The expression and
the pose of the figure differ from the conventional Buddha. You
might not see that, but to any one familiar with this religion
these differences are marked. This is a monastery image, and you
will see that it is cast, not graven."
He beckoned me to come closer, and I rose and stood beside him.
He went on as with a lecture:
"The reason given by the natives why this image is not found in
Southern Asia is that it cannot be cast anywhere but in the
Tibetan monasteries. A certain ritual at the time of casting is
necessary to produce a perfect figure. This ritual is a secret
of the Khan monasteries. Castings of this form of image made
without the ritual are always defective; so I was told in India."
He moved the glass box a little closer to the edge of the
mantelpiece.
"Naturally," he went on, "I considered this story, to be a mere
piece of religious pretension. It amused me to make some
experiments, and to my surprise the castings were always
defective. I brought the image to England."
He shrugged his shoulders as with a careless gesture.
"In my idle time here I tried it again.
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