beasts, men and gods-第37章

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studying　and　copying　these　books；　preserving　and　spreading　the　ancient　wisdom　for　their　successors。

One　department　is　devoted　to　the　mysterious　books　on　magic；　the　historical　lives　and　works　of　all　the　thirty…one　Living　Buddhas；　with　the　bulls　of　the　Dalai　Lama；　of　the　Pontiff　from　Tashi　Lumpo；　of　the　Hutuktu　of　Utai　in　China；　of　the　Pandita　Gheghen　of　Dolo　Nor　in　Inner　Mongolia　and　of　the　Hundred　Chinese　Wise　Men。　　Only　the　Bogdo　Hutuktu　and　Maramba　Ta…Rimpo…Cha　can　enter　this　room　of　mysterious　lore。　　The　keys　to　it　rest　with　the　seals　of　the　Living　Buddha　and　the　ruby　ring　of　Jenghiz　Khan　ornamented　with　the　sign　of　the　swastika　in　the　chest　in　the　private　study　of　the　Bogdo。

The　person　of　His　Holiness　is　surrounded　by　five　thousand　Lamas。　They　are　divided　into　many　ranks　from　simple　servants　to　the　〃Councillors　of　God；〃　of　which　latter　the　Government　consists。　Among　these　Councillors　are　all　the　four　Khans　of　Mongolia　and　the　five　highest　Princes。

Of　all　the　Lamas　there　are　three　classes　of　peculiar　interest；　about　which　the　Living　Buddha　himself　told　me　when　I　visited　him　with　Djam　Bolon。

〃The　God〃　sorrowfully　mourned　over　the　demoralized　and　sumptuous　life　led　by　the　Lamas　which　decreased　rapidly　the　number　of　fortune　tellers　and　clairvoyants　among　their　ranks；　saying　of　it：

〃If　the　Jahantsi　and　Narabanchi　monasteries　had　not　preserved　their　strict　regime　and　rules；　Ta　Kure　would　have　been　left　without　prophets　and　fortune　tellers。　　Barun　Abaga　Nar；　Dorchiul…Jurdok　and　the　other　holy　Lamas　who　had　the　power　of　seeing　that　which　is　hidden　from　the　sight　of　the　common　people　have　gone　with　the　blessing　of　the　gods。〃

This　class　of　Lamas　is　a　very　important　one；　because　every　important　personage　visiting　the　monasteries　at　Urga　is　shown　to　the　Lama　Tzuren　or　fortune　teller　without　the　knowledge　of　the　visitor　for　the　study　of　his　destiny　and　fate；　which　are　then　communicated　to　the　Bogdo　Hutuktu；　so　that　with　these　facts　in　his　possession　the　Bogdo　knows　in　what　way　to　treat　his　guest　and　what　policy　to　follow　toward　him。　　The　Tzurens　are　mostly　old　men；　skinny；　exhausted　and　severe　ascetics。　　But　I　have　met　some　who　were　young；　almost　boys。　　They　were　the　Hubilgan；　〃incarnate　gods；〃　the　future　Hutuktus　and　Gheghens　of　the　various　Mongolian　monasteries。

The　second　class　is　the　doctors　or　〃Ta　Lama。〃　　They　observe　the　actions　of　plants　and　certain　products　from　animals　upon　people；　preserve　Tibetan　medicines　and　cures；　and　study　anatomy　very　carefully　but　without　making　use　of　vivisection　and　the　scalpel。　They　are　skilful　bone　setters；　masseurs　and　great　connoisseurs　of　hypnotism　and　animal　magnetism。

The　third　class　is　the　highest　rank　of　doctors；　consisting　chiefly　of　Tibetans　and　Kalmuckspoisoners。　　They　may　be　said　to　be　〃doctors　of　political　medicine。〃　　They　live　by　themselves；　apart　from　any　associates；　and　are　the　great　silent　weapon　in　the　hands　of　the　Living　Buddha。　　I　was　informed　that　a　large　portion　of　them　are　dumb。　　I　saw　one　such　doctor；the　very　person　who　poisoned　the　Chinese　physician　sent　by　the　Chinese　Emperor　from　Peking　to　〃liquidate〃　the　Living　Buddha；a　small　white　old　fellow　with　a　deeply　wrinkled　face；　a　curl　of　white　hairs　on　his　chin　and　with　vivacious　eyes　that　were　ever　shifting　inquiringly　about　him。　Whenever　he　comes　to　a　monastery；　the　local　〃god〃　ceases　to　eat　and　drink　in　fear　of　the　activities　of　this　Mongolian　Locusta。　　But　even　this　cannot　save　the　condemned；　for　a　poisoned　cap　or　shirt　or　boots；　or　a　rosary；　a　bridle；　books　or　religious　articles　soaked　in　a　poisonous　solution　will　surely　accomplish　the　object　of　the　Bogdo…Khan。

