the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第32章
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been expected from so generally astute a body； for it could not make much
difference what the all…presiding deity was called； if his actions were the
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same； since his motives were beyond human observation。 Besides； the
bare idea of a foreign bogus was not very terrifying。 The Chinese
possessed too many familiar devils of their own。 But there was another
and a much deeper reason； which we shall come to later； why Christianity
made but little headway in the Far East。
But it is by no means in externals only that the two religions are alike。
If the first glance at them awakens that peculiar sensation which most of
us have felt at some time or other； a sense of having seen all this before；
further scrutiny reveals a deeper agreement than merely in appearances。
In passing from the surface into the substance； it may be mentioned
incidentally that the codes of morality of the two are about on a level。 I
say incidentally； for so far as its practice； certainly； is concerned； it not its
preaching； morality has no more intimate connection with religion than it
has with art or politics。 If we doubt this； we have but to examine the
facts。 Are the most religious peoples the most moral？ It needs no
prolonged investigation to convince us that they are not。 If proof of the
want of a bond were required； the matter of truth…telling might be adduced
in point。 As this is a subject upon which a slight misconception exists in
the minds of some evangelically persuaded persons； and because； what is
more generally relevant； the presence of this quality； honesty in word and
deed； has more than almost any other one characteristic helped to put us in
the van of the world's advance to…day； it may not unfittingly be cited here。
The argument in the case may be put thus。 Have specially religions
races been proportionally truth…telling ones？ If not； has there been any
other cause at work in the development of mankind tending to increase
veracity？ The answer to the first question has all the simplicity of a plain
negative。 No such pleasing concomitance of characteristics is observable
to…day； or has been presented in the past。 Permitting； however； the dead
past to bury its shortcomings in oblivion； let us look at the world as we
find it。 We observe； then； that the religious spirit is quite as strong in
Asia as it is in Europe； if anything； that at the present time it is rather
stronger。 The average Brahman； Mahometan； or Buddhist is quite as
devout as the ordinary Roman Catholic or Presbyterian。 If he is
somewhat less given to propagandism； he is not a whit less regardful of his
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own salvation。 Yet throughout the Orient truth is a thing unknown； lies
of courtesy being de rigueur and lies of convenience de raison； while with
us； fortunately； mendacity is generally discredited。 But we need not
travel so far for proof。 The same is evident in less antipodal relations。
Have the least religious nations of Europe been any less truthful than the
most bigoted？ Was fanatic Spain remarkable for veracity？ Was Loyola
a gentleman whose assertions carried conviction other than to the stake？
Were the eminently mundane burghers whom he persecuted noted for a
pious superiority to fact？ Or； to narrow the field still further； and scan
the circle of one's own acquaintance； are the most believing individuals
among them worthy of the most belief？ Assuredly not。
We come； then； to the second point。 Has there been any influence at
work to differentiate us in this respect from Far Orientals？ There has。
Two separate causes； in fact； have conduced to the same result。 The one is
the development of physical science； the other； the extension of trade。
The sole object of science being to discover truth； truth…telling is a
necessity of its existence。 Professionally； scientists are obliged to be
truthful。 Aliter of a Jesuit。
So long as science was of the closet； its influence upon mankind
generally was indirect and slight； but so soon as it proceeded to stalk into
the street and earn its own living； its veracious character began to tell。
When out of its theories sprang inventions and discoveries that
revolutionized every…day affairs and changed the very face of things；
society insensibly caught its spirit。 Man awoke to the inestimable value of
exactness。 From scientists proper； the spirit filtered down through every
stratum of education； till to…day the average man is born exact to a degree
which his forefathers never dreamed of becoming。 To…day； as a rule； the
more intelligent the individual； the more truthful he is； because the more
innately exact in thought； and thence in word and action。 With us； to lie is
a sign of a want of cleverness； not of an excess of it。
The second cause； the extension of trade； has inculcated the same
regard for veracity through the pocket。 For with the increase of business
transactions in both time and space； the telling of the truth has become a
financial necessity。 Without it； trade would come to a standstill at once。
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Our whole mercantile system； a modern piece of mechanism unknown to
the East till we imported it thither； turns on an implicit belief in the word
of one's neighbor。 Our legal safeguards would snap like red tape were
the great bond of mutual trust once broken。 Western civilization has to
be truthful； or perish。
And now for the spirits of the two beliefs。
The soul of any religion realizes in one respect the Brahman idea of
the individual soul of man； namely； that it exists much after the manner of
an onion； in many concentric envelopes。 Man； they tell us； is composed
not of a single body simply； but of several layers of body； each shell as it
were respectively inclosing another。 The outermost is the merely
material body； of which we are so directly cognizant。 This encases a
second； more spiritual； but yet not wholly free from earthly affinities。
This contains another； still more refined； till finally； inside of all is that
immaterial something which they conceive to constitute the soul。 This
eventual residuum exemplifies the Franciscan notion of pure substance；
for it is a thing delightfully devoid of any attributes whatever。
We may； perhaps； not be aware of the existence of such an elaborate
set of encasings to our own heart of hearts； nor of a something so very
indefinite within； but the most casual glance at any religion will reveal its
truth as regards the soul of a belief。 We recogni
