Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition

I. PROLOGUE
1. Theravada Buddhism: An Anthropological Problem 
Introduction 
The Problem: The Uniqueness of Buddhism 
The Problem Confounded: The Three Systems of Theravada Buddhism 
Field Work: The Burmese Setting 
Field Work: The Buddhist Setting 
Field Work: The Research Problems and the Data 
Some Problems in Interpretation 

II. BUDDHISM AS AN IDEOLOGICAL SYSTEM
2. Nibbanic Buddhism: A Religion of Radical Salvation 
The Founder: The Buddha 
The Promise: Deliverance from Suffering 
The Technique: The Buddhist Path 
The Goal: Nirvana 
The Personal Ideal: The Arahant 
The Social Ideal: World Renunciation 
3. Kammatic Buddhism: I. A Religion of Proximate Salvation 
The Shift in the Soteriological Goal 
The Normative Basis for Kammatic Buddhism 
The Psychological Basis for Kammatic Buddhism 
The Shift in the Conception of Dukkha 
The Shift in the Conception of Nirvana 
The Shift in the Conception of Anattii 
4. Kammatic Buddhism: II. The Central Concept of Merit 
From Salvation Through Knowledge to Salvation Through Works 
Means for Acquiring Merit: Morality 
Means for Acquiring Merit: Giving 
The Motivational Salience of Merit 
A Note on Children 
5. Kammatic Buddhism: III. The Key Doctrine of Karma 
The Metaphysics of Karma 
Psychological Press and the Neutralization of Karma 
Merit Transfer and Karma 
The Dynamics of Belief in Karma 
6. Apotropaic Buddhism: A Religion of Magical Protection 
Introduction 
Psychological Press and the Reinterpretation of Normative Doctrine 
The Canonical Basis for Apotropaic Buddhism 
The "Theological" Basis for Apotropaic Buddhism 
The Problem of Karma 
Religion, Magic, and Buddhism 
7. Esoteric Buddhism: A Religion of Chiliastic Expectations 
The Major Features of Esoteric Buddhism 
Eschatological Buddhism 
Millennial Buddhism 
Motives and Functions of Belief 
Esoteric Buddhism and Burmese Religion 

III. BUDDHISM AS A RITUAL SYSTEM
8. The Buddhist Cultus: Its Generic Attributes 
A Typology of Ritual Action 
Ritual Types and Buddhist Ideological Types 
A Note on Children 
The Forms of Buddhist Ritual Action 
Objects of Ritual Veneration 
A Cultic Typology and a Classification of the Buddhist Cultus 
9. The Ceremonial Cycle: I. Calendrical Rituals 
The Daily Cycle 
The Weekly and Monthly Cycles 
The Annual Cycle 
10. The Ceremonial Cycle: II. Life-Cycle Rituals 
Introduction 
Buddhist Initiation 
Death and Burial 
11. Crisis Rituals 
Causes and Occasions of Crisis 
The Use of Buddhist Sacra 
The Use of Buddhist Spells 
The Use of Dana 
The Use of Meditation
Non-Buddhist Magic 

IV. BUDDHISM AS A MONASTIC SYSTEM
12. Monasticism: I. The Normative Structure 
The Monk as Religious Virtuoso 
The Function of Monasticism 
The Rule 
13. Monasticism: II. The Social Structure 
The Daily Routine 
The Structure of the Monastery 
The Structure of the Order 
14. The Monk: I. Recruitment Structure 
Introduction 
The Sociological Background 
Countervailing Influences
Some Motivational Bases for Recruitment: Conscious 
Some Motivational Bases for Recruitment: Unconscious 
15. The Monk: IL Character Structure 
Persistent Characteristics of the "Worldling" 
Intellectual Level 
Monastic Morality 
The Moral State of the Sangha 
16. The Sangha and the State 
Introduction 
Church and State in Early Buddhism 
Church and State in Burmese History
Church and State in Contemporary Burma
The Political Culture of the Contemporary Burmese Sangha
17. The Status of the Monkhood in Burmese Society
Veneration of the Monkhood
The Bases for Veneration: Expressive
The Bases for Veneration: Instrumental
Ambivalence and Hostility to the Monkhood
Conflict Between Laymen and Monks

V. BUDDHISM AND THE WORLD
18. Buddhism and the World: A Critique
The Problem
Nibbanic Buddhism and the World
The Intention of the Present Analysis
19. Buddhism and Burmese Society
Buddhist Weltanschauung and the Burmese Social System
Buddhist Soteriology and the Burmese Economy
Buddhist Affiliation and Burmese Social Integration

Appendix: On the Burmese Romanization
References Cited
Index

About the Author

Melford Elliot "Mel" Spiro (April 26, 1920 - October 18, 2014) was an American cultural anthropologist specializing in religion and psychological anthropology.