Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c14.5

c14.5

(715) The fact that the Buddha claimed to be 'one of those' (tesāham asmi, *v. supra*, 249) recluses and brahmins, who had a 'personal higher knowledge' (sāmaṃ yeva ... abhiññāya, *loc cit*) of a doctrine not found among 'doctrines traditionally handed down' (pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu, *loc. cit.*) is clear evidence that the Buddha did not claim or consider himself to have an unique way of knowing denied to others. It ranks him in his own estimate as a member of a class of recluses and brahmins, who claimed to have a personal and a 'higher knowledge' of doctrines not found in the various traditions. Who could these 'recluses and brahmins' be, in the light of our knowledge of the historical background? (*v.* Chs. I, II, III).