印度：其宗教与习俗
本译文由人工智能辅助工具生成，可能存在不准确之处。如需查阅权威文本，请参考英文原文。
AI-translated. May contain errors. For accurate text, refer to the original English.
中文
印度：其宗教与习俗
（《塞勒姆晚报》，1893年8月29日）
尽管昨日下午天气炎热，思想与工作俱乐部的众多成员及来宾仍聚集于卫斯理礼拜堂，与正在本国游历的印度僧侣辨喜相会，聆听这位先生关于印度教及其吠陀（Veda，又称Vedar）圣书所教导之宗教的非正式演讲。他还谈及种姓制度，认为那不过是一种社会划分，与宗教毫无关系。
演讲着重阐述了绝大多数民众的贫困状况。印度面积远小于美国，却有二十三亿（原文如此）人口，其中三亿（原文如此）人的月工资平均不足五十美分。在某些地区，整个地区的人们数月乃至数年间，仅靠某种树所产的花朵为生，这些花朵经煮熟后可以食用。
在其他地区，男性只吃米饭，而妇女和儿童则只能以煮饭的米汤充饥。稻米歉收意味着饥荒。半数人口每日只有一顿饭，另一半人口不知下顿饭从何而来。据辨喜所言，印度人民的需要不是更多的宗教，也不是更好的宗教，而是他所说的"实用性"；正是出于希望让美国人民关注这数以百万计的受难饥民之迫切需要，他才来到这个国家。
他详细讲述了他的人民的状况及其宗教。演讲过程中，他频繁而深入地接受了F·A·加德纳医生和中央浸礼会教堂S·F·诺布斯牧师的提问。他说，传教士们在那里有很好的理论，起初也怀抱着良好的理念，但对于人民的工业状况毫无建树。他说，美国人与其向外派遣传教士来训练他们的宗教信仰，不如派人去给予他们工业教育。
当被问及基督徒在印度遭遇苦难时是否援助民众，以及他们是否通过建立学校以实际方式给予帮助时，演讲者答称他们有时会这样做，但这并不能真正说明他们的功劳，因为法律不允许他们在那种时刻尝试影响人们。
他解释印度妇女不幸处境的理由，是因为印度男性对妇女如此尊重，以至于认为最好不让她们外出。印度妇女受到如此崇高的敬重，以至于被置于幽居之中。他解释女性在丈夫死后被焚烧的古老习俗，理由是她们对丈夫如此深爱，以至于无法独活。他们在婚姻中是一体的，在死亡中也必须是一体的。
他被问及偶像崇拜以及在朱格纳特神车前俯首自尽的问题，他说，不能将此归咎于印度教人民，因为这是狂热分子所为，且大多是麻风病患者。
演讲者解释说，他在其国家的使命是为工业目的而组织僧侣，使他们能够向人民传授工业教育的益处，从而提升并改善他们的处境。
今日下午，辨喜将向任何有意倾听的儿童或青少年讲述印度儿童的故事，地点在北街166号，蒙伍德夫人慷慨提供其花园作为场所。他本人相貌堂堂，肤色深沉而容颜俊朗，身着一件腰间束有绳索的黄红色长袍，头戴黄色缠头巾。他是一位僧侣，因此没有种姓，可以与任何人共同饮食。
* * *
（《每日公报》，1893年8月29日）
印度拉吉·斯瓦米·维维·拉南达昨日下午在卫斯理教堂，作为思想与工作俱乐部的贵宾出席。
大批男女宾客以美国式握手方式与这位杰出的僧侣打招呼。他身着橘色长袍，系红色腰带，头戴黄色缠头巾，巾端垂于一侧，用作手帕，脚穿松紧皮鞋。
他详细讲述了他的人民的状况及其宗教。演讲过程中，他频繁而深入地接受了F·A·加德纳医生和中央浸礼会教堂S·F·诺布斯牧师的提问。他说，传教士们在那里有很好的理论，起初也怀抱着良好的理念，但对于人民的工业状况毫无建树。他说，美国人与其向外派遣传教士来训练他们的宗教信仰，不如派人去给予他们工业教育。
在较为详细地谈论男女关系时，他说，印度的丈夫从不撒谎，也从不迫害他人，并例举了他们从未犯下的其他几种罪过。
当被问及基督徒在印度遭遇苦难时是否援助民众，以及他们是否通过建立学校以实际方式给予帮助时，演讲者答称他们有时会这样做，但这并不能真正说明他们的功劳，因为法律不允许他们在那种时刻尝试影响人们。
他解释印度妇女不幸处境的理由，是因为印度男性对妇女如此尊重，以至于认为最好不让她们外出。印度妇女受到如此崇高的敬重，以至于被置于幽居之中。他解释女性在丈夫死后被焚烧的古老习俗，理由是她们对丈夫如此深爱，以至于无法独活。他们在婚姻中是一体的，在死亡中也必须是一体的。
他被问及偶像崇拜以及在朱格纳特神车前俯首自尽的问题，他说，不能将此归咎于印度教人民，因为这是狂热分子所为，且大多是麻风病患者。
关于偶像崇拜，他说，他曾问基督徒在祈祷时心里想着什么，有些人说想着教堂，另一些人说想着"G-O-D"。而他的人民则想着神像。对于穷苦人来说，神像是必要的。他说，在古代，当他们的宗教初兴之时，女性以精神天才与强大的意志力而著称。尽管如此，他似乎也承认，今日的妇女已然退化。她们除了饮食、闲谈与八卦，别无所念。
演讲者解释说，他在其国家的使命是为工业目的而组织僧侣，使他们能够向人民传授工业教育的益处，从而提升并改善他们的处境。
* * *
（《塞勒姆晚报》，1893年9月1日）
这位来自印度的博学僧侣在本城度过了数日，将于周日晚上七时三十分在东教堂发表演讲。斯瓦米（牧师）辨喜上周日晚间应牧师之邀及哈佛大学赖特教授之请，在安尼斯夸姆的圣公会教堂布道；赖特教授对他关怀备至。
周一晚他将前往萨拉托加，在那里向社会科学协会发表演讲。此后他将在芝加哥国会前发表讲演。与所有在印度高等大学受过教育的人一样，辨喜操一口流利而准确的英语。他上周二向孩子们娓娓讲述印度儿童的游戏、学校、习俗与礼仪，内容宝贵而极具趣味。一位小女孩说她的老师"把她打得那么厉害，差点折断手指"，这触动了他善良的内心。……辨喜如同所有僧侣一样，必须游历四方，宣扬真理、贞操与人类博爱的宗教，因而任何伟大的善行皆逃不过他的眼睛，任何可怕的恶行也不会从他眼前溜走。他对其他信仰的人极为慷慨宽容，对那些与他见解相异者，只有善意之言。
* * *
（《每日公报》，1893年9月5日）
拉吉·斯瓦米·维维·拉南达于周日晚间在东教堂就印度宗教及其母国贫困问题发表演讲。聚集了颇多听众，但规模不及主题之重要性或演讲者之精彩所应得到的那般盛大。这位僧侣身着本国服装，发表了约四十分钟的演讲。他说，当今印度——已非五十年前的印度——真正需要的，是在工业与社会层面教育人民的传教士，而非宗教层面的传教士。印度教徒已拥有他们所需的一切宗教，而印度教是世界上最古老的宗教。这位僧侣是一位极为令人愉快的演讲者，牢牢地吸引住了听众的注意力。
* * *
（《萨拉托加每日报》，1893年9月6日）
……其次，台上由辨喜发言，他是来自印度斯坦马德拉斯的一位僧侣，曾在印度各地传道。他关注社会科学，是一位睿智而极具趣味的演讲者。他就莫卧儿在印度的统治发表讲演。
今日的节目涵盖了若干极富趣味的议题，尤其是哈特福德雅各布·格林上校的论文《双本位制》。辨喜还将再度发言，这次是关于银在印度的使用。
注释
English
