Views of householders and lay disciples in the Sutta Pitaka : A reconsideration of the lay/monastic opposition

Abstract Many scholars have argued that early Buddhism was primarily an ‘other‐worldly’ religion focusing on ascetics and monastics. In their view, the laity does not figure prominently, it was only centuries later that the laity's involvement became more noticeable. By examining references to householders (gahapati) and lay disciples (upāsaka) in the Sutta Pitaka section of the Pāli canon, this article challenges the view that the role of the laity primarily pertained to supporting the monastics with food, clothing, and shelter.