CHAPTER VI.
THE BUDDHISM OF NORTHERN ASIA, PAGE 153 Buddha--sun myth or historic personage ?--Buddhism one of the protestantisms of the world .-- Characteristics of new religions .-- Survey of the history of Indian thought .-- The age of the Vedas .-- The epic age .-- The rationalistic age .-- Our fellow-Aryans and the story of their conquests .-- Their intellectual energy and inventions .-- Systems of philosophy .-- Condition of religion at the birth of Gautama .-- Outline of his life .-- He attains enlightenment or buddhahood .-- In what respects Buddhism was an old, and in what a new religion .-- Did Gautama intend to found a new religion, or return to simpler and older faith ?--Monasticism, Kharma and Nirvana,--Enthusiasm of the disciples of the new faith .-- The great schism .-- The Northern Buddhists .-- The canon .-- The two Yana or vehicles .-- Simplicity of Southern and luxuriance of Northern Buddhism .-- Summary of the process of thought in Nepal .-- The old gods of India come back again .-- Maitreya, Manjusri and Avalokitesvara .-- The Legend of Manjusri .-- Separation of attributes and creation of new Buddhas or gods .-- The Dhyani Buddhas .-- Amida .-- Adi-Buddhas .-- Abstractions become gods .-- The Tantra system .-- Outbursts of doctrine and art .-- Prayer-mills .-- The noble eight-fold path of self-denial and benevolence forgotten .-- Entrance of Buddhism from Korea into Japan .-- Condition of the country at that time .-- Dates and first experiences .-- Soga no Iname .-- Sh[=o]toku .-- Japanese pilgrims to China .-- Changes wrought by the new creed and cult .-- Temples, monasteries and images .-- Influence upon the Mikado's name, rank and person, and upon Shint[=o] .-- Relative influence of Buddhism in Asia and of Christianity in Europe .-- The three great characteristics of Buddhism .-- How the clouds returned after the rain .-- Buddhism and Christianity confronting the problem of life..