India, Its Life and Thought

John P. (John Peter) Jones

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• Publié par: ornie
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 23
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

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Title: India, Its Life and Thought

Author: John P. Jones

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A Holy Man of India

INDIA ITS LIFE AND THOUGHT

BY

JOHN P. JONES, D.D.

SOUTH INDIA

AUTHOR OF "INDIA'S PROBLEM, KRISHNA OR CHRIST," ETC., ETC.

New York

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

1908

C OPYRIGHT , 1908,

B Y THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

Dedicated

TO MY DEAR CHILDREN

WHO HAVE

BRAVELY AND CHEERFULLY ENDURED

THE SEPARATION AND THE LOSS OF HOME

FOR THE SAKE OF INDIA

PREFACE

To the people of the West, the inhabitants of India are the least understood and the most easily misunderstood of all men.

It is partly because they are antipodal to the West—the farthest removed in thought and life. They are also the most secretive, and find perennial delight in

[ix]

concealment and evasion.

According to Hindu teaching, the Supreme Spirit forever sports in illusion. It continuously manifests itself through unreal and false forms, which delude and lead astray ignorant man. In harmony with this philosophy of the Divine—and may it not be as a result of it?—the people of India too often delight in unreal and deceptive exhibitions of themselves. At any rate, it is exceedingly difficult for a man of the West, especially he of the Anglo-Saxon type, to apprehend the full significance and the correct drift of life and thought of this land.

It is amusing, when not discouraging, to witness travellers, who have rushed through India in a winter tour, publish volumes of their misconceptions and ill- digested theories about the people with an oracular emphasis which is equalled only by their ignorance.

The author of this book makes no claim to a right to speakex cathedra upon this subject. Nevertheless, thirty years of matured experience in this land, living in constant touch with the people and studying with eagerness their life and thought, gives him an humble claim to speak once more upon the subject.

Even now, however, his pride of knowledge is chastened by the oft-recurring surprises which the Oriental nature and life still bring to him. And he does not cease to pray, with a western saint, who, at the end of a half century of work for the people of India, daily cried out,—

"O Lord, help me to know these people and to come i nto intimate relations of life with them!"

If, in these pages, he can help others of the West to come face to face with the immense and intricate problems which confront all who desire to know, to help, and to bless India, and shall enable them to understand better the conditions and characteristics of life in the Land of the Vedas, he will feel amply repaid for his labours.

I express my deep gratitude to the Rev. J. L. Barto n, D.D., for his kind encouragement in the publishing of this book; and a lso to the Rev. W. W. Wallace, M.A., for his generous aid in the proof-reading.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. I NDIA ' S U NREST i. Extent of the Movement ii. Causes of Unrest iii. Conditions of Unrest iv. Results v. How shall the Unrest be Removed II. T HE H O MEO F M ANY F AITHS

J. P. JONES.

PAGES 1-29 1 5 13 18 21 30-71

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[xi]

III. B

Hinduism—Madura and Benares Demonolatry—Madura Christianity—Travancore and Cochin Judaism—Cochin Parseeism—Bombay Jainism—Bombay Mohammedanism—Agra and Delhi Buddhism—Delhi, Sarnath Sikhism—Amritsar URMA , THE B EAUTIFUL The Extent of the British Empire Burma's Triple Produce The Land of Pagodas Mandalay A Land where Woman is Honoured A Land where Caste is Unknown The American Baptist Mission The Karens and their Conversion Ko San Ye IV. T HE H INDU C ASTE S YSTEM What is Caste i. Origin of Caste (a) Religious Theory (b) Tribal Theory (c) Social Theory (d) Occupational Theory (e) Crossing Theory ii. Characteristics of Caste Intermarriage Inter-dining Contact Occupation iii. Penalties of Caste Boycott Caste Servants Interdicted Domestic Isolation Prayaschitta. (Travelling)

V. T HE H INDU C ASTE S YSTEM (Continued)

iv. Occasions of Punishment Change of Faith Marrying a Widow

32 33 34 38 40 41 42 53 61 72-90 72 73 73 78 80 84 84 85 87 91-122 91 93 95 96 97 98 100 102 105 107 109 112 115 116 118 119 119 123- 151 123 124 126

