The Buddha as an Omniscient Religious Teacher

Abstract

<p>This dissertation provides a clear understanding of the Buddhist conception of human omniscience. The Buddhist philosouhers, Ṡāṅtaraksi and Kamalaśila hold that religion and philosophy should be based on the teachings of an omniscient person who in turn becomes a religious teacher.</p> <p>The Mīmāṁsakas raise many objections against the concept of human omniscience and establish the omniscience of the Vedas. (revealed literature).</p> <p>The Buddhists disprove the omniscience of the Vedas and God and hold that only a human being can become omniscient. They go further and dialectically establish on the basis of his teachings that only the Buddha, not the other religious teachers, is omniscient, because of his perfect enlightenment (Bodhi). Therefore, only the teachings of the Buddha are authority for religion.</p>