Madame Blavatsky on the Sir Oracles of Oriental Religions, who claim papal authority over Buddhist Doctrine

Book excerpt: Western Orientalists keep claiming papal authority over of Buddhist doctrines. Here are four quick and easy steps on how anyone can become an authority on Buddhism. The “authority” is ready and ignorant Mrs. Grundy, “soft on whose lap her laureate sons recline,” will crown the new Pope, and force him upon the acceptance of the ignorant public. For example, a squib review of Sinnett’s “Esoteric Buddhism” called “The Cosmogony of an Artificial Fifth Rounder,” is no review but a totally meaningless ex-cathedra chaff. The witty criticaster reminds us of that naive witness, a tailor, who claimed better acquaintance with the defendant’s murdered father than his son, on the ground that the old coat and hat of the victim had been made and bought at his establishment. Between the diametrically opposed views of Mr. Lillie’s “Buddha and Early Buddhism,” and Mr. Rhys-Davids’ “Buddhism,” “M.A., Oxon.” shows no preference. Both are good as weapons against the Theosophists.