Beef-eating Officiating as Priest to Outcasts Marrying outside of One's Caste v. The Results of the Caste System Possibilities of Good It arrays Caste against Caste It narrows the Sympathies It degrades Manual Labour It opposes Commerce A Foe to Nationality A Foe to Individualism It is Unethical vi. The Dominance of Caste Seen even among Christians Roman Catholicism and Protestantism Signs of its Decadence Opposed by Western Progress Government Opposition Christianity its Foe

VI. T HE B HAG AVAD G ITA —T HE H INDU B IBLE

i. What is this Song ii. What are its Purposes and Contents 1. Its Teaching concerning God Incarnation 2. The Doctrine of the Living Soul 3. The Doctrine of Liberation (1) Through Knowledge (2) Through Asceticism (3) Through Works Caste Detachment Bhakti (4) Altruism. 4. The Doctrine of Salvation Reincarnation iii. Conclusion

VII. P O PULAR H INDUISM

i. The Higher Faith The Evolution of Faith ii. Popular Hinduism

126 127 128 129 131 132 132 133 134 135 135 137 138 140

143 144 147 148 149 152- 189 153 156 160 163 167 169 169 171 174 177 179 181 183 184 185 187 190- 219 190 196 198

1. Caste 2. Polytheism 3. Idolatry 4. Devil-worship 5. Fetichism 6. Immorality 7. Treatment of Woman 8. The Hindu Ascetic 9. Hindu Pessimism 10. Astrology

VIII. H INDU R ELIG IO US I DEALS

i. The Ideal of God ii. Ideal of Incarnation iii. Ideals of Life Asceticism Ceremonialism Quietism iv. Ultimate Salvation Transmigration Absorption

IX. T HE H O ME L IFEO F H INDUS

The Home Sanctuary The Building of the House The Joint Family System Priest and Astrologer Place of Woman in the Home The Devotion of Woman The Influence of Woman Marriage in the Home The Hindu Widow Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Love of Jewellery Clothing and Cuisine Sickness and Death Funeral Obsequies Shradda

X. K ALI Y UG A —I NDIA ' S P ESSIMISM

i. The Astounding Length of the Chronological System History and Legend in India

198 199 200 206 209 210 213 215 217 217 220- 241 223 225 227 227 231 233 235 236 237 242- 275 242 243 246 251 252 254 258 260 263 264 265 268 270 272 273 276- 301

277 281

ii. The Cyclic Character of Hindu Chronology No Progress in Time The Source of Pessimism iii. The Moral Characteristics of the Time System Every Yuga has its Own Character The Evil Character of Kali Cui Bono Astrology Lucky Days

XI. I SLAMIN I NDIA

i. The History of Islam in India ii. The Present Condition of this Faith in India Ill-adapted to India Its Conception of Deity Intolerance and Tolerance Contact with Hinduism Compromise Islam's Attempt at Reform Islam's Redeeming Qualities Muslim Sects iii. The Mohammedan Population iv. Christian Effort for the Mussulman

XII. T HE C HRISTANDTHE B UDDHA

i. The Conditions of their Lives ii. The Common Principles which controlled Them Sincerity Ethics Universal Charity iii. The Teachings which differentiate Them 1. Teaching concerning God 2. Their Conceptions of Human Life 3. Their Ideals of Life Character and Wisdom Final Consummation

XIII. M O DERN R ELIG IO US M O VEMENT

Hindu Reformers i. Hindu Sects ii. Modern Movements

286 287 288

290 290 293 298 299 299 302- 337 305 307 308 309 310 312 319 322 323 327 328 333 338- 373 341

345 345 345 349 352 353 356 367 368 370 374- 411 374 376 378

Ram Mohan Roy Brahmo Somaj Chunder Sen Âthi Somaj Sâdhârna Somaj New Dispensation iii. Progress of the Movement Weak in Numbers Indian Spirit Christian Basis "The Oriental Christ" Chunder Sen's Words. Other Testimony The New Dispensation iv. The Arya Somaj Its Progress Its Principles Its Antagonism to Christianity v. The Theosophical Society Its Reactionary Spirit Mrs. Besant The "Masters"

XIV. T HE P RO G RESSO F C HRISTIANITYIN I NDIA

I NDEX

i. Early History of Christianity Converts The Character of the Christian Community Influence of Christianity "Swadesha" Protestant Effort ii. Ultimate Triumph of Christianity Not the Western Type The Kingdom of God iii. A Conquest of the Spirit 1. Conquest of Principles 2. Conquest of the Christ Ideal 3. Conquest of the Incarnation of Christ 4. Conquest of the Cross of Christ 5. Conquest of the Christian Conception of Sin

