#greco buddhism

[divinum-pacis]

The Ancient Greeks Who Converted to Buddhism

Greece is very far away from the heartland of early Buddhism in India and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. But thanks to Alexander the Great, Hellenistic and Buddhist cultures came into contact in the 4th century BCE, creating a cultural synthesis known as Greco-Buddhism.

[a-wick-with-no-candle]

I’ve just been thinking a lot about cycles recently. As a devotee of Hekate and as a member of the Covenant of Hekate, I try my best every day to follow the 5 Virtues.

But today it just struck me how similar the 5 Virtues are to the 5 Mindfulness Trainings of Tibetan Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

I was first introduced to Thay when I was 16 and in the deepest depression of my life. His teachings on Zen Buddhism helped me so much, and I feel, led me to Hekate in my spiritual journey now in my 30’s.

The stropholos and the Wheel of Dharma just resonate to me in a complimentary way. And the Ancient Greeks did have a similar stance on reincarnation to Buddhism at least through a few mystery cults. I know that they are not perfectly parallel or syncretic, but I think the boddhisatva Avalokiteshvara and goddess Hekate are a good balance to each other.

We do know that there was cross-cultural blending through the representation of Greco-Buddhist art primarily in Gandhara (parts of modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan).

I was wondering if there are any others here who also follow an eclectic spiritual path?

[under-olympos-bodhi-tree]

Buddhist Prayer for Strength against Illness

In the shadow of illness, under the weight of pain, May the light of the Dharma guide my way. As I traverse the path of sickness and health, May I find refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. In every moment of discomfort, in every pang of distress, May the teachings of impermanence remind me: All things arise and all things pass, And in this knowledge, may I find solace and strength. May the boundless compassion of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Mercy, Envelop me in warmth, easing my suffering and fear. With each breath, may I draw upon the energy of countless Buddhas, Rekindling my spirit, revitalizing my body. Though illness touches me, it is not all of me. Within, there lies a core untouched – luminous, calm, and pure. As I navigate the trials of this life, May I remain connected to this inner refuge, my true nature. For all beings who suffer, for all touched by illness, May we support each other, bear witness to each other's journey. Together, may we walk the Eightfold Path, Finding peace, healing, and liberation in its embrace.

[panicinthestudio]

Shaka Bosatsu (Sakyamuni Bodhisattva), 2nd-3rd century

Gandhara

Crystalline schist

Total height: 138.0 cm; height of the statue: 114.0 cm

This standing statue of Sakyamuni Bodhisattva whose eyes somewhat lowered wears a crown over the turban. He raises his right hand in front of his chest in the abhaya mudra (a hand position to bestow fearlessness and bring about a sense of calm), while placing his left hand on his waist. 

The kneeling figure engraved on the crown front holds a floral garland. The Bodhisattva wears various accessories such as earrings, necklaces, breast ornament, armlets and wristlets. His lower body is covered by a skirt-like garment and his feet are in sandals. His body weight is mostly supported by the engaged left leg while the right side is the free leg. This standing statue has features unique to Gandhara such as the crown over the turban, the right hand in the abhaya mudra and the left hand on the waist. 

This is one of the few known Sakyamuni Bodhisattva statues. Even among them, this statue has an exceptionally high artistic value. After the death of Gautama Siddhartha, prince of the Shakya clan, who lived during the 5th or 4th century B.C.E., his followers symbolized him in various forms such as the podium, awning, dharmachakra, and pipal tree under which he attained enlightenment. Early Buddhists did not create a statue of the Buddha until the 1st century C.E., when the statues of Buddha began to appear concurrently in Gandhara (northwestern Pakistan) and Mathura (northern India). This statue shows that Gandhara works feature Western-style realistic expressions, which attest to the strong influence of the Greek and Roman arts. In Gandhara, stone statues of Buddha reached their highpoint between the 1st and 3rd century C.E. 

The material crystalline schist is a metamorphic rock which tends to break into layers and is difficult to cut out a thick layer. Accordingly, the right hand and toes of this work are made of other piece of the same material and fixed to the body with iron clamps.

Collection of the Kyushu National Museum

[river-in-the-woods]

hello ! i was just passing through and wanted to say your blog has been such a nice and insightful read. im an orphic-leaning polytheist and so i find the similarities between certain buddhist teachings and what we know of orphic teachings and cosmology to be very intriguing to say the least. i hope you’re having a wonderful day, thank you for the insight :-)

Thank you for the kind words 💚

From what I know, the earliest traces of Orphism date back to around 5th century BC. Around that time we also have records of Greco-Buddhist syncretism in Gandhara. Perhaps it's not too much of a stretch to consider that the Orphic Mysteries did indeed take some inspiration from Buddhist belief? I was especially thrilled when I read about this, as my path seems to have very much become a marriage of Buddhist belief and Hekatean devotion !

