The Strange Parallel Between Buddhistic Ritual, Discipline, And Costume,
And Those Which Especially Claim The Name Of CATHOLIC In The Christian
Church, Has Been Often Noticed; And Though The Parallel Has Never Been
Elaborated As It Might Be, Some Of The More Salient Facts Are Familiar To
Most Readers.
Still many may be unaware that Buddha himself, Siddharta the
son of Suddodhana, has found his way into the Roman martyrology as a Saint
of the Church.
In the first edition a mere allusion was made to this singular story, for
it had recently been treated by Professor Max Mueller, with characteristic
learning and grace. (See Contemporary Review for July, 1870, p. 588.)
But the matter is so curious and still so little familiar that I now
venture to give it at some length.
The religious romance called the History of BARLAAM and JOSAPHAT was for
several centuries one of the most popular works in Christendom. It was
translated into all the chief European languages, including Scandinavian
and Sclavonic tongues. An Icelandic version dates from the year 1204; one
in the Tagal language of the Philippines was printed at Manilla in 1712.[2]
The episodes and apologues with which the story abounds have furnished
materials to poets and story-tellers in various ages and of very diverse
characters; e.g. to Giovanni Boccaccio, John Gower, and to the compiler of
the Gesta Romanorum, to Shakspere, and to the late W. Adams, author of
the Kings Messengers. The basis of this romance is the story of
Siddharta.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 623 of 1350
Words from 166999 to 167253
of 370046
