The Theory of the Four Stages of Liberation in P¿li Literature

2024
ISBN: 978-3-031-55872-6
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 347 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 583 g

This book investigates the origins and development of the theory of four stages of liberation in Pali literature. This theory is an important soteriological cartography in early Buddhism, particularly Theravada Buddhism. Amrita Nanda challenges the traditional interpretation of the four stages by recognizing the impact of the changing socio-religious factors on the theory’s origins and subsequent development. Based primarily on the Pali literary sources, this study utilizes sometimes-overlooked aspects of these texts. This book first traces the origins of each stage individually; then, it traces the formation of the theory and its subsequent development.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Nanda, Amrita

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Religionssoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Vergleichende Religionswissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Buddhismus

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. The Stage of Stream-Entry.- 3. The Stage of Non-returning.- 4. The Stage of Arahantship.- 5. The Four Stages as a Collective Set in the Pali6. Development of the Sub-stages.- 7. The Four Stages in the Context of the Liberating Experience of the Buddha and the Early Buddhist Disciples.- 8. The Theory of the Four Stages with Regard to Socio-religious Contexts.- 9. The Four Stages Forming an Integrated Soteriological Path Scheme in Pali and Pali Commentarial Literature.- 10. The Four Stages Exalted to Peak of Spiritual Attainment in Pali Abhidhamma and Pali Commentarial Literature.- 11. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Amrita Nanda is a lecturer at the Centre of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong.