The Anagarika Dharmapala's Lecture

The Anagarika Dharmapala of Calcutta, India, spoke last night in the New Lecture Hall on "The Purpose and the Essential Teachings of Gotama Buddha." He was introduced by Professor C. R. Lanman of the Department of India Phiology. The Anagarika, who is now on his third visit to this country, told of the way Buddhism is misrepresented in the western world. He discountenanced the popular belief that Buddhism is a religion of pessimists, and explained how its concept came to the mind of Buddha. "Buddhism," he said, "is a sort of absolute psychology; it is the religion of absolute happiness." Its most important teaching is the doctrine of purity of body and mind, and it is the only religion which has not been propagated by blood.

In concluding his lecture the Dharmapala spoke briefly of his object in coming to this country, which was to obtain the means to help educate the 50,000,000 poor children of India. Contributions for this charity may be sent to Miss Caroline Atkinson, Brookline.