lecture iii. THE BUDDHIST THEORY OF KARMA. In the first Lecture we endeavoured to estimate the general position of Buddhism in the religious history, firstly of India, and secondly of the world at large. In the closing sentences stress was laid upon the fact that Buddhism was in a great degree the pouring of new wine into old bottles, and the disastrous effect of its method in this respect was touched upon. In no particular was this more the case than in its teaching about the belief, then an unquestioned and universal belief in India, of the transmigration of souls. This doctrine, as has been already pointed out, is entirely absent from the Vedas; and the question naturally arises, Where did it come from? Anthro- pologists seem to be of the opinion that it was world- wide in its distribution, and that it may be found everywhere in the lower stages of civilization. But they must admit that there is not the least evidence