoke of the priests, and denounced caste and austerities and penances and sacrifices as of no avail in securing the welfare and peace of the soul or the favor of deity.  In all this he showed an enlightened mind, governed by wisdom and truth, and even a bold and original genius,—­like Abraham when he disowned the gods of his fathers.  Having thus himself gained the security of the heights, Buddha longed to help others up, and turned his attention to the moral instruction of the people of India.  He was emphatically a missionary of ethics, an apostle of righteousness, a reformer of abuses, as well as a tender and compassionate man, moved to tears in view of human sorrows and sufferings.  He gave up metaphysical speculations for practical philanthropy.  He wandered from city to city and village to village to relieve misery and teach duties rather than theological philosophies.  He did not know that God is love, but he did know that peace and rest are the result of virtuous thoughts and acts.

“Let us then,” said he, “live happily, not hating those who hate us; free from greed among the greedy....  Proclaim mercy freely to all men; it is as large as the spaces of heaven....  Whoever loves will feel the longing to save not himself alone, but all others.”  He compares himself to a father who rescues his children from a burning house, to a physician who cures the blind.  He teaches the equality of the sexes as well as the injustice of castes.  He enjoins kindness to servants and emancipation of slaves.  “As a mother, as long as she lives, watches over her child, so among all beings,” said Gautama, “let boundless good-will prevail....  Overcome evil with good, the avaricious with generosity, the false with truth....  Never forget thy own duty for the sake of another’s....  If a man speaks or acts with evil thoughts pain follows, as the wheel the foot of him who draws the carriage....  He who lives seeking pleasure, and uncontrolled, the tempter will overcome....  The true sage dwells on earth, as the bee gathers sweetness with his mouth and wings....  One may conquer a thousand men in battle, but he who conquers himself alone is the greatest victor....  Let no man think lightly of sin, saying in his heart, ’It cannot overtake me.’...  Let a man make himself what he preaches to others....  He who holds back rising anger as one might a rolling chariot, him, indeed, I call a driver; others may hold the reins....  A man who foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love; the more evil comes from him, the more good shall go from me.”

These are some of the sayings of the Indian reformer, which I quote from extracts of his writings as translated by Sanskrit scholars.  Some of these sayings rise to a height of moral beauty surpassed only by the precepts of the great Teacher, whom many are too fond of likening to Buddha himself.  The religion of Buddha is founded on a correct and virtuous life, as the only way to avoid sorrow and reach Nirvana.  Its essence, theologically, is “Quietism,” without firm belief in anything reached by metaphysic speculation; yet morally and practically it inculcates ennobling, active duties.