________________
Direct Knowledge
379
virtues that a preacher requires. Such a preacher needs threc other things for complete cuocess in his mission. These are : (1) The saigrahavastus (means or items of sympathy or conversion ), (2) The pratisan vids funderstanding of all things) and (3) Dharanis ( protective spells ). He is immune to danger and diserase,
The omniscience is included in four pratisam vids; which the bodhisattva attaigs gradually as he rises in the higher stages. In the ninth, i. e. Sadhumats they are complete. We can bold it as the stage of omniscience.
The acceptance of omniscience in the case of Buddha raises one problem. The Buddhist regards all the conceptual knowledge as the result of passions or avidyā. When Buddha is free from avidyā he can no more have conceptual knowledge or the acts of preaching etc. This problem was solved by the conception of Apābhogacaryā; meaning that the Buddha does not desire to know or do anything. His acts for the salvation of beings are performed automatically. Even his sermops come out without any preconception Regarding conceptual knowledge also śānta Rakṣita holds that the teaching of past and future events is done only by yogins, who are not pure. Tathāgata does not possess the discursive knowledge, however, superior it may be. He is in a constant trance and is entirely free from avidyā. But, the old scriptures of Buddhism do not propose any such category of yogins except Bodhisattva, who possesses the knowledge of entire universe. Of course, in Abhidharmakosa and Vinayapitaka some supernatural powers are attributed to other aspirants also, but the knowledge of entire universe is confined to Buddha only. The conception of Anabhogacaryā bears striking resemblence with the Digambara conception of Tirtharkaras speaking automatically without any preconceived plan.
Tłus, according to Buddhism there are two types of transcendental knowledge, viz. prajñā and bodhi. Prajñā is the knowledge of four noble-truths, attained through concentration
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
