In our intercourse with Buddhist monks, we heard the rather engaging suggestion, that the familiar Christian phrase, “the law of the spirit of life,” contains a spiritual concept which appears to approximate closely to the idea of the “Law” of Buddha. Those monks seemed to believe that the “Law”[19] enters quietly and operates imperceptibly within every natural and spiritual sphere; and that they have at least a semblance of reason for their belief, the following exquisite lines clearly indicate:—
“This is its touch upon the blossomed rose,
The fashion of its hand shaped lotus-leaves.
“That is its painting on the glorious clouds,
And these its emeralds on the peacock’s train.
“Out of the dark it wrought the heart of man,
Out of dull shells the pheasant’s pencilled neck.
“It spreadeth forth for flight the eagle’s wings
What time she beareth home her prey.
“This is its work upon the things ye see