heir merits and causes him to
choose one and reject the other."

"Non-individuality is the general principle of
Buddhism."--Outlines of the Mah[=a]y[=a]na.

"It (Shint[=o]) was smothered before reaching maturity, but
Buddhism and Confucianism had to disguise and change in order to
enter Japan."

"Life has a limited span and naught may avail to extend it. This
is manifested by the impermanence of human beings. But yet
whenever necessary I will hereafter make my appearance from time
to time as a god, a sage, or a Buddha."--Last words of Shaka the
Buddha, in Japanese biography.

"It is our opinion that Buddhism cannot long hold its ground,
and that Christianity must finally prevail throughout all
Japan.... Now, when Buddhism and Christianity are in conflict
for the ascendency, this indifference of the Japanese people to
the difference of sects is a great disadvantage to Buddhism.
That they should worship Jesus Christ with the same mind as they
do _Inari_ or _Mi[=o]jin_ is not at all inconsistent in their
estimation or contrary to their custom."--Fukuzawa, of
T[=o]ki[=o].

"How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God,
follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."--Elijah.

"Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?"--Jesus.

"Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and
bitter?"--James.

"What concord hath Christ with Belial?"--Paul.

CHAPTER VII - RIY[=O]BU, OR MIXED BUDDHISM

Syncretism in Religion.

Two centuries and a half of Buddhism in Japan, showed the leaders and
teachers of the Indian faith that complete victory over the whole nation
was yet very far off. The court had indeed been invaded and won. Even
the Mikado, the ecclesiastical head of Shint[=o], and the incarnation
and vicar of the heavenly gods, had not only embraced Buddhism, but in
many instances had shorn the hair and taken the vows of the monk. Yet
the people clung tenaciously to their old traditions, customs and
worship; for their gods were like themselves and indeed were of
themselves, since Shint[=o] is only a transfiguration of Japanese life.
In the Japanese of those days we can trace the same traits which we
behold in the modern son of Nippon, especially his intense patriotism
and his warlike tendencies. To convert these people to the peaceful
dogmas of Siddartha and to make them good Buddhis