E/P. Sanders (who has some good point and some not so good ones, IMO) suggests that the average Jewish person (during the time of the first and second temple) was not concerned about being ritually clean on a daily basis, but only when going to the Tabernacle/Temple or for the Festivals.
What is your understanding of this? It makes a big deal of difference when trying to understand the Book of Leviticus, for example.