The　deepest　esteem　and　religious　faithfulness　surround　the　blind　Pontiff。　　Before　him　all　fall　on　their　faces。　　Khans　and　Hutuktus　approach　him　on　their　knees。　　Everything　about　him　is　dark；　full　of　Oriental　antiquity。　　The　drunken　blind　man；　listening　to　the　banal　arias　of　the　gramophone　or　shaking　his　servants　with　an　electric　current　from　his　dynamo；　the　ferocious　old　fellow　poisoning　his　political　enemies；　the　Lama　keeping　his　people　in　darkness　and　deceiving　them　with　his　prophecies　and　fortune　telling；he　is；　however；　not　an　entirely　ordinary　man。

One　day　we　sat　in　the　room　of　the　Bogdo　and　Prince　Djam　Bolon　translated　to　him　my　story　of　the　Great　War。　　The　old　fellow　was　listening　very　carefully　but　suddenly　opened　his　eyes　widely　and　began　to　give　attention　to　some　sounds　coming　in　from　outside　the　room。　　His　face　became　reverent；　supplicant　and　frightened。

〃The　Gods　call　me；〃　he　whispered　and　slowly　moved　into　his　private　shrine；　where　he　prayed　loudly　about　two　hours；　kneeling　immobile　as　a　statue。　　His　prayer　consists　of　conversation　with　the　invisible　gods；　to　whose　questions　he　himself　gave　the　answers。　　He　came　out　of　the　shrine　pale　and　exhausted　but　pleased　and　happy。　It　was　his　personal　prayer。　　During　the　regular　temple　service　he　did　not　participate　in　the　prayers；　for　then　he　is　〃God。〃　　Sitting　on　his　throne；　he　is　carried　and　placed　on　the　altar　and　there　prayed　to　by　the　Lamas　and　the　people。　　He　only　receives　the　prayers；　hopes；　tears；　woe　and　desperation　of　the　people；　immobilely　gazing　into　space　with　his　sharp　and　bright　but　blind　eyes。　　At　various　times　in　the　service　the　Lamas　robe　him　in　different　vestments；　combinations　of　yellow　and　red；　and　change　his　caps。　　The　service　always　finishes　at　the　solemn　moment　when　the　Living　Buddha　with　the　tiara　on　his　head　pronounces　the　pontifical　blessing　upon　the　congregation；　turning　his　face　to　all　four　cardinal　points　of　the　compass　and　finally　stretching　out　his　hands　toward　the　northwest；　that　is；　to　Europe；　whither　in　the　belief　of　the　Yellow　Faith　must　travel　the　teachings　of　the　wise　Buddha。

After　earnest　prayers　or　long　temple　services　the　Pontiff　seems　very　deeply　shaken　and　often　calls　his　secretaries　and　dictates　his　visions　and　prophecies；　always　very　complicated　and　unaccompanied　by　his　deductions。

Sometimes　with　the　words　〃Their　souls　are　communicating；〃　he　puts　on　his　white　robes　and　goes　to　pray　in　his　shrine。　　Then　all　the　gates　of　the　palace　are　shut　and　all　the　Lamas　are　sunk　in　solemn；　mystic　fear；　all　are　praying；　telling　their　rosaries　and　whispering　the　orison：　　〃Om！　Mani　padme　Hung！〃　or　turning　the　prayer　wheels　with　their　prayers　or　exorcisings；　the　fortune　tellers　read　their　horoscopes；　the　clairvoyants　write　out　their　visions；　while　Marambas　search　the　ancient　books　for　explanations　of　the　words　of　the　Living　Buddha。


CHAPTER　XLI

THE　DUST　OF　CENTURIES


Have　you　ever　seen　the　dusty　cobwebs　and　the　mould　in　the　cellars　of　some　ancient　castle　in　Italy；　France　or　England？　　This　is　the　dust　of　centuries。　　Perhaps　it　touched　the　faces；　helmets　and　swords　of　a　Roman　Augustus；　St。　Louis；　the　Inquisitor；　Galileo　or　King　Richard。　　Your　heart　is　involuntarily　contracted　and　you　feel　a　respect　for　these　witnesses　of　elapsed　ages。　　This　same　impression　came　to　me　in　Ta　Kure；　perhaps　more　deep；　more　realistic。　　Here　life　flows　on　almost　as　it　flowed　eight　centuries　ago；　here　man　lives　only　in　the　past；　and　the　contemporary　only　complicates　and　prevents　the　normal　life。

〃Today　is　a　great　day；〃　the　Living　Buddha　once　said　to　me；　〃the　day　of　the　victory　of　Buddhism　over　all　other　religions。　　It　was　a　long　time　agoon　this　day　Kublai　Khan　called　to　him　the　Lamas　of　all　religions　and　ordered　them　to　state　to　him　how　and　what　they　believed。　　They　praised　their　Gods　and　their　Hutuktus。　　Discussions　and　quarrels　began。　　Only　one　Lama　remained　silent。　　At　last　he　mockingly　smiled　and　said：

