Even its adversaries must admit that it has many excellent qualities.  It preaches morality and charity and was the first religion to proclaim to the world—­not to a caste or country—­that these are the foundation of that Law which if kept brings happiness.  It civilized many nations, for instance the Tibetans and Mongols.  It has practised toleration and true unworldliness, if not without any exception[87], at least far more generally than any other great religion.  It has directly encouraged art and literature and, so far as I know, has never opposed the progress of knowledge.  But two charges may be brought against it which deserve consideration.  First that its pessimistic doctrines and monastic institutions are, if judged by ordinary standards, bad for the welfare of a nation:  second that more than any other religion it is liable to become corrupt.

In all Buddhist lands, though good laymen are promised the blessings of religion, the monastic and contemplative life is held up as the ideal.  In Christendom, this ideal is rejected by Protestants and for the Roman and Oriental Churches it is only one among others.  Hence every one’s judgment of Buddhism must in a large measure depend on what he thinks of this ideal.  Monks are not of this world and therefore the world hateth them.  If they keep to themselves, they are called lazy and useless.  If they take part in secular matters, they meet with even severer criticism.  Yet can any one doubt that what is most needed in the present age is more people who have leisure and ability to think?

Whatever evil is said of Buddhist monks is also said of Mt Athos and similar Christian establishments.  I am far from saying that this depreciation of the cloistered life is just in either case but any impartial critic of monastic institutions must admit that their virtues avoid publicity and their faults attract attention.  In all countries a large percentage of monks are indolent:  it is the temptation which besets all but the elect.  Yet the Buddhist ideal of the man who has renounced the world leaves no place for slackness, nor I think does the Christian.  Buddhist monks are men of higher aspirations than others:  they try to make themselves supermen by cultivating not the forceful and domineering part of their nature but the gentle, charitable and intelligent part.  The laity treat them with the greatest respect provided that they set an example of a life better than most men can live.  A monastic system of this kind is found in Burma.  I do not mean that it is not found in other Buddhist lands, but I cite an instance which I have seen myself and which has impressed most observers favourably.