In Western tradition, omniscience (sarvajñāna), the knowledge of all things, has traditionally been attributed to divine capability. However, in Indian tradition, it has been regarded as an ideal and a reality that can be achieved by humans as well. This is particularly evident in religious traditions that pursue ultimate insight into the truth through practice and meditation, such as Buddhism and Jainism, where the spiritual leader is referred to as a sarvajña (one who knows all).
Nonetheless, within the Indian religious and philosophical traditions, the possibility of humans achieving omniscience has been criticized, and prolonged debate among various schools of thought.
In this workshop, we will examine and discuss the relevant sections of the “Pramāṇamīmāṃsā” to understand and explore how Jainism, as a representative religious practice, explains and argues for the possibility of human omniscience. This text, written by Hemacandra, a prominent Jain scholar of the 12th century and a member of the Śvetāmbara sect, is a comprehensive treatise that synthesizes issues in epistemological logic within the Jain tradition and contemporary rival schools. Through the discussion and arguments about the possibility of achieving omniscience contained within this work, we will gain insight into one aspect of the omniscience debate of that era.