An Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet - Prajna Quest

37 8 TIBET.position, we can only have recourse to fair conjecture, and tlierc isreason to hope that the natural revolution of human affairs, togetherwith the probable course of events, will conspiie to remove the obstructionsto a free intercourse between, the governments of Bengal andTibet, and to restore the advantages which Bengal has lost. In theexpectation of such an event, our best jeliance is not merely on thefriendly disposition of the present government of Teshoo Loomboo,butalso on the superstitious doctrines of the Tibet faith;which, whilst itimmortalizes the soul of the Lama upon earth, and admits its transmigrationfrom one corporeal tenement to another^ imtil the end of time,perpetuates also its dispositions and its prejudices. The usual proofof the identity of a regenerated Lama, isan early recognition of thepossessions, acquaintances, and transactions of his pre-existence. Iam therefore of opinion, that the new Lama will be taught to recur tothe connections of the former Teshoo Lama, as one of the strongestmarks that can denote his identity, and facilitate his acceptation.And here I ground my hope on presumptions built upon the tenetsof their faith, which is the basis on which their government itself isconstructed.Were they to adopt a different conduct, they would necessarilyabandon the most sacred and immutable positions of theirreligion, and expose it to every degrading imputation, which is calculatedto rob it of its honours, and lay it open to the reproach, or derision,attendant on detected imposition.During my residence in Tibet it was an object I had much at heartto obtain an interview with the infant Teshoo Lama. But in the Emyerorof China's command, requiring his guardians to keep him .inthe