Religious Motivation and the Origins of Buddhism

The introduction defines the central research questions: why people joined the Buddha, why they became monks or nuns, whether common motivational patterns can be identified, and whether social psychology can illuminate these patterns. Brekke emphasizes that religious history should pay closer attention to individual motivation, especially when studying the rise of world religions. The book contains six chapters. Chapter 1 evaluates the historical value of the Khandhaka section of the Vinaya Piṭaka and argues that it may be closer to the early Buddhist community than previously assumed. Chapter 2 examines religious motivation and the relationship between the early Saṅgha and the laity, including conversionist and introversionist patterns. Chapter 3 studies conversion in Buddhism, distinguishing gradual realization from sudden transformation. Chapter 4 applies social psychology to the religious motivation of early Buddhists. Chapter 5 analyzes the role of fear in Indian religions and Buddhism, showing how fear can both motivate renunciation and be transcended through liberation. Chapter 6 studies religious motivation and the merit of giving, focusing on donation, merit-making, and the social bonds between lay supporters and the monastic community.