〃'Great　Emperor！　　Order　each　to　prove　the　power　of　his　Gods　by　the　performance　of　a　miracle　and　afterwards　judge　and　choose。'

〃Kublai　Khan　so　ordered　all　the　Lamas　to　show　him　a　miracle　but　all　were　silent；　confused　and　powerless　before　him。

〃'Now；'　said　the　Emperor；　addressing　the　Lama　who　had　tendered　this　suggestion；　'now　you　must　prove　the　power　of　your　Gods！'

〃The　Lama　looked　long　and　silently　at　the　Emperor；　turned　and　gazed　at　the　whole　assembly　and　then　quietly　stretched　out　his　hand　toward　them。　　At　this　instant　the　golden　goblet　of　the　Emperor　raised　itself　from　the　table　and　tipped　before　the　lips　of　the　Khan　without　a　visible　hand　supporting　it。　　The　Emperor　felt　the　delight　of　a　fragrant　wine。　　All　were　struck　with　astonishment　and　the　Emperor　spoke：

〃'I　elect　to　pray　to　your　Gods　and　to　them　all　people　subject　to　me　must　pray。　　What　is　your　faith？　　Who　are　you　and　from　where　do　you　come？'

〃'My　faith　is　the　teaching　of　the　wise　Buddha。　　I　am　Pandita　Lama；　Turjo　Gamba；　from　the　distant　and　glorious　monastery　of　Sakkia　in　Tibet；　where　dwells　incarnate　in　a　human　body　the　Spirit　of　Buddha；　his　Wisdom　and　his　Power。　　Remember；　Emperor；　that　the　peoples　who　hold　our　faith　shall　possess　all　the　Western　Universe　and　during　eight　hundred　and　eleven　years　shall　spread　their　faith　throughout　the　whole　world。'

〃Thus　it　happened　on　this　same　day　many　centuries　ago！　　Lama　Turjo　Gamba　did　not　return　to　Tibet　but　lived　here　in　Ta　Kure；　where　there　was　then　only　a　small　temple。　　From　here　he　traveled　to　the　Emperor　at　Karakorum　and　afterwards　with　him　to　the　capital　of　China　to　fortify　him　in　the　Faith；　to　predict　the　fate　of　state　affairs　and　to　enlighten　him　according　to　the　will　of　God。〃

The　Living　Buddha　was　silent　for　a　time；　whispered　a　prayer　and　then　continued：

〃Urga；　the　ancient　nest　of　Buddhism。　。　。　。　　With　Jenghiz　Khan　on　his　European　conquest　went　out　the　Olets　or　Kalmucks。　　They　remained　there　almost　four　hundred　years；　living　on　the　plains　of　Russia。　　Then　they　returned　to　Mongolia　because　the　Yellow　Lamas　called　them　to　light　against　the　Kings　of　Tibet；　Lamas　of　the　'red　caps；'　who　were　oppressing　the　people。　　The　Kalmucks　helped　the　Yellow　Faith　but　they　realized　that　Lhasa　was　too　distant　from　the　whole　world　and　could　not　spread　our　Faith　throughout　the　earth。　Consequently　the　Kalmuck　Gushi　Khan　brought　up　from　Tibet　a　holy　Lama；　Undur　Gheghen；　who　had　visited　the　'King　of　the　World。'　　From　that　day　the　Bogdo　Gheghen　has　continuously　lived　in　Urga；　a　protector　of　the　freedom　of　Mongolia　and　of　the　Chinese　Emperors　of　Mongolian　origin。　　Undur　Gheghen　was　the　first　Living　Buddha　in　the　land　of　the　Mongols。　　He　left　to　us；　his　successors；　the　ring　of　Jenghiz　Khan；　which　was　sent　by　Kublai　Khan　to　Dalai　Lama　in　return　for　the　miracle　shown　by　the　Lama　Turjo　Gamba；　also　the　top　of　the　skull　of　a　black；　mysterious　miracle　worker　from　India；　using　which　as　a　bowl；　Strongtsan；　King　of　Tibet；　drank　during　the　temple　ceremonies　one　thousand　six　hundred　years　ago；　as　well　as　an　ancient　stone　statue　of　Buddha　brought　from　Delhi　by　the　founder　of　the　Yellow　Faith；　Paspa。〃

The　Bogdo　clapped　his　hands　and　one　of　the　secretaries　took　from　a　red　kerchief　a　big　silver　key　with　which　he　unlocked　the　chest　with　the　seals。　　The　Living　Buddha　slipped　his　hand　into　the　chest　and　drew　forth　a　small　box　of　carved　ivory；　from　which　he　took　out　and　showed　to　me　a　large　gold　ring　set　with　a　magnificent　ruby　carved　with　the　sign　of　the　swastika。

〃This　ring　was　always　worn　on　the　right　hand　of　the　Khans　Jenghiz　and　Kublai；〃　said　the　Bogdo。

When　the　secretary　had　closed　the　chest；　the　Bogdo　ordered　him　to　summon　his　favorite　Maramba；　whom　he　directed　to　read　s