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THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA.
IV,1, 27.
And why? Because of their being purified in every respect. This is the seventh class of minds.'
27. Now of these, o king, the last - the thinking powers of the omniscient Buddhas-altogether outclasses the other six, and is clear and active in its high quality that is beyond our ken. It is because the mind of the Blessed One is so clear and active that the Blessed One, great king, displays the double miracle. From that we may get to know, Oking, how clear and active His mental powers are. And for those wonders there is no further reason that can be alleged. (Yet) those wonders, O king, (caused by means of the mind (alone) of the omniscient Buddhas '] cannot be counted, or calculated, or divided, or separated, (For) the knowledge of the Blessed One, O king, is dependent upon reflection, and it is on reflection that he knows whatever he wishes to know. (But) it is as when a man passes something he already has in one hand to the other, or utters a sound when his mouth is open, or swallows some food that he has already in his mouth, or opens his eyes when they are shut, or shuts them when open, or stretches forth his arm when it is bent in, or bends it in when stretched outmore rapid than that, great king, and more easy in its action, is the all-embracing knowledge of the Blessed One, more rapid than that his reflection. And although it is by reflection that they know whatever they want to know, yet even when they
There is surely something wrong here; either in the Pâli, or in my interpretation of it, which follows the Simhalese (p. 130).
* Here the opening argument of $17 is again taken up.
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