BUDDHISM AND SPIRITUALISM COMPARED. BY A. W. BAYLIS, M.R.C.S. [Concluded from page 53.] It is quite unnecessary for me to point out to Spiritualists in this country the many singular analogies between this system of the Buddhists and the various accounts that come to us imperfectly filtered through modern mediums. I cannot procure Dr. Hare's book, which I read many years ago, but I am perfectly sure that those who can will find that his deceased sister or brother, or both, in telling him of the condition of spirits in the other state, say that they know that there are six lower heavens, in which there they know that there are six lower heavens, in which there is a gradual progression towards perfection; and that they are aware that there are sets of heavens above these, but know nothing of the condition of spirits occupying these higher spheres. A month or two ago, in London, a spirit calling himself Jimmy Nolan, speaking with an audible and distinct voice through the mediumship of Mrs. Hollis, of Memphis, Tenn., told me that he was in the sixth sphere, and that he knew there were higher spheres than the seventh, because he had had communication with the spirits in them by means of mediums, just as we were having communion with him. He also gave me precisely the same account as the Buddhist teachers gave two thousand years ago of the gradual decrease of sensuality and growth of spirituality in these six lower spheres, dewalokas; with which he was personally acquainted, going into particulars, which absolutely coincided with those detailed by the Buddhists as to the relative degrees of sensuous and sensual pleasures, and substantial surroundings of the different states. Moreover, he located the different spheres somewhat as they did, saying, I think, that the lowest commenced about sixty miles above the earth's surface the Buddhists make them extend from near the earth's surface to forty-two thousand leagues (of five miles each) above the earth; the remaining five lying in layers above it. Now I do not believe that either Dr. Hare or Mrs. Hollis knew anything whatever about the Buddhistic creed in this particular; nor do I think it likely that the French and American reincarnationists have been merely borrowing; yet between modern Spiritualism and ancient Buddhism we have these curious points of agreement on matters the knowledge of which is utterly unattainable to humanity except through some direct revelation. believe in the transmigration of souls; in the soul's preexistence; in the possibility of re-birth into this world again in the form of men or animals; in the existence of undeveloped spirits, wandering about their old haunts and located in no particular sphere; in the division of the lower heavens into six grades, differing from one another in their physical and spiritual conditions; which both parties, however, describe independently with consistency and minuteness, in their location, relatively to the earth. Further than this our mediums do not profess to go, nor do spirits communicating seem to be able to enlighten us; but they all concur in stating that there are higher systems of heavens; and these the Buddhists name, locate, and describe with the same minuteness with which they have painted the lower heavens; until the last state of all, Nirwana, or absolute perfection, is reached, where the soul, freed from all material encumbrances, and all stains of sense, rests forever without form or self, or personality, in a state of calm and perfect bliss. Till the soul actually reaches Nirwana it is not freed from the circle of existences, but is liable at the end of any one existence to be plunged again into any one of the lower states, according to the balance of good and evil deeds. Nor is it necessary ditions, but it may be born again upon the death of this for the soul to pass through any of these intermediate conbody into any of the twenty-eight heavens, or as Buddha and some of his saints, into Nirwana itself. The Buddhists describe distinct places of torment, but so do some mediums. The Buddhists are all reincarna tionists; only a portion of modern Spiritualists are so. But on the whole the points on which they agree are so many and well defined, and those on which they differ so few and so ill defined, that I think the Buddhistic religion deserves far more respect and attention from Spiritualists than it has hitherto received, and to every thinking Spiritualist the subject cannot fail to be an interesting one. one other curious fact, which I suspect very few of the I will conclude this already too extended article with readers of Swedenborg have ever noticed. It is this, that in several of his visions, he describes the Buddhists, and especially the Thibetians, as occupying a heaven far higher and more exalted than any to which the best of Christians had yet attained, and they explained this to him by declaring that they had possessed from time immemorial more direct and perfect revelations from God than any other race of people in the world. Now is it not a very singular thing to find a Christian publishing such a fact as this as a revelation made to himself?