From the FOREWORD. Mk. B. C. Law, author of the following monographs, has shown me much kindness in asking me to write a few words as to what I think of his writings. Mr. Law, who is already well known to us, needs no introduction. He is a devoted student of Buddhism and Buddhist Literature. Most of the monographs included in this book are reprints of articles contributed to the Journals and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. These will go at once to show that Mr. Law's researches have been confined to Buddhist ...
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From the FOREWORD. Mk. B. C. Law, author of the following monographs, has shown me much kindness in asking me to write a few words as to what I think of his writings. Mr. Law, who is already well known to us, needs no introduction. He is a devoted student of Buddhism and Buddhist Literature. Most of the monographs included in this book are reprints of articles contributed to the Journals and Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. These will go at once to show that Mr. Law's researches have been confined to Buddhist literature, particularly that in Pali, and that his is mostly a compilation work. However thankless such a task may appear to the general reader, it has an immense value as supplying materials for Indian history, and to me, at least, it is of paramount importance. Though people talk glibly about ancient Indian history, it is those actually working in the field who can realise how uncertain the data are and how scanty the materials which have hitherto been collected. We are not to remain idle under the impression that there is no further need for the work of collection and compilation, nor should we belittle the importance of the works of those like Mr. Law, who have honestly and assiduously been labouring hard to bring together and publish the references from a particular literature bearing upon a particular topic. I am far from saying that Mr. Law is the first to find out all the references noticed in his monographs and none need be surprised that on certain points our views concur as we worked together for some time and were interested in the same subject. But I must draw attention to his list of wandering teachers of Buddha's time which has a very important tale to tell. We have so long been under the belief that there were no other wise men in ancient India than the originators of what we used to call the six schools of Hindu Philosophy. Mr. Law's list of wandering teachers will serve to disillusionize many, and convince them that there were not six but sixty powerful schools of thought in existence in Buddha's time and mentioned in Buddhist literature. His monograph on 'Buddhaghosa and his commentaries' is a well thought-out essay and I hope he will gradually develop it into a larger treatise. His other essays are also interesting and well written. I understand that Mr. Law has taken care to revise his monographs and verify the references.
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