History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c14.s1.4

c14.s1.4

As Charpentier recognized,³ Ājīvika ascetics are met in the Pāli scriptures at a time when Makkhali Gosāla cannot have commenced his ministry, if we accept the chronology suggested in a previous chapter.⁴ The most striking of these is Upaka the Ājīvika, who, as a symbol of benevolent incredulity, has found a small but significant place in the legends of Buddhism. Upaka is said to have encountered the Buddha on the road to Gayā, immediately after the latter’s enlightenment. He noticed the supernal calmness and peace in the bearing of the great teacher, and asked who he was, who was his instructor, and what were his doctrines. When the Buddha told Upaka of his enlightenment he merely said “It may be so, sir!” (*hupeyya āvuso*), and went on by another way. The historicity of this story is perhaps strengthened by the fact that it is mentioned no less than four [Figure: THE BUDDHA MEETS UPAKA THE ĀJĪVIKA. (From Krom, The Life of the Buddha on the Stūpa of Barabuḍur.)]