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194
MÌMĀMSAKAS OBJECTIONS ANSWERED
(C) Some Other Objections Here I propose to discuss some other objections not in cluded in the previous ones, raised by the Mimāṁsaka: against the theory of omniscience.
The Mimāmsakas argue that, it is being claimed that there are many omniscient persons like Kapila, Kaņāda, Buddha Vardhamāna, etc., but since they impart mutually contradic tory instructions, we cannot single out any one as the only omniscient being because the grounds of reliability are of the same authority in each case. 80 The Buddhists' answer is not very convincing inasmuch as they introduce some metaphy şical considerations, which are disputable. To them, those who do pot believe in the doctrine of no-soul, cannot be omni: scient beings. 8! On this ground the claims of all philosophers other than Buddha are set aside. However, if other philosophers are accepted as holding the said opinion, they become different Buddhas. This does not completely answer the objection of the Mimāṁsakas : “If Buddha is omniscient person, then what is the proof for Kapila not teing so and if both are omniscient beings then how is that there is difference of opinion between them.”88
It might be urged on behalf of the Buddhists that some. times by just using that some words of a particular person are found to be true of facts, that it is inferred that his words relating to all other things also are true. This is incorrect. But the Mimāṁsakas may reply that in some matters like arithmetic, all beings-Jaina, Buddha and others--are found to be truthful; and no distinction is found among them, 89 hence, if they would have been omniscient beings, there would have been complete unanimity with regard to their instructions. Against this objection of the Mimārsakas, it might be urged that it is wrong to think a person who knows the letters of the alphabet only as conversant with the essence of all sciences,
86 Ibid., 3148. 88 Ibid., 3149-3150.
87 89
Ibid., 3325-3338. Ibid., 3150.
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