History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c11.s9.40

c11.s9.40

Turning to the Pāli scriptures we can find few references to the Ājīvika leader except in conjunction with the five other heretical teachers of the Buddhist canon. Two passages, however, make it clear that the Buddha knew of Makkhali Gosāla, and thought his doctrine exceedingly pernicious. In the *Aṅguttara Nikāya*⁵ he declares that Makkhali is a stupid man (*mogha-puriso*), and that he knows of no other person born to the detriment grief and disadvantage of so many people, or to such disadvantage and sorrow of gods and men. Makkhali is like a fisherman, casting his net at the mouth of a river, for the destruction of many fish.