-a Christian, too, who as I take it had very little practical knowledge of the Buddhists or their creed. Those who are curious to see this for themselves will find it repeatedly mentioned in Swedenborg's "Christian Religion." It will no doubt be a little amusing to those of your readers who think that reliance may be placed upon the oft repeated descriptions given by advanced spirits of their states and conditions in the other world, to find this excellent missionary finishing his very clear and accurate delineation of the Buddhistic account of the same post mortem states of the human soul with these remarks: * * * There "The moment that man loses the aid of induction and enters into the unseen world, his littleness becomes manifest; and yet in no department of investigation has he pursued his course with more complacency, or allowed his is, therefore, no part of heathenism that is less interesting imagination a revelry more unrestrained than its description of other worlds; and in no light does it appear so absurd as in its accounts of the creatures by which they are inhabited." San Franciscans are generally prejudiced against Buddhism because they know it as the creed of the Chinese, whom most of us hate and despise; but leaving on one side the question whether the Chinese, even as we see them here, are actually more vicious than our own people of the same class, which is perhaps an open one; they may be reminded that there is no race amongst whom Buddhism has become so corrupt as the Chinese; it is with them mixed up with Rationalism and Confucianism, and a low kind of Spiritualism; for be it known unto you, oh! Spiritualists, that your Chinese brethren are Spiritualists to a man, whether in creed they are Rationalists, Moslems, Buddhists or followers of Confucius; and this fact was stated several years ago by a missionary of ample experience in all parts of China, in some lectures delivered by him on the subject and published in the North China Mail: This and Spiritualists they have all been from time immemorial; FROM ANOTHER OLD MAN. say ] For Common Sense.] SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA. NUMBER FOUR. MR. EDITOR: There is a medium living in Lamb's Conduit street, Holborn, London—a Mr. Williams-in whose presence the materialization of the form of a spirit, who calls himself John King, is said to take place; in a manner similar to the materialization already mentioned by me, as witnessed in connection with Florry Cook. On Saturday evenings Mr. Williams holds a seance for Spiritualists only; those held on other evenings being open to the general public. X. and I attended one of these Saturday evening seances. We neither of us knew Mr. Williams at all. On knocking at his door, at the time appointed, the first floor; in the back portion of which, besides the we were shown up stairs into a double drawing room on ordinary furniture, was a cabinet with a window in it, similar to that used by the Davenports. The rooms were ED. COMMON SENSE: I beg leave to state, for the indi- already crowded: we knew but one person present, Mr. H., vidual benefit and instruction of an "Old Man" who desires proof of the truth of Spiritualism, that my inability to convince a child that I can measure the distance to the sun or moon, or to a distant mountain peak, from where we may be standing, by a rule of mathematics, does not by any means destroy or set aside the fact that it can be done. Investigation will eventually demonstrate the problem to his understanding. Men and women are but grown-up children, and knowledge acquired by experience, and not by the number of years a person may have lived, gives wisdom and the ability to partially understand the laws of life. I presume my venerable brother will not disagree with me when I assert that life is coeternal and coexistent with matter; and as matter is indestructible, life is also inde- its selfhood. When out of the form it would be none the Lower Lake, Cal., June 9, 1874. editor of the Medium. Within a few minutes of our entrance the rooms were both crowded to excess: the doors were then locked, and all further admissions stopped. Upon the round table, in the center of the front room, lay a guitar, a tambourine, a musical box of the largest size, and several paper trumpets. Mr. Williams, the medium, sat in a chair at the table, around which a circle was formed; the people joined hands with each other, and with him. Outside the circle the visitors were so crowded as to press inconveniently upon the medium, and upon each other. Those nearest to Mr. Williams placed their hands upon him, or on his chair; all others were requested to join hands as completely as possible; so as to account for every hand in the room. These arrangements having been completed, and all present having been requested to hold themselves passive, the gas was turned out. The luminous appearances, which I have before likened to fireflies, in a few moments began to flit about the room; a rustling was heard overhead; and