Jainism Christianity and Science

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: The Indian Press Allahabad

Page 51

KNOWLEDGE
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to them; and some predict by means of having fowls, and some by having sacrifices, and others by having many various matters submitted to them; yet these are not prophets."-(Clementine Homilies) A.N.C.L. vol. svi p. 61.
"... But the foreknowledge of the one trne Prophet does not only know things present, but stretches out prophecy without limit as far as the world to come, and needs nothing for its interpretation, not prophesying darkly and ambiguously, so that the things spoken would need another prophet for the interpretation of them; but clearly and simply, as our Master and Prophet, by the inborn and ever-flowing Spirit, always knew all things."-Ibid. pp. 61
62.
" But our Master did not prophesy after this fashion; but, as I have already said, being a prophet by an inborn and ever-flowing Spirit, and knowing all things at all times, He confidently set forth, plainly as I said before, sufferings, places, appointed times, manners, limits."-A.N C.L. vol. xvii. p. 63.
"Wherefore He confidently made statements respecting things that are to be I mean sufferings, places, limits. For, being a faultless Prophet, and looking upon all things with the boundless eye of His soul, He knows hidden things. But if we should bola, as many do, that even the true Prophet, not always, but sometimes, when He has the Spirit, and through it, foreknows, but when He has it not is ignorant,-if we should suppose thus, wo should deceive ourselves and mislead others. For such a matter belongs to those who are madly inspired by the spirit of disorder ..."-(Clementine Homilies) A.N.C.L. vol. xvii. p. 62.
It is interesting to note that a claim was actually made about Buddha that his omniscience was not continuous, and depended upon reflection, as will be evident from the following from the book entitled the “ Milinda-Pañha” (Questions of King Milinda):
"'Venerable Năgasena, was the Buddha omniscient?' 'Yes, O king, he was. But the insight of knowledge was not always and continuously consciously) present with him. The omniscience of the Blessed One was dependent on reflection. But if he did reflect, he