The Four Noble Truths
It is not until the middle years of the century that the Four Noble Truths are itemized
and not until the last 30 years that they are privileged. In the early years there
are only hints of their existence. Upham, for instance, drawing from Burmese
sources, claims that the Buddha knew 'Four Laws or Sizza' but does not explain
them. And Davy declares that eternal kansmigrations 'with the certainty of a very
large proportion of pain and misery' (Davy 1821: 180) might be a greater evil
than annihilation. Both also speak about 'subduing the passions''
Within the middle years, only Spence Hardy and Gogerly, of my writers, mention
the Truths specifically. Others such as Knighton and Sirr, as in the early
years, simply include aspects of their content such as Buddhism's emphasis on the
pain of existence and the necessity to cultivate detachment.
In Gogerly’ S writing, the Truths first appear in 1839 but the explanation
of them is relegated to a footnote. They are mentioned again in 1845 but not
until 1861 are they in any way privileged. This sidelining is also seen in
Spence Hardy's early publications. In his later writings, however, he appropriates
Gogerly's 1839 interpretation and gives them greater centrality. This then
becomes the standard viewpoint of the missionaries.
It is after 1870 that the Truths move towards centre stage with polarized interpretations,
positive and negative. In these decades, they become the touchstone
from which the whole of Buddhism is judged.