According to Saint-Hilaire’s opinion, the Buddhist morality is one of endurance, patience, submission, and abstinence, rather than of action, energy, enterprise.  Love for all beings is its nucleus, every animal being our possible relative.  To love our enemies, to offer our lives for animals, to abstain from even defensive warfare, to govern ourselves, to avoid vices, to pay obedience to superiors, to reverence age, to provide food and shelter for men and animals, to dig wells and plant trees, to despise no religion, show no intolerance, not to persecute, are the virtues of these people.  Polygamy is tolerated, but not approved.  Monogamy is general in Ceylon, Siam, Birinah; somewhat less so in Thibet and Mongolia.  Woman is better treated by Buddhism than by any other Oriental religion.

Sec. 6.  Buddhism as a Religion.

But what is the religious life of Buddhism?  Can there be a religion without a God?  And if Buddhism has no God, how can it have worship, prayer, devotion?  There is no doubt that it has all these.  We have seen that its cultus is much like that of the Roman Catholic Church.  It differs from this church in having no secular priests, but only regulars; all its clergy are monks, taking the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  Their vows, however, are not irrevocable; they can relinquish the yellow robe, and return into the world, if they find they have mistaken their vocation.

The God of Buddhism is the Buddha himself, the deified man, who has become an infinite being by entering Nirvana.  To him prayer is addressed, and it is so natural for man to pray, that no theory can prevent him from doing it.  In Thibet, prayer-meetings are held even in the streets.  Huc says:  “There is a very touching custom at Lhassa.  In the evening, just before sundown, all the people leave their work, and meet in groups in the public streets and squares.  All kneel and begin to chant their prayers in a low and musical tone.  The concert of song which rises from all these numerous reunions produces an immense and solemn harmony, which deeply impresses the mind.  We could not help sadly comparing this Pagan city, where all the people prayed together, with our European cities, where men would blush to be seen making the sign of the cross.”

In Thibet confession was early enjoined.  Public worship is there a solemn confession before the assembled priests.  It confers entire absolution from sins.  It consists in an open confession of sin, and a promise to sin no more.  Consecrated water is also used in the service of the Pagodas.

There are thirty-five Buddhas who have preceded Sakya-muni, and are considered the chief powers for taking away sin.  These are called the “Thirty-five Buddhas of Confession.”  Sakya-muni, however, has been included in the number.  Some lamas are also joined with them in the sacred pictures, as Tsonkhapa, a lama born in A.D. 1555, and others.  The mendicant priests of Buddha are bound to confess twice a month, at the new and full moon.