A Classification of Types: The Supreme, the Worldly-wise and the Beggar From Our Own Correspondent, Tachienlu, Sze., June 11.
The word Lama in the Tibetan language is a hyphenated term meaning "La," superior, and "Ma," the negative. The term therefore signifies that there is. nothing superior to the dark, red, yellow-robed figure who inhabits "The roof of the world." Literally the term means, "I am the highest and above me there is nothing higher." The word, however, is used in a very general sense for the Tibetan priest, the Lama of Lamaism, and covers practically all the orders in this mystic religion. The priest, monk, friar, mendicant, acolyte, an-diorite, are all within the pale Lamaism and are known by the name of Lama. Those who live on the inside of this mysterious land, however, make very sharp distinct. tions. The Lama, the superior individual, comes first; the Gelong, the beggar of virtue, comes next; the Draba, the scholar and disciple, follows the Gelong; and further down the scale comes the Dranbo, the sham beggar. Highest of course stands the Dalai-lama, the supreme religious head, and lowest sits the Ameho, the reader of sacred books, and between these two extremes there are various grades and shades, but all are covered by the term Lama.
Why a Lama? You can understand a man being a merchant or a journalist or a plumber, but why anyone should be a lama demands some very serious thinking. In the civil and domestic life of China there is room and time and place for the Buddhist and Taoist priest. We may call it ignorance, blindness, superstition, but the Chinese priest has his work to do. In Pootoo, Hangchow and other religious centres you may find the temples crowded with Buddhist prieste, but the number seldom exceeds 50 or 100 Here, on the Chinese border of Tibet, you will find Lamaseries containing 2,000 to 3,000 Lamas In there large temples in eastern Tibet, Litang, Gantee, and Derge, the number is not far short of 1,000. '"H. G." has accounted for many things, can he account for this? I have lived in the above three Lamaseries; heard the Lamas in their public worship; watched the Lamas in their private life; seen the Lamas enjoy their hours of recreation; talked with the Lamas about their hopes and ambitions; and I must honestly confess the Lama and Lamaism and Lamaseries are great mysteries. Colonal Waddell, in his masterly survey, has tried to ae-_ count for "The land of the e " as we see him here in Tachienlu or meet him throughout Eastern Tibet, is dressed in yellow, or red, or brown,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.