suddenly a loud, cheery, hearty voice began to address many persons in the room by name; speaking apparently from the ceiling, and changing its locality momentarily from one side or corner of the large room to another. Suddenly, the voice said: "Somebody has snatched away my trumpet." The gas was now turned on; and the person who had committed the larceny was requested to acknowledge it, and leave the room. For a long time no one would plead guilty; at last a little nervous man said that he had done it, but promised not to offend again. He was allowed to remain, and the gas again turned down. X. and I were jammed close against the wall, by a sofa on which a number of ladies were seated. John King soon began to operate again in all parts of the room, over our heads, addressing folk by name, with hearty and jocose remarks. Suddenly the voice came over us, and said: "So you mean to go to California next week? I don't know that you will." I said: "Do you know that I will not?" "No," it answered, "I don't say that." As many people had been shaking hands with Mr. King, I called out after the voice had begun to speak again at the furthest corner of the room: 'Won't you shake hands with me, John, before I go?" Certainly," the voice answered instantaneously, over my head, "with pleasure. Stretch out your hand-higher!" I leant forward, raising my right hand as high as I could towards the ceiling: in a moment my open palm was 66 go. struck twice, with the paper trumpet, and then my hand was grasped firmly by a strong fat hand, unlike my own— although warm-perfectly dry. I grasped it strongly on my part the hand gave me a good shake, and then sought to withdraw itself. I held on. "Don't grasp-don't grasp," said the voice, in an irritated tone. I did not let The hand then raised me with the greatest apparent ease off the ground, and had I not let go, would have dragged me over the ladies on the sofa before me. If this was imposture; if a confederate were maneuvering near the ceiling by means of any sort of machinery; I don't understand how he continued to dash about so quickly in that oppressive atmosphere, and yet to keep so cool; whilst we were all perspiring profusely, although at rest. John King talked a good deal, but said nothing worth recording All he said was hearty, jolly, and jocose. He seemed so have a good deal to say to one Sir John and Lady Campbell, who sat just in front of us. After a while the guitar and tambourine were played in the air, near the ceiling, in all parts of the room; the musical box, which was not wound up, was set a going by unseen hands; and then heard to be playing whilst it flitted about over our heads, and occasionally struck against the ceiling and the chandelier. We were warned not to strike a light whilst this was going on, because the box would at once fall to the ground were this done, and as it was very heavy would hurt some one. Luckily no rash sceptic tried the experiment. Some of the persons present from time to time continued to converse with J. King. At length the phenomena ceased; the gas was turned up; and those persons close to Mr. Williams asserted that they were positive he had not moved from his chair during the darkness. The gentleman who had been addressed by J. King as Sir John Campbell, now told us that all the most wonderful phenomena of Spiritualism had long been familiar to himself and Lady C. Lady C. had a maid in whose presence these phenomena had occurred spontaneously, and without her knowing that she was in any way the cause of them. When it was discovered that they only happened in her presence, the girl was so disgusted that it was only with the greatest difficulty she could afterwards be brought to be a party to them. After Mr. Williams had taken a rest, he was securely bound in the cabinet by a committee, and the knots sealed: the room was once more darkened, and we waited for the materialization to be manifested to us. In a short time a great wind seemed to blow through the room, and to shake the cabinet with a noise like suppressed thunder. The medium shuddered audibly from time to time. Luminous hands appeared at the opening in the cabinet, several at a time, and were shaken at us. John King again began to speak, now always near the cabinet. Sometimes the noises produced by the succussions of the walls of the cabinet filled the room with peals of theatrical thunder; I can compare it to nothing else. At length, outside and in front of the cabinet, I saw distinctly the outline of a human figure, and the features of a face form themselves in lines of phosphoric light. "Do you see me? do you see me? Do you see me, Sir John?" shouted J. King, in stentorian tones We did see him, or some one, certainly; but only for a moment. The form flashed into light once or twice, and then died feebly out. The face I saw was that of a big, jolly-looking man. Williams was a thin, cadaverous individual. The medium now requested to be released; and was found tied and sealed as before when the gas was turned up; he was much exhausted. Almost all these effects might have