--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Hodge" <s.hodge@...> wrote:

>
> Dear Bhante Dhammanando,
>
> > the Sandaka Sutta ... discussion of sabba~n~nutaa in Pali

Buddhism.

> I am not sure how this gives much help with the question of a

Buddha's

> "omniscience". Could you indulge me and spell things out a bit ?
>
> > If anyone is interested in how this problem has been handled
> > in western thought, there are four fine articles ...
>
> Thank you for these interesting URLs -- lots of reading there.
>
> Best wishes,
> Stephen Hodge
>

Hello friends
theres an article here

http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha234.htm
(my only reserevation is that The Theory of Quantum Mechanics'
which seem to establish That
We perceive only our pre-conceived `givens'
is actually science,
although probably Different from the popular notion of it.)

I wish to thanks The Venerable Dhammanando
and hope The Venerable will not consider it improper
as I tried some answer too:

Free Will and Freedom
Lessons from the Sandaka Sutta (M.N. 67) – The discourse with
Sandaka

In the Discourse, The Venerable Ananda , probably as a response to
the Wanderer's lack of discipline, Explains about choices.
Eight major ways that negate the holy life:

Four kinds of `holy life without consolation'
Since the fruit of these practices are not different from lay life.
These ways may be accepted even in contemporary society
And probably reflect more on the long term karmic effects.

1 no reward for good deeds
2 no retribution for evil.
3 no merit, no purification possible, no cause, no effect.
4 The universe is determined, as shown in varied speculations about
the natural and the supernatural, no individuality or personal
development is possible, one's Kamma is utterly fixed and
unalterable.

All these ways are based on wrong view, which is wrong knowledge,
wrong assumptions about reality, hence, any application of choice
does not make any sense. And do not leave any meaning to a `free
choice'.

Further four ways that `a wise man would certainly not live the
holy life
Or will not attain', thereby.
The faults of this second group are more obvious, can be easily
noticed in casual
Encounter and easily rejected.
As `free choice', obviously, has to be an intelligent one as well.

1 abandonment, no understanding of cause and effect, one is driven
by destiny alone.
2 adherences to tradition, no freedom, as some ideas and observances
are right, some are wrong.
3 same, but based on logic, same results.
4 skeptic, a denial of any possibility of positive knowledge or
development.

Next, the Buddhist path is expounded, with its fruit and benefits.

The Dhamma leads one on' and that takes heart and faith.
Faith is caused by suffering (and/or the understanding of the first
noble truth)
`Dhukha pahoti Saddha' (UpanisaSutta)

`Self will' raises the question of a self,
`selfless ness' – `Anatta' as a fundamental `emptiness' -
No center, no possibility of control, no tenable position.

"Dhammata' is the natural way,
A different choice surely indicates a delusional mind.

`Freedom is a choiceless state' (J. Krishnamurth),

This point, which we try to investigate, is questioned further by
Sandaka.
In the form of three questions, all deeply concerning the subject of
free choice:

1 an arahat can never transgress,
And by interpretation,
The Five percepts, the primary `choice' of a Buddhist,
Are, then, simulations of the `Normal Mind'.

2 The second, by extension, is that an accomplished one
Knows a fact only when he puts his mind to it.
(a direct answer to the omnisience question, although only a variant
of an answer we allready had)

3 the third is about the `emancipators' – `Niyyaataaro'
The creation of Sankharas – mental determinations – is described as
"By oneself or influenced by others",
The inquiry, discipline and practice generate
.`KussalaDhammaa - Wholesome mind objects' as the cause of
liberation.

Metta
Jothiko

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters
compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson