The Theory of the Four Stages with Regard to Socio-religious Contexts

Drawing together these new perspectives on the stream-entrant and non-returner as well as the four-stage path as a whole, this chapter investigates the gradual historical development of the theory and argues that while arahantship itself appeared as the earliest Buddhist soteriological goal expounded by the Buddha himself, the lower three stages gradually and independently developed in pre-sectarian Buddhism in order to address the socio-religious needs of the society. More specifically, it sought to provide a theoretical orientation and incentive for people who were not yet ready to renounce mundane affairs and practise with the aim of arahantship. It further argues that the theory might have been developed by early Buddhists with an aspiration to transform Buddhism from an ascetic type of movement to an institutionalized religion.