been produced by machinery and the aid of a clever confederate; but there were no signs of either. If this was the modus operandi, how did one so actively employed keep his hand so cool? John King used a trumpet, yet when it was snatched out of his hand he spoke as well and as loudly as before; so did he when materialized; why then the trumpet? How could he, unless a spirit, contrive in perfect darkness, at once and without fumbling, to strike with the trumpet the hand of any one stretched towards him? Mr. H., editor of the Medium, tells me that he has repeatedly seen J. King materialized above his head, whilst he has had hold of Williams in the chair; and yet that the figure he saw was the fac simile of Williams; and that on several occasions having seen Williams enter a room which he knew to be empty, he has at once heard within it a furious quarrel between him and John King, which could have been heard in the street, King threatening to thrash Williams unless he did his bidding. Williams' health is very bad, and some time back he determined to quit giving seances, and to gain a livelihood by copying for lawyers; but whenever he had finished a deed or other paper the spirits smudged and blotted it all over, declaring that if he would not do their work he should do no other. Whether the phenomena are genuine or no, it is an undoubted fact that in almost every case the mediums for violent physical phenomena are persons of indifferent moral character. Spiritualists say such attract about them spirits of a low and violent nature, the kind who generally give physical manifestations. The mediums themselves say that if they were good enough ventriloquists to produce the effects we witness, they could make a far more profitable investment of their powers than by pretending to be spirits. My friend X. was not in the least relieved of his scepticism by this experience; which was called by experts present a most unsatisfactory seance." Yours truly, FREE LOVE. MEDICUS. To show that Mrs. Woodhull has for years advocated substantially the same views on the social question now held by her, we copy the following from the Golden Age, of April, 1871: Troy, New York, Mrs. Victoria Woodhull replied to an atAt the National Convention of Spiritualists, held in tack of the Troy Times. We copy the closing portion of her remarks: "If I am asked, Do you believe in promiscuous intercourse for the sexes, I reply I don't believe anything about it. I know that it exists to an alarming extent; and more, I know that a great many of those editors who write me down are among its best representatives. But if you ask me if I believe such a condition a high one, I will I hope it does not view my doctrines through colored say, I think it to be that which the Times calls 'nastiness.' glasses. I believe promiscuity to be anarchy, and the very antithesis of that for which I aspire. I know that there highest. But I believe the highest sexual relations are are all degrees of lust and love from the lowest to the those that are monogamic, and that those are high and spiritual in proportion as they are continuous. But I protest, and I believe every woman who has purity in her soul protests, against all laws that would compel them to maintain relations wiih men for whom they have no regard. I honor that purity of life which comes from the heart, while I pity the woman who is pure simply because the law makes her so. If to hold and practice such doctrines as these is to be a Free Lover, then I am a Free Lover." A State Convention of the Liquor Dealers' Party will be held in Sacramento on the 23d inst., to take measures for concert of action of all opposed to prohibition. mystecisms of Paracelcus and Cagliostro were followed by the magnetic experiments and fantastic pretensions of Mesmer; and they simply attempted to resurrect the almost forgotten principles of ancient magic. The inner light of George Fox; Swedenborg's dreams, indorsed by actual clairvoyance; the experiences of Wesley; the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim, gave rise to ideas foreshadowed in the preaching of Edward Irving and the visions and pretensions of the Mormon prophet. These ideas are now embodied in Spiritualism, the result of the reaction from the terrible witch delusion which held spellbound the votaries of religious faith in spirit power. If the experiences of the past be of any material use, if they convey any lesson to us, it is to be careful in ascribing to spirits what is otherwise inexplicable, in covering our ignorance with the mantle of spiritual pretension; thereby stultifying science and rendering useless the fac In the Israelitish legend of the Egyptian plagues, the Spiritualism is spreading quite as rapidly as did a belief in witches. There is something fascinating in a belief in future immortality. It flatters our conceit. It soothes the crushed affections bruised by the hand of death. It is so pleasant and desirable that it is hard to even suppose the possibility of its being false. Reason is silenced by our self-conceit whenever an attempt is