[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951) › c22.2 # History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c22.2 History and Doctrines of the Ājīvikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c22.2 - **Language:** English ### [c22.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c22.2) The fundamental principle of Ājīvika philosophy was Fate, usually called \*Niyati\*. Buddhist and Jaina sources agree that Gosāla was a rigid determinist, who exalted \*Niyati\* to the status of the motive factor of the universe and the sole agent of all phenomenal change. This is quite clear in our \*locus classicus\*, the \*Sāmañña-phala Sutta\*.¹ Sin and suffering, attributed by other sects to the laws of \*karma\*, the result of evil committed in previous lives or in the present one, were declared by Gosāla to be without cause or basis,² other, presumably, than the force of destiny. Similarly, the escape from evil, the working off of accumulated evil \*karma\*, was likewise without cause or basis.³ - [Previous: c21.s3.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c21.s3.22) - [Next: c22.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c22.3) - [Up: c22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c22) ## Cites (1) - [Sāmaññaphalasutta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.2) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c22.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.basham-1951.c22.2) · Pramāṇa