In our day and time, Riy[=o]bu Buddhism furnishes us with a warning, for, looked at from a purely human point of view, what happened to Shint[=o] may possibly happen to Japanese Christianity.  The successors of those who, in the ninth century, did not scruple to Buddhaize Shint[=o], and in later times, even our own, to Shint[=o]ize Buddhism while holding to Buddha’s name and all the revenue possible, will Buddhaize Christianity if they have power and opportunity; and signs are not wanting to show that this is upon their programme.

The water of stagnant Buddhism is still a swarming mass, which needs cleansing to purity by a knowledge of one God who is Light and Love.  Without such knowledge, the manifold changes in Buddhism will but form fresh chapters of degradation and decay.  Holding such knowledge, Christianity may pass through endless changes, for this is her capability by Divine power and the authorization of her Founder.  The now Buddhism of our day is endeavoring to save itself through reformation and progress.  In doing so, the danger of the destruction of the system is great, for thus far change has meant decay.

CHAPTER VIII — NORTHERN BUDDHISM IN ITS DOCTRINAL EVOLUTIONS

    “To the millions of China, Corea, and Japan, creator and
    creation are new and strange terms,”—­J.H.  De Forest.

“The Law of our Lord, the Buddha, is not a natural science or a religion, but a doctrine of enlightenment; and the object of it is to give rest to the restless, to point out the Master (the Inmost Man) to those that are blind and do not perceive their Original State.”

“The Saddharma Pundarika Sutra teaches us how to obtain that desirable knowledge of the mind as it is in itself [universal wisdom] ...  Mind is the One Reality, and all Scriptures are the micrographic photographs of its images.  He that fully grasps the Divine Body of Sakyamuni, holds ever, even without the written Sutra, the inner Saddharma Pundarika in his hand.  He ever reads it mentally, even though he would never read it orally.  He is unified with it though he has no thought about it.  He is the true keeper of the Sutra.”—­Zitsuzen Ashitsu of the Tendai sect.

“It [Buddhism] is idealistic.  Everything is as we think it.  The world is my idea....  Beyond our faith is naught.  Hold the Buddhist to his creed and insist that such logic destroys itself, and he triumphs smilingly, ’Self-destructive!  Of course it is.  All logic is.  That is the centre of my philosophy.’”

“It [Buddhism] denounces all desire and offers salvation as the reward of the murder of our affections, hopes, and aspirations.  It is possible where conscious existence is believed to be the chief of evils.”—­George William Knox.

    “Swallowing the device of the priests, the people well
    satisfied, dance their prayers.”—­Japanese Proverb.