made to disturb our pleasant dream. Thus we are prone to a belief in spirits that we are spirits destined to live forever. "In its opinion the earth, the air, the sea, were full of invisible forms. With more faith than even by Paganism itself were the supernatural powers of the images of the gods accepted, only it was imputed to the influence of devils. The lunatic was troubled by a like possession. If a spring discharged its waters with a periodical gushing of carbonic acid gas, it was agitated by an angel; if an unfortunate descended into a pit and was suffocated by the mephitic air, it was by some demon who was secreted; if the miner's torch produced an explosion, it was owing to the wrath of some malignant spirit guarding a treasure whose solitude had been disturbed." The witch mania like a blast from hell spread over Europe for three centuries, immolating thousands of victims on the fiery altars of a superstitious belief in spirits. The finest minds in Europe were carried away by the dreadful spell. At last it burnt itself out. The advocates of witchcraft became ashamed of themselves; and to confess to a belief in ghosts, fairies and witches was to open upon the foolhardy confessor the dread artillery of ridicule and ready-made jests. In the end of the eightenth and first half of the nineteenth century Science was jubilant over the death of her ancient foe, but while singing songs of victory she was doomed to be annoyed by the reappearance of her enemy in a new form. In fact, her foe had never really been far off. The basis of investigation and study of occult mysteries simply changed. The Much which has transpired during the last twenty-five years and is now actually occurring around us is of a strange and inexplicable character, setting at perfect defiance the resources of scientific research. But is it wise to adopt the spirit hypothesis simply because we cannot otherwise explain? Upon this very rock have all the churches, priesthoods and superstitions of the past been built. Would it not be better to suspend judgment, and invite science to add to her domain in physical and psychical research a few of the things which go to make capital for priests, who hate science? Science commits a grave folly in either denying the existence of phenomena patent to every one who cares to open his eyes, or pooh-pooh it away by a wave of her dignified hand. This has done much to strengthen the faith of many in Spiritualism. As Auguste Comte says in his Positive Philosophy: “We are too apt to treat as imposture exceptional sensations which we have long ceased to understand, but which have always been well known to magicians and fortune-tellers in the stage of fetichism.". Perhaps between the lofty scorn of of Scientists and the too ready belief of many Spiritualists the golden mean may yet be reached. Perhaps science, fully aroused to the full importance of the subject, may yet place another laurel upon her brow. For, before the steady advance of science, gods and spirits have hitherto receded, as barbarous nations vanish before the advance of civilization. It is admitted that Christianity is making no progress whatever in India; still an expensive missionary establishment is kept up. SOCIETY FOR SELF-CULTURE.-The Sunday afternoon discussions at Dashaway Hall are frequently interesting. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1874. There are a few people who talk without having much to PUBLICATION OFFICE.. WILLIAM N. SLOCUM, EDITOR. 236 MONTGOMERY STREET. AMANDA M. SLOCUM, ASSISTANT. Common Sense Lublishing Company. Office of COMMON SENSE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 236 Montgomery st., San Francisco, June 16th, 1874. The cordial welcome extended by the public to "COMMON SENSE," the only Free Thought journal on this Coast, and the numerous applications for job work made at the office by those who approve the principles the paper represents, have encouraged the Company to enlarge the business, and lay the foundation for a Liberal Publishing House. To this end a joint stock company has been organized, with a nom say, but occasionally spicy speeches are made, and the new programme, by which a portion of the time is devoted to music, readings, recitations, etc., gives general satisfaction, and should be the means of attracting a crowd. Mrs. Julia Melville, President of the Society, presides over the debate in a fair and genial manner, besides contributing greatly to the gratification of the audience by vocal and instrumental music. The price of admission has been fixed again at ten cents. To-morrow the subject for discussion is the Local Option Law, and some able speakers are expected to show that prohibition of the sale of liquors inal capital of fifty thousand dollars; and in order to extend as much as possible by law is an infringement on individual rights. the sphere of the Company's operations, as well as to enlist the active support of the people, it is desirable that the stock shall be held by a large number of owners; and for this purpose it has been divided into ten thousand shares of five dollars each, which is offered to the friends of Free Thought, not alone to enable them to show their regard for their cherished principles, but as an opportunity for No. RESPONSE.