ir, where else did it spread besides to China?_

A. To Nepal and Tibet.

312. Q. Why is it that Buddhism, which was once the prevailing
religion throughout India, is now almost extinct there?

A. Buddhism was at first pure and noble, the very teaching of the
Tathagata; its Sangha were virtuous and observed the Precepts; it won
all hearts and spread joy through many nations, as the morning light
sends life through the flowers. But after some centuries, bad Bhikkhus
got ordination (_Upasampada_) the Sangha became rich, lazy, and
sensual, the Dharma was corrupted, and the Indian nation abandoned it.

313. Q. _Did anything happen about the ninth or tenth century A.D. to
hasten its downfall?_

A. Yes.

314. Q. _Anything besides the decay of spirituality, the corruption
of the Sangha, and the reaction of the populace from a higher ideal of
man to unintelligent idolatry?_

A. Yes. It is said that the Mussalmans invaded, overran and
conquered large areas of India; everywhere doing their utmost to stamp
out our religion.

315. Q. _What cruel acts are they charged with doing?_

A. They burnt, pulled down or otherwise destroyed our viharas,
slaughtered our Bhikkhus, and consumed with fire our religious books.

316. Q. _Was our literature completely destroyed in India?_

A. No. Many Bhikkhus fled across the borders into Tibet and other
safe places of refuge, carrying their books with them.

317. Q. _Have any traces of these books been recently discovered?_

A. Yes. Rai Bhadur Sarat Chandra Das, C.I.E., a noted Bengali
pandit, saw hundreds of them in the vihara libraries of Tibet,
brought copies of some of the most important back with him, and is now
employed by the Government of India in editing and publishing them.

318. Q. _In which country have we reason to believe the sacred books
of primitive Buddhism have been best preserved and least corrupted?_

A. Ceylon. The _Encyclopaedia Britannica_ says that in this island
Buddhism has, for specified reasons, "retained almost its pristine
purity to modern times".

319. Q. _Has any revision of the text of the Pitakas been made in
modern times?_

A. Yes. A careful revision of the Vinaya Pitaka was made in Ceylon
in the year A.D. 1875, by a convention of the most learned Bhikkhus,
under the presidency of H. Sumangala, Pradhana Sthavira.

320. Q. _Has there been any friendly intercourse in the interest of
Buddhism between the peoples o