History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c14.s5.40

c14.s5.40

The strange Bodhisatta Ājīvika to whom reference has already been made,⁵ may be such a solitary, although it seems more probable that he was not thought of as being in any way affiliated to the order of Gosāla. A more striking indication of the existence of such solitary ascetics is to be found in the *Sūtrakṛtāṅga*, in the course of the debate between Gosāla and Adda.⁶ Gosāla attacks Mahāvīra, who, he declares, was formerly a solitary ascetic (*egantacārī samaṇe*), but is now surrounded by disciples. One or other course must be wrong. To this Adda replies that there is no sin in preaching the *dhamma* to others.⁷ Gosāla then changes the subject and maintains that, according to his doctrine, there is no sin for the *egantacārī* in drinking cold water, eating seeds, accepting food specially prepared, or in women.⁸