-There is now at this office, and has been for a week past, a sealed envelope containing the names. of deceased persons, and questions which any medium or safe and profitable investment, it being our design to build up a strong, permanent, clairvoyant is invited to answer, being permitted to handle useful, and paying institution. The advertising in the weekly journal published by the Company can be made to yield sufficient for its current expenses, leaving other receipts as profit; and by the addition of a Book and Job Department, a lucrative and constantly increasing business can be built up. The employees of the Company are engaged at reasonable rates, and a large portion of the wages are payable in stock of the Company; consequently their interests are the interests of the Company, better service being secured thereby, with less expenditure of cash, than is usual in industrial enterprises. This arrangement secures all the benefits of co-operation, and at the same time all the facilities of management and other advantages of ordinary joint stock companies. the letter in presence of the editor of this paper, but not otherwise. If correct answers can be given in this manner, the fact will be freely advertised, and the increased business of the successful medium, in consequence of such recommendation, will no doubt repay for the time and trouble. The "great Foster" is in town again, and this little business is just in his line; but will he respond? If no medium will do this thing, will not some of them gratify which furnishes capital necessary to conduct the business to a dividend-paying the public by telling why they will not? Our columns are The stock, although nominally five dollars per share, is issued at one dollar, point, without asking the payment of the remaining four dollars on each share. Only five thousand shares will be sold at one dollar, for the reason that after that amount is disposed of, the stock will command a higher price. The proceeds of sales of stock are to be invested in the purchase of printing material; therefore every dollar will have its equivalent in the available assets of the establishment - the current expenses being met by current receipts, with a fair prospect of soon accumulating a surplus returnable to stock holders in the form of dividends. Applications for stock should be addressed to "Common Sense Publishing Co., 236 Montgomery street, San Francisco." ALBERT KENDRICK, President. OUR READERS will be glad to see by the announcement made in this issue that COMMON SENSE is at last on a firm basis, and that its future prospects are bright. Now we trust that our friends will make renewed efforts to extend the circulation of the paper, and that all who are indebted to the publishers will at once pay their subscriptions. There are on our books the names of a few persons who have never ordered the paper. These will please notify us at once whether they wish it continued or not. Except where special arrangements have been made, the names of all who have not paid in advance will now be erased from the books. There are a few prominent Free Thinkers to whom the paper has been sent as a matter of course, who have not, as yet, expressed any intention to assist in sustaining it, although they well know that a radical Free Thought journal is greatly needed on this coast. Eastern publications of the kind will, of course, continue to be taken, and it is right they should be; but, first of all, sustain your own. open to you. Do not all speak at once. TO-DAY, Saturday, June 20th, the children of the Progressive Lyceum are to have a happy time at Berkley. The school will take the 9 o'clock boat, so as to reach the picnic grounds before 11. It is hoped that many adult friends of the youngsters will go also. Take a holiday, if possible, and assist in making the way smooth for the enjoyment of the little ones. Go for their sakes, if not for your own. Carry the lunch; set the tables; take care of the babies; swing the children, and make yourselves generally useful. Remember, you were children your selves once. HON. CHARLES E. DELONG, of Nevada, announces in the papers of that State that he is a candidate for the office of United States Senator, to succeed William M. Stewart. His letter is a manly, frank statement of his position, and the causes which led to his defeat for the same position previous to his acceptance of the mission to Japan. The opposition to him was organized by the Railroad Company, because he had strenuously opposed the granting of a subsidy by the State. The fight will be DeLong versus Sharon, which means, a man against money. GREAT ATTRACTIONS are promised at Woodward's Gardens on the Fourth of July. It is just the place to spend a quiet day, without going into the country. "Tell It All," is the title of Mrs. Stenhouse's new book on Mormondom. It is said to be exceedingly interesting. |