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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 27

A quality that is regularly applied to the Buddha in Sincere Buddhists regularly take the Three Refuges,
later texts is omniscience (sabbaññuta) even though one of which is refuge in the Buddha. The more we
it is not one of the 9 qualities usually attributed to know about the Buddha, the closer we can get to him.
the Buddha. In your research on the early scriptures, This closeness can, I believe, strengthen and deepen
what is meant by the Buddha is omniscient? our going for Refuge and I hope my book can facilitate
this. Also, one of the meditations the Buddha taught
Good question! Firstly, let me say that the Buddha was Buddhānussati, reflecting on the Buddha, on his
denied that anyone could have an omniscient kindness, his concern for his disciples’ welfare, his
knowledge or that he was omniscient, although some profound wisdom, even his common sense. All these
later Buddhist traditions claimed he was. In one virtues can be objects of reflection and again, the bulk of
particular sutta the Buddha explained he meant by “all my book is about exactly such details. It seems everyone
knowing.” He said that everything we know, i.e. the “all”, nowadays is only interested in Vipassanā meditation
we know through our senses – through seeing, hearing, which is by no means a bad thing, but I think it’s a pity
smelling, etc. - and he knew everything about that. that other meditations, such as Buddhānussati, are
Throughout the Pāli Tipiṭaka the Buddha is depicted as given so little attention. So I also hope my book will
asking questions such as “Where is Ānanda?” which is inspire readers to sometimes reflect on the Buddha’s
pretty basic evidence that he was not omniscient. An spiritual greatness.
excellent examination of this issue can be found in K. N.
Jayatilleke’s Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, pages There is a growing feeling amongst some scholars that
376-380. the old idea that “we can say nothing for certain about
the Buddha” needs to be reassessed. These two articles
The Buddha has always been depicted as an extra are examples of this.
ordinary being. After his enlightenment are there
records which show that he was also capable of Bryan Geoffrey Levman, The Historical Buddha:
making mistakes? Response to Drewes’, Canadian Journal of Buddhist

Studies, No.14, 2019.
Well, there is one rather important one. Once the Buddha
taught a group of monks the meditation of the unpleasant Alexander Wynne, Did the Buddha Exist?’, Journal of the
aspects of the body, meant to cool sexual passions, and Oxford Centre of Buddhist Studies, Vol.16, 2019.
then went on a long retreat. While he was away, some of
these monks became so disgusted with their body that Again the old idea that “we don’t know what language
they killed themselves. So this would be an example of the Buddha spoke is being challenged too. All these
him making a mistake, a big mistake, and of him seriously articles are on line. I hope your readers would have the
misjudging the situation, and thus not omniscient. I think time to read them.
this story is a very important one. It doesn’t show the
Buddha in the best light so you’d expect the elder monks Bryan Geoffrey Levman, Pāli, the Language, Cambridge
who remembered and preserved the suttas to keep silent Scholars Publishing: UK, 2020.
on this incident. But they didn’t; they included it in the
Pāli Tipiṭaka. I think this is evidence that the Tipiṭaka is Stefan Karpin, ‘The Buddha Taught in Pali: A Working
an accurate account of the Buddha’s life. Hypothesis’, Journal of the Oxford Centre of Buddhist
Studies, 2019 Karplin, 2020.
What is the most important message you would
want readers to get out of reading your latest book Richard Gombrich, Buddhism and Pali, Oxford Centre for
Footprints in the Dust? Buddhist Studies: UK, 2019. EH