DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.649#0072
GENERAL CHARACTER. 47
be almost at a loss how to understand the Mahayana
sacred books.
European orientalists use to apply to this third
system the name of Yogacharya; and if wo bear in mind,
that Yoga means in Sanskrit "abstract devotion, by
which supernatural faculties are acquired,"1 it becomes
evident that they were led to do' so by the conformity
of the name with the system to which they applied it.
But Wassiljew has clearly proved in his work, that
Yogacharya is but a branch of the Mahayana system,
and he therefore substituted the name of "Mysticism,"
which I have also adopted. This name was chosen
because this system places meditation, the recital of
certain prayers, and the practise of mystical rites above
the observance of precepts and even above moral
deportment.
Mysticism appears for the first time as a specific
system in the tenth century of our era; it is called in
the sacred books Dus kyi khorlo, in Sanskrit Kala Chakra,
"the circle of time."2 It is reported to have originated
in the fabulous country Sambhala (Tib. Dejung), "source
or origin of happiness." Csoma, from careful investigations,
places this country beyond the Sir Deriau (Yaxartes)
between 45° and 50° north latitude. It was first
known in India in the year 965 a.d.; and it was in-
1 Wilson, "Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms," see the article Yoga.
2 See Csoma, "On the origin of the Kala Chakra system," Journ. As. Soc.
Beng., Vol. II., p. 57. "Grammar," 192. "Analysis," As. Res., Vol. XX.,
pp. 488, 564. Compare also Burnouf, "Introduction," Section V. Hodgson,
"Notice on Buddhist Symbols," R. As. Soc, Vol. XVin., p. 397. Wilson,
"Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus," As. Res., Vol. XVn., p. 216-29.
be almost at a loss how to understand the Mahayana
sacred books.
European orientalists use to apply to this third
system the name of Yogacharya; and if wo bear in mind,
that Yoga means in Sanskrit "abstract devotion, by
which supernatural faculties are acquired,"1 it becomes
evident that they were led to do' so by the conformity
of the name with the system to which they applied it.
But Wassiljew has clearly proved in his work, that
Yogacharya is but a branch of the Mahayana system,
and he therefore substituted the name of "Mysticism,"
which I have also adopted. This name was chosen
because this system places meditation, the recital of
certain prayers, and the practise of mystical rites above
the observance of precepts and even above moral
deportment.
Mysticism appears for the first time as a specific
system in the tenth century of our era; it is called in
the sacred books Dus kyi khorlo, in Sanskrit Kala Chakra,
"the circle of time."2 It is reported to have originated
in the fabulous country Sambhala (Tib. Dejung), "source
or origin of happiness." Csoma, from careful investigations,
places this country beyond the Sir Deriau (Yaxartes)
between 45° and 50° north latitude. It was first
known in India in the year 965 a.d.; and it was in-
1 Wilson, "Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms," see the article Yoga.
2 See Csoma, "On the origin of the Kala Chakra system," Journ. As. Soc.
Beng., Vol. II., p. 57. "Grammar," 192. "Analysis," As. Res., Vol. XX.,
pp. 488, 564. Compare also Burnouf, "Introduction," Section V. Hodgson,
"Notice on Buddhist Symbols," R. As. Soc, Vol. XVin., p. 397. Wilson,
"Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus," As. Res., Vol. XVn., p. 216-29.