the
world. It is like the shadow which always accompanies the body." Buddha
himself obtained all his elevation by means of the Karma obtained in
previous states. No one can obtain Karma or merit, but those who hear the
discourses of Buddha.

There has been much discussion among scholars concerning the true meaning
of Nirvana, the end of all Buddhist expectation. Is it annihilation? Or is
it absorption in God? The weight of authority, no doubt, is in favor of
the first view. Burnouf's conclusion is: "For Buddhist theists, it is the
absorption of the individual life in God; for atheists, absorption of this
individual life in the nothing. But for both, it is deliverance from all
evil, it is supreme affranchisement." In the opinion that it is
annihilation agree Max Muller, Tumour, Schmidt, and Hardy. And M.
Saint-Hilaire, while calling it "a hideous faith," nevertheless assigns it
to a third part of the human race.

But, on the other hand, scholars of the highest rank deny this view. In
particular, Bunsen (_Gott in der Geschichte_) calls attention to the fact
that, in the oldest monuments of this religion, the earliest Sutras,
Nirvana is spoken of as a condition attained in the present life. How then
can it mean annihilation? It is a state in which all desires cease, all
passions die. Bunsen believes that the Buddha never denied or questioned
God or immortality.

The following account of NIRVANA is taken from the Pali Sacred Books:--

"Again the king of Sagal said to Nagasena: 'Is the joy of Nirvana
unmixed, or is it associated with sorrow?' The priest replied that it
is unmixed satisfaction, entirely free from sorrow.

"Again the king of Sagal said to Nagasena: 'Is Nirvana in the east,
west, south, or north; above or below? Is there such a place as
Nirvana? If so, where is it?' Nagasena: 'Neither in the east, south,
west, nor north, neither in the sky above, nor in the earth below, nor
in any of the infinite sakwalas, is there such a place as Nirvana.'
Milinda: 'Then if Nirvana have no locality, there can be no such thing;
and when it is said that any one attains Nirvana, the declaration is
false.' Nagasena: 'There is no such place as Nirvana, and yet it
exists; the priest who seeks it in the right manner will attain it.'
'When Nirvana is attained, is there such a place?' Nagasena: 'When a
priest attains Nirvana there is such a place.' Milinda: 'Where is that
place?' Nag