Buddhism and Society: A Great Tradition and Its Burmese Vicissitudes

Buddhism and Society is a foundational, anthropologically driven study that explores how Theravada Buddhism—an ancient, sophisticated "Great Tradition"—is understood, adapted, and practiced in the daily lives of everyday people, specifically focusing on rural Burma (Myanmar). Rather than viewing Buddhism purely as an abstract textual philosophy, Spiro analyzes it as a dynamic socio-psychological system divided into three distinct sub-frameworks that serve different human needs: 1. Nibbanic Buddhism: The normative, textual form of Buddhism focused on the radical pursuit of salvation (Nirvana) via world renunciation, meditation, and total detachment from suffering. 2. Kammatic Buddhism: The modified, popular practice where the ultimate goal shifts from immediate liberation to proximate salvation. Instead of seeking non-existence, regular practitioners use concepts of Karma and the accumulation of merit (dana or giving, and morality) to guarantee a better, happier rebirth in the next lifecycle. 3. Apotropaic/Esoteric Buddhism: The integration of magical protection, rituals, and crisis-management tools to provide safety, ward off evil spirits, and offer immediate solace for physical or psychological emergencies in mundane life. Spiro systematically ties these ideological structures to the structural realities of Burmese society. He analyzes the ritual cultus (daily and life-cycle events like monastic initiation and funerals) and uncovers the internal social dynamics of the monastic order (Sangha). By observing the recruitment, motivations, and character traits of monks, alongside the political intersections between the Sangha and the State, Spiro demonstrates that religion is both shaped by human psychological desires and instrumental in structuring secular societal behavior.