DIFFERENT MASTERS.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 December 1883, Page 7

DIFFERENT MASTERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREETHOUGHT REVIEW. Sir,Having read with much satisfaction, the " Gems," in your Journal a few extracts occasionally may, perhaps, prove acceptable. " What shall I do to obtain possession of Bhodi ?" (Knowledge of eternal truth) was the question asked of a Buddhist teacher. "Keep the commandents."—"What are they?"—"Thou shalt abstain from murder, theft, adultery, and lying," answered the master.—Pali version, translated by Burnouf. "Good master, what [shall I do, that I may have eternal life ? " a man asks of Jesus. " Keep the commandments."—" Which ? " Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not bear false witness," etc.— Matthew, xix, 18. When told that "Jesus Christ is our Redeemer " ! I simply ask but when cometh the redemption ? Would not living up to these Divine injunctions exalt and purify humanity ? Are they more Divine, when uttered by one person than another? If it is god-like to return good for evil, is the precept less important if uttered by an Indian philosopher, than given by the gentle Nazarine ? Proof is being afforded that the Golden Rule was not original with Jesus, —that its birth-place was India, "the head-quarters of Heathendom," as our Christian preachers would try to convince us. The benighted Hindoos, taught the precept, " return good for evil," thousands of years before the advent of Christbefore Jehovah's command " An eye for an eye " and " a tooth for a tooth," I am, &c., J. C. Wilkes. Auckland.