INDIA: HER RELIGION AND CUSTOMS
(Salem Evening News, August 29, 1893)
In spite of the warm weather of yesterday afternoon, a goodly number of members of the Thought and Work club, with guests, gathered in Wesley chapel to meet Swami Vive Kanonda, a Hindoo monk, now travelling in this country, and to listen to an informal address from that gentleman, principally upon the religion of the Hindoos as taught by their Vedar or sacred books. He also spoke of caste, as simply a social division and in no way dependent upon their religion.
The poverty of the majority of the masses was strongly dwelt upon. India with an area much smaller than the United States, contains twenty three hundred millions [sic] of people, and of these, three hundred millions [sic] earn wages, averaging less than fifty cents per month. In some instances the people in whole districts of the country subsist for months and even years, wholly upon flowers , produced by a certain tree which when boiled are edible.
In other districts the men eat rice only, the women and children must satisfy their hunger with the water in which the rice is cooked. A failure of the rice crop means famine. Half the people live upon one meal a day, the other half know not whence the next meal will come. According to Swami Vive Kyonda, the need of the people of India is not more religion, or a better one, but as he expresses it, "practicality", and it is with the hope of interesting the American people in this great need of the suffering, starving millions that he has come to this country.
He spoke at some length of the condition of his people and their religion. In course of his speech he was frequently and closely questioned by Dr. F. A. Gardner and Rev. S. F. Nobbs of the Central Baptist Church. He said the missionaries had fine theories there and started in with good ideas, but had done nothing for the industrial condition of the people. He said Americans, instead of sending out missionaries to train them in religion, would better send some one out to give them industrial education.
Asked whether it was not a fact that Christians assisted the people of India in times of distress, and whether they did not assist in a practical way by training schools, the speaker replied that they did it sometimes, but really it was not to their credit for the law did not allow them to attempt to influence people at such times.
He explained the bad condition of woman in India on the ground that Hindoo men had such respect for woman that it was thought best not to allow her out. The Hindoo women were held in such high esteem that they were kept in seclusion. He explained the old custom of women being burned on the death of their husbands, on the ground that they loved them so that they could not live without the husband. They were one in marriage and must be one in death.
