Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Figures and Tables -- A Note on the Name Myanmar -- Conventions for Transliterations, etc -- Map of Myanmar -- Introduction: From the Śākyamuni Buddha to the Shwegyin Tradition -- The Setting of the Study -- From Śākyamuni -- ... To Monastic Organization and Practices -- ... To the Shwegiyn -- Vicissitudes of Modern Burmese Political History -- Sources and Approach for Studying the Story -- Chapter One: The Shwegyin Tradition and Its Traditionalism -- Tradition: Invented and Reinvented -- Shwegyin Tradition and Traditionalism -- A Genre of Traditionalism: S?sana Histories and Monastic Biographies -- Histories, Biographies, and the Ethics of Traditionalism -- Buddhist Histories and Biographies in and beyond Myanmar -- Case Study 1: The Abridged History and Aspects of Lineage -- The Sīlānandābhivaṃsa's Introduction: Supporting a Lineage -- Paṇḍita's Verse and Commentary: Types of Lineage -- Paṇḍita's Verse and Commentary: Dynamics of Kilesas and Sīla -- Case Study 2: The Kyauntawya Sayadaw and Being a Son of the Buddha -- Dreams: Signs of a Good Disciple-Son -- A Son?s Lineage: The Role of the Vinaya and Higher Ordination -- A Son and His Practice -- Sons of the Buddha: A Classic Conflict and a Shwegyin Solution -- Traditions and the Past, Present, and Future -- Chapter Two: Institutional Moorings -- From Lineage to Nikāya -- Monastic Groups in Myanmar: A Snapshot -- Inclusion and Exclusion among Burmese Nikāya and Gaing -- Records and Meetings of the Shwegyin Nikāya -- The Meetings and the Texts -- Relations with Classical Pali and Other Sources -- The Hierarchy of Shwegyin Leaders and Administrators -- Keeping Track of Shwegyin Membership -- Discipline in the Shwegyin Nikaya -- The Sāsana's Care Groups -- The Work of Leaders and Administrators.

Chapter Three: Classic Ritual Permutations -- Militating against Sāsana Decline and Social Disruption -- The Higher Ordination: Interpretive Issues -- A Shwegyin Higher Ordination -- Sīmā and Parisā: The Harmony and Unity of the Community -- Vatthu: Eligibility to Live in the S?sana -- Ñatti and Anussāvana: Verbal Concord with the Buddha -- Post-Accomplishments: Explaining Life in the Sāsana -- Records, Hierarchy, and Property -- The Four Foundations -- The Four Actions Not To Be Done -- Taking Leave -- Arahants in Training -- Chapter Four: Existential Ruminations -- Oceans, Everywhere -- The Abhidhamma-piṭaka and the Paṭṭhāna -- The Work of Abhidhamma Specialists -- The Abhidhamma and Paṭṭhāna in Contemporary Myanmar -- The Buddha's Contemplation of Paṭṭhāna -- Nibbāna, Saṃsāra, and Abhidhamma -- Paṭṭhāna Sermons: "Introduction" -- Paṭṭhāna Sermons -- Faith in the Buddha the Arahant -- The Place of the Paṭṭhāna in the Quest for Arahantship -- Comprehending the Paṭṭhāna -- Root Condition -- Rapturous Joy and the Work of an Abhidhamma Specialist -- Conclusion: Continuities and Ruptures -- Burmese Religious Culture and Beyond -- Other Implications for Theory and Method -- Epilogue: A Comment on Continuity and Rupture, from Afar -- Appendix A: Figures -- Appendix B: Tables -- Appendix C: Letter to the Penang Sayadaw -- Bibliography -- Burmese Sources -- Pali Sources -- European/other-language Sources.