Early Buddhism and Its Origins

Part One: The Philosophy & Sociology of Early Buddhism Chapter 1. The Life, Personality and Prophecy of Buddha: Buddha’s life, personality and leadership. Chapter 2. The Origins of Religion and Early Buddhism: origins of religion and sociological analysis of Buddhism. Chapter 3. The Vedic Religion and the Origins of Buddhism: Vedic roots, Upaniṣadic religion and Vedic skepticism. Chapter 4. The Post-Vedic Religion and the Origins of Buddhism: yajña, Upaniṣadic idealism, monasticism and Buddhist critique of sacrifice. Chapter 5. The Philosophy of the Upaniṣads and the Origins of Buddhism: differences and influences between Upaniṣadic and Buddhist philosophy. Chapters 6–12: Buddhist pessimism, anātman, rebirth, ethics, karma, nirvāṇa and mysticism. Chapters 13–14: Yoga, Sāṃkhya and their relationship to early Buddhist religion and philosophy. Part Two: Buddhism and the Social Sciences Chapter 15. The Economic Foundations of Early Buddhism: economic causation, trade, commerce and social conditions. Chapter 16. The Political Foundations of Early Buddhism: Buddhism as an eastern Indian movement and its political context. Chapter 17. The Social Foundations of Early Buddhism: Buddhism as a social movement, monasticism and social integration. Chapter 18. The Anthropological Foundations of Early Buddhism: anthropological dimensions of early Buddhism. Chapter 19. Early Buddhism and the Methodology of Social and Political Research: methodological reflections.