HinduBuddhist

HinduBuddhist is a descriptive term used to refer to a person, practice, or scholarly approach that draws on both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It is not an official denomination, and definitions vary by context.

Historical background: Hinduism and Buddhism emerged in the Indian subcontinent and shared cultural and philosophical space for many centuries. Buddhist communities often existed alongside Hindu temple networks, and over time some ideas, rituals, and iconography circulated between the two spheres. Hindu deities and cosmology appear in Buddhist literature and art, while certain Hindu philosophical schools engaged with Buddhist thought. This interaction gave rise to syncretic practices in some regions and periods.

Practice and belief: A HinduBuddhist approach may combine meditation and ethical discipline from Buddhist traditions with devotional or ritual elements found in Hindu practice, such as temple worship, offerings, or devotion to certain deities. However, adherents typically distinguish between doctrinal positions—such as the Buddhist emphasis on nirvana and the Hindu emphasis on dharma or liberation through various paths—while acknowledging shared ethical aims.

Contemporary usage: In modern scholarship, HinduBuddhist is used to discuss interfaith dialogue, cultural interchange, and the hybrid forms that appear in art, ritual, and community life. Some movements or teachers explicitly promote integration of both traditions without declaring allegiance to one or the other.

See also: Hinduism, Buddhism, syncretism, religious pluralism.