Venerable Upali followed Shakyamuni Buddha for his whole life. When Shakyamuni Buddha is still a prince, he was the barber of the princes in the palace. Then, he took refuge from Buddha at the same time with other princes. He is regarded as the foremost in upholding the precepts amongst the Buddha’s Ten Principal Disciples. Because Upali obeyed every precept which set by the Buddha and not violated at all.

Early summer after the death of Buddha, five hundred disciples gathered and held the first council of the order, Ananda recited the Dharma and Upali recited the rules of the precepts.

优波离尊者一生都跟着释迦牟尼佛的，在佛是太子的时候，尊者就来做佛的宫廷理发师；之后尊者和其他王子们一起随佛出家做佛的弟子。尊者在佛的弟子中是持戒最第一的，对佛所说的戒律丝毫都不犯的，对于戒律上最精严。

释迦牟尼佛入灭后的初夏，五百弟子在王舍城七叶窟举行结集，由阿难尊者先诵经，结集成经藏。由优波离尊者为律主来诵律，结集律藏。