379 380 382 383 385 385 387 387 388 389 391 391 396 396 400 402 402 403 404 406 406 408 412- 443 412 417

418 419 420 422 425 425 429 430 430 434 437 439

441 445

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A H O LY M ANO F I NDIA

T HE G O LDEN L ILY T ANKINTHE M ADURA T EMPLE

T AJ M AHAL , A G RA

M ARBLE S CREENIN T AJ M AHAL

S HAH J EHAN ' S F O RT , A G RA

A KBAR ' S T O MB

K UTAB - MINAR , D ELHI

C ASHMERE G ATE , D ELHI

S CHWEY D AG O N P AG O DA , R ANG O O N

T HEEBAW ' S P ALACE , M ANDALAY

J UNG LE P EO PLEO F I NDIA

A D RAVIDIAN S HRINE , S O UTH I NDIA

T WO H INDU I DO LS , S O UTH I NDIA

H UMAYAN ' S T O MB , D ELHI

T HE G REATEST I MAG EO F B UDDHA

A C HRISTIAN V ILLAG E S CHO O LIN S O UTH I NDIA

Frontispiece

INDIA: ITS LIFE AND THOUGHT

CHAPTER I

INDIA'S UNREST

PAGE 35

43

47

51

55

59

63

75

81

141

191

203

303

339

415

India has been called the land of quiet repose, content to remain anchored to the hoary past, and proud of her immobility. Invasion after invasion has swept over her; but—

"The East bowed low before the blast, In patient, deep disdain; She let the legions thunder past, And plunged in thought again."

Yet this same India is now throbbing with discontent, and is breathing, in all

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departments of her life, a deep spirit of unrest. This spirit has recently become acute and seemed, for a while, in danger of bursting into open rebellion, not unlike the Mutiny of half a century ago.

I

This movement is but a part of the new awakening of the East. The world has seen its marvellously rapid development and fruitage in Japan. It is witnessing the same process in China and Korea. The people of India, likewise, have been touched by its power and are no longer willing to rest contentedly as a subject people or a stagnant race.

This movement is not only political, it permeates every department of life; and it partakes of the general unrest which has taken possession of all the civilized nations of the earth. It is really the dawning of India's consciousness of strength and of a purpose to take her place, and to play a worthy part, in the great world drama.

This spirit found its incarnation and warmest expression in the opposition to the government scheme, two years ago, under Lord Curzon, for the partition of Bengal. The Bengalees keenly resented the division of their Province; for it robbed the clever Babu of many of the plums of offi ce. He petitioned, and fomented agitation and opposition to the scheme. Then, in his spite against the government, he organized a boycott against all forms of foreign industry and commerce. This has been conducted with mad disregard to the people's own economic interest, and has, moreover, developed into bitter racial animosity.

The Bengalee has striven hard to carry into other P rovinces also his spirit of antagonism to the State. Though he has not succeeded in convincing many others of the wisdom of his method, he has spread the spirit of discontent and of dissatisfaction far beyond his own boundary. Even sections of the land which denounce the boycott as folly, if not suicide, have taken up the political slogan of the Babu (Bande Mataram—Hail, Mother!) and are demanding, mostly in inarticulate speech, such rights and privileges as they imagine themselves to be deprived of.

The movement is, in some respects, a reactionary one; and race hatred is one of its most manifest results. It is not merely a rising of the East against the West; it is also a conflict between Mohammedans and Hindu s. In Eastern Bengal, where the Mussulmans are in a large majority, and w here the Hindus have become the most embittered, the former have stood aloof from the latter and have opposed the boycott. This has led to increasin g hatred between the members of these two faiths,—a feeling which has spread all over the country, and which has carried them into opposing camps. This is, in one way, fortunate for the government, since it has given rise to definite and warm expressions of loyalty by the whole Mohammedan community.

Disgruntled graduates of the University and school-boys take the most prominent place in this movement. The Universities annually send forth an army of men supplied with degrees—last year it was 1570 B.A.'s; and it is the conviction of nine-tenths of them that it is the duty of the government to give them employment as soon as they graduate. As this i s impossible, many of

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