Praṇidhijñāna

praṇidhi-jñāna (T. smon nas mkhyen pa). Translated as "knowledge from aspiration", "wisdom that arises through deliberate attention", "intentional knowing", etc. One of the twenty-one sets of undefiled qualities. This term has two aspects: 1) finding the answers to questions by entering into samadhi; 2) knowing the answers to whatever questions others may ask.

The Treasury of Precious Qualities states:

When Shravakas desire to know something, they focus their minds on it and enter the fourth samadhi, and subsequently they understand. A Buddha’s knowledge is different and has five special features. First, Buddhas know spontaneously and without effort. Second, they are free of the emotional veil, and thus they know without attachment. Third, they are free of the cognitive veil, and thus they know without impediment. Fourth, they know everything uninterruptedly and all the time. Fifth, they are able to answer simultaneously all the questions of every being in the three realms, even though they are all asked at the same moment and in different languages.

The Khenjuk states:

...intentional knowing concerns hidden objects of investigation as well as the answers to whatever questions others may ask.

Shravakas can perceive such things after wishing: "May I know this!" and then composing themselves in dhyana as, for example, Maudgaliputra did when explaining the royal history of the Shakyas. Shravakas can perceive any appropriate topic but not places, times and forms that are extremely distant.

The Buddha's intentional perception surpasses that of the shravakas because it is spontaneously and effortlessly accomplished; because it perceives all knowables unobstructedly; because, since he constantly abides in composure, it transcends perceiving when in composure and not perceiving when not in composure, and because he gives a satisfying answer to every possible question raised by sentient beings.

Alternative translations

• "knowledge from aspiration",
• "wisdom that arises through deliberate attention",
• "intentional knowing",
• "perceiving as wished,"
• etc.

Sources

• Jigme Lingpa; Kangyur Rinpoche (2010), Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book One, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Boston: Shambhala Publications 
• Mipham Rinpoche (2002), Gateway to Knowledge, vol. III, translated by Kunsang, Erik Pema, Rangjung Yeshe Publications