He was asked about the worship of idols and the throwing themselves in front of the juggernaut car, and said one must not blame the Hindoo people for the car business, for it was the act of fanatics and mostly of lepers.
The speaker explained his mission in his country to be to organize monks for industrial purposes, that they might give the people the benefit of this industrial education and thus elevate them and improve their condition.
This afternoon Vive Kanonda will speak on the children of India to any children or young people who may be pleased to listen to him at 166 North street, Mrs. Woods kindly offering her garden for that purpose. In person he is a fine looking man, dark but comely, dressed in a long robe of a yellowish red colour confined at the waist with a cord, and wearing on his head a yellow turban. Being a monk he has no caste, and may eat and drink with anyone.
* * *
(Daily Gazette, August 29, 1893)
Rajah Swami Vivi Rananda of India was the guest of the Thought and Work Club of Salem yesterday afternoon in the Wesley church.
A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present and shook hands, American fashion, with the distinguished monk. He wore an orange colored gown, with red sash, yellow turban, with the end hanging down on one side, which he used for a handkerchief, and congress shoes.
He spoke at some length of the condition of his people and their religion. In course of his speech he was frequently and closely questioned by Dr. F. A. Gardner and Rev. S. F. Nobbs of the Central Baptist church. He said the missionaries had fine theories there and started in with good ideas, but had done nothing for the industrial condition of the people. He said Americans, instead of sending out missionaries to train them in religion, would better send someone out to give them industrial education.
Speaking at some length of the relations of men and women, he said the husbands of India never lied and never persecuted, and named several other sins they never committed.
Asked whether it was not a fact that Christians assisted the people of India in times of distress, and whether they did not assist in a practical way by training schools, the speaker replied that they did it sometimes, but really it was not to their credit, for the law did not allow them to attempt to influence people at such times.
He explained the bad condition of women in India on the ground that Hindoo men had such respect for woman that it was thought best not to allow her out. The Hindoo women were held in such high esteem that they were kept in seclusion. He explained the old custom of women being burned on the death of their husbands, on the ground that they loved them so that they could not live without the husband. They were one in marriage and must be one in death.
He was asked about the worship of idols and the throwing themselves in front of the juggernaut car, and said one must not blame the Hindoo people for the car business, for it was the act of fanatics and mostly of lepers.
As for the worship of idols he said he had asked Christians what they thought of when they prayed, and some said they thought of the church, others of G-O-D. Now his people thought of the images. For the poor people idols were necessary. He said that in ancient times, when their religion first began, women were distinguished for spiritual genius and great strength of mind. In spite of this, as he seemed to acknowledge, the women of the present day had degenerated. They thought of nothing but eating and drinking, gossip and scandal.
The speaker explained his mission in his country to be to organize monks for industrial purposes, that they might give the people the benefit of this industrial education and thus to elevate them and improve their condition.
* * *
(Salem Evening News, September 1, 1893)
The learned Monk from India who is spending a few days in this city, will speak in the East Church Sunday evening at 7-30. Swami (Rev.) Viva Kananda preached in the Episcopal church at Annisquam last Sunday evening, by invitation of the pastor and Professor Wright of Harvard, who has shown him great kindness.
On Monday night he leaves for Saratoga, where he will address the Social Science association. Later on he will speak before the Congress in Chicago. Like all men who are educated in the higher Universities of India, Viva Kananda speaks English easily and correctly. His simple talk to the children on Tuesday last concerning the games, schools, customs and manners of children in India was valuable and most interesting. His kind heart was touched by the statement of a little miss that her teacher had "licked her so hard that she almost broke her finger". . . . As Viva Kananda, like all monks, must travel over his land preaching the religion of truth, chastity and the brotherhood of man, no great good could pass unnoticed, or terrible wrong escape his eyes. He is extremely generous to all persons of other faiths, and has only kind words for those who differ from him.
* * *
(Daily Gazette, September 5, 1893)
Rajah Swami Vivi Rananda of India spoke at the East church Sunday evening, on the religion of India and the poor of his native land. A good audience assembled but it was not so large as the importance of the subject or the interesting speaker deserved. The monk was dressed in his native costume and spoke about forty minutes The great need of India today, which is not the India of fifty years ago, is, he said, missionaries to educate the people industrially and socially and not religiously. The Hindoos have all the religion they want, and the Hindoo religion is the most ancient in the world. The monk is a very pleasant speaker and held the dose attention of his audience.
* * *
(Daily Saratoga, September 6, 1893)
. . . The platform was next occupied by Vive Kananda, a Monk of Madras, Hindoostan, who preached throughout India. He is interested in social science and is an intelligent and interesting speaker. He spoke on Mohammedan rule in India.
The program for today embraces some very interesting topics, especially the paper on "Bimetallism", by Col. Jacob Greene of Hartford. Vive Kananda will again speak, this time on the Use of Silver in India.
Notes
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。