The first of three lectures on Buddhism will be given tonight at 8 o'clock in the lecture room of the Fogg Art Museum by Professor Lanman. His subject will be "The Origin and the Literature of Buddhism.- The Buddha and the Buddha-Legend."

An abstract of this lecture, taken from the outline with bibliographical notes prepared by Professor Lanman, is here given:

Lecture I.

1. Origin of Buddhism.- Relation to antecedent Vedism and Brahmanism.- Relation to contemporaneous sects and philosophies (Sankhya, Vedanta, etc.).- Practical aspect and common purpose of all Indian speculation.- The personality of Gotama.

2. Sources of our knowledge of Buddhism.- Northern and Southern literature.- General characteristics. Language (Sanskrit, Pali). Style.- The Tipitaka ('Three Baskets'): its extent, divisions and contents: a, Vinaya-pitaka or Rules of the Order; b, Sutta-pitaka or Baskets of Discourses (Five Nikayas); c. Abhidhamma or Detailed Exposition of the Religion (Dhamma).- The Pali Text Society.- The King of Siam's edition.

3. The Buddha Legend.- Buddha as a sun-myth.- No "Life of Gotama." - "The Light of Asia."- Historical basis of the tradition.- The Bodhisat. Gotama's birth and youth.- His names.- Retirement from the world.- Attainment of illumination.- Life-work.- Death.

4. Lanteru-illustrations of scenes and places famous in Buddhist story. Sumedha. Maya's dream. The Bo-tree temple. The great reliquaries or stupas.