Dear Stephen,
op 31-05-2006 15:53 schreef Stephen Hodge op s.hodge@...:
In the discussion to which Robert kindly pointed me, Nina quoted the

> Patisambhidamagga Ch 72 (p. 131)...

> To come back to the issue which prompted this discussion, the question then
> is whether the traditional understanding of "omnscience" is mistaken or else
> do the teachings of the Buddha ever state or imply that choice in one's
> course of actions is illusory. I tend take the former view, though I might
> be wrong.

----
N: If we approach the problem with western logica we may keep on being
puzzled. Perhaps this quote can help:
we read VII, 32:
<Herein, the Blessed One's possession of clear vision consists in the
fulfilment of Omniscience (Ps. I, 131) , while his possession of conduct
consists in the fulfilment of the Great Compassion (Ps. 1, 126). He knows
through omniscience what is good and harmful for all beings, and through
compassion he warns them of harm and exhorts them to do good. >

He helps people to see the disadvantage of akusala and the benefit of
kusala. He had this in mind. We read that he surveyed the world with his
Buddha Eye to see whether someone's understanding was ripe so that he could
attain enlightenment. This does not mean that people are slaves of
predestination.
We have a superficial knowledge of people's inclinations and can predict
more or less how their reactions will be, even on a list like this. The
Buddha had an unobstructed knowledge of all such things.
We can also reduce the problem to: people act according to the conditions
that make them act, and where is the free will if whatever one does is
conditioned, as Jacques mentioned. With this approach the dilemma will not
be solved. One can reason on endlessly.
The more we study the teachings the more we become impressed by the Buddha's
wisdom. He found out all the different types of conditions that operate in
our life. All about cittas and cetasikas, and their intricate conditions,
the many ways they condiiton one another. All about ruupas. That is the
meaning of his omniscience. All that is formed, in other words, conditioned,
and unformed, in other words nibbaana. If we approach the question in this
way we shall have a little more understanding of what the Buddha's wisdom
is. We hear the word omniscience, but this may only be a word to us if we do
not develop understanding of what he taught.
Nina.