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APPENDIX III The Concept of Omniscience
In Buddhism
The Buddha is said to have declaimed omniscience in the sense of knowing everything at once and all the time as. claimed by Nataputtal, though he never denied the possessing of supernatural power. The Buddha himself said that he had a three-fold knowledge ( 11sso vijja ). He has remarked that "those who say that the Rucluse Gotama is omniscient and all-seeing and professes to have an infinite knowledge and insight, which is constantly and at all times present to him, when he walks or stands, sleeps or keeps away--are not reporting him properly and misrepresent him as claiming what is false and untrue." On being asked how he could be reported correctly in this matter, he replied “in proclaiming that the Recluse Gotama las a three-fold knowledge ( tisso vijjā 2. It is said therefore that whatever is well-spoken is the word of the Buddha (yam kiñci subhasitiin, tam tassa bhagauato racanan).3
The very familiar Abhiññā in Buddhist literature has an "older and wider meaning of special supernatureal power of a perception and knowledge to be acquired by training in life and thought. "It has been interpreted as the following six powers called Chalābhiññā attained by the Buddha :
(i) Iddhividha (psychokinesis). (ii) Dibbasotadhatu ( clairaudience ). (iii) Cetopariyañña ( telepathic knowledge ). (iv) Pubbenivāsanussatiñlāna (retrocognitive knowledge ). (v) Dibbackkhu ( clairvoyance ) also known as cutupa
pātañāna (D. i, 82 ) or knowledge of decease and survival of beings, and
