The History of Buddhist Thought c26.76

c26.76

Hodgson found four systems. The best known is that of Ādibuddha, which L. de la Vallée Poussin describes as "Buddhist in fact only in name and in so far as it employs Buddhist terminology". Even the Hinduism on which it rests is of a degraded type. "It is well known," says the same scholar, "that Hodgson had recourse for his information to native scholars, whom he ceremoniously styles 'living oracles', and who, in support of their statements supplied him with fragments of texts, which were not all authentic." When Hodgson's statements were challenged by Rémusat, he disclaimed any purpose "to meddle with the interminable sheer absurdities of the Bauddha philosophy or religion". It may be possible some day to give an accurate description of the Nepalese religion, as has been partially done by La Vallée Poussin,¹ but it will scarcely add another chapter to the history of Buddhism.