Hello everyone,
Can someone tell me how omniscience works. At the moment of attaining it, do you know about all the secrets of the universe such as dark matter, black hole?
Does attaining omniscience mean you know all there is to know?
“Sir, I have heard this: ‘The ascetic Gotama claims to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception, thus: “Knowledge and vision are constantly and continually present to me, while walking, standing, sleeping, and waking.”’ I trust that those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”
“Vaccha, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.”
“So how should we answer so as to repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? How should we explain in line with his teaching, with no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”
“‘The ascetic Gotama has the three knowledges.’ Answering like this you would repeat what I have said, and not misrepresent me with an untruth. You would explain in line with my teaching, and there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism.
https://suttacentral.net/mil5.1.2/en/tw_rhysdavids?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false
1 Like
Thank you for answering, Venerable Sir. This is interesting.
I also found this sutta
Then the king said to the Buddha, “I have heard, sir, that the ascetic Gotama says this: ‘There is no ascetic or brahmin who will ever claim to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception: that is not possible. Do those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”
“Great king, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.”
Then King Pasenadi addressed General Viḍūḍabha, “General, who introduced this topic of discussion to the royal compound?”
“It was Sañjaya, great king, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan.”
Then the king addressed a man, “Please, mister, in my name tell Sañjaya that King Pasenadi summons him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.
Then the king said to the Buddha, “Sir, might the Buddha have spoken in reference to one thing, but that person believed it was something else? How then do you recall making this statement?”
“Great king, I recall making this statement: ‘There is no ascetic or brahmin who will ever know all and see all simultaneously: that is not possible.’”
SuttaCentral