[ringneckedpheasant]

[eirikswood]

Buddha and Budai are Bodhi Buddies - portrait of Reclining Buddha and Laughing Buddha in La Pietà (Lamentation of Christ) pose

https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/eirikswood/buddha-and-budai-are-bodhi-buddies/

[aboutanancientenquiry]

King Menander (Mένανδρος) is also the interlocutor and questioner of the sage monk Nagasena in the masterpiece of Buddhist literature Milinda Panha (The Questions of Milinda -Menander-, between 100 BC and 200 AD). From the available evidence it seems very plausible that Menander was converted to Buddhism or at least that he was much influenced by Buddhism.

The "Shinkot casket," a container made for Buddhist relics dating to the second century BCE. The casket is of special importance because its inscription mentions Maharaja Minadra -- almost certainly a reference to King Menander, a Greek ruler who controlled parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan in the wake of Alexander the Great's conquests.

{WHF} {Ko-Fi} {Medium}

[short-wooloo]

Sigh

For the last fucking time, THE JEDI ARE NOT CATHOLIC!

They're not based off of the catholic church, that's just people's fanon interpretation (and it's mostly just people projecting their issues with catholicism onto the Jedi), if you actually take a minute to look up what George Lucas' sources and inspirations for the Jedi, you'll find that he based them off of everything EXCEPT christianity, the inspirations for the Jedi being Japanese and East Asian cultures, Arabic ideas (Jedi may be derived from "Al-Jeddi" which means "Master of the Mystic-Warrior way"), Buddhism, Jewish Mysticism, Samurai Bushido, Shaolin Monks, Hinduism, Qigong, Greco-Roman philosophy and mythology, Sufism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Taoism, the only christianity you might be able to say influenced the Jedi is Methodism, since Lucas was a Buddhist-Methodist

Like yes, you can certainly find Jedi beliefs and practices to be similar or parallel to catholicism and Christianity, I have, but that's on you, that's YOUR interpretation

[jacobpking]

Heracles and the Buddha

This is based on the fascinating fusion of cultures after Alexander the Great invaded India, otherwise known as Indo-Greek or Greco-Buddhism. In Gandharan sculpture, Heracles is depicted alongside the Buddha as Vajrapani, the Buddha's protector. The pairing of two figures so iconic in their mythologies seemed perfect material for art. The Buddha would help Heracles with anger management, while Heracles would help with clobbering evildoers. Business as usual.

[transgenderer]

ok so like. if you go with me, that there are basically "three written intellectual traditions", the greco-abrahamic, the indosphere, and the sinosphere (with the sinosphere and indosphere shading into each other somewhat, but having little enough contact outside the transmission of buddhism that theyre meaningfully distinct when considered as "traditions"), then its kind of interesting to compare them, obviously. and like, from the perspective of the mediterranean tradition, i think the chinese tradition is way more alien? in particular, the mediterranean and indian traditions care a LOT about god, and like, obviously china HAS gods. but its philosophers dont seem to care that much about god. its cool, and interesting!

[writers-potion]

Plant Symbolisms 🌱🌿🪴

Flora have a special corner in literature.

Starting from the Greco-Roman period when certain plants were representative of gods (like olive trees for Athena), plants have meant more than just a source of food or pleasure.

Lotus - Symbol of creation, rebirth, and the sun. The blue lotus represents spiritual enlightenment, while the white lotus symbolizes purity.

Papyrus - Represents prosperity, growth, and regeneration, often associated with the Nile River and the goddess Isis.

Mandrake - Associated with love, fertility, and aphrodisiac properties.

Poppy - Symbol of sleep, healing, and regeneration, often associated with the god of sleep, Hypnos.

Rose - Represents love, beauty, and the goddess Aphrodite.

Jasmine - Symbol of sensuality, love, and spiritual growth.

Palm - Represents victory, triumph, and eternal life, often associated with the god Osiris.

Acacia - Symbolizes resurrection and the afterlife, linked to the god Osiris and the Tree of Life.

Cornflower - Represents fertility, abundance, and regeneration.

Anemone - Symbol of protection, healing, and renewal.

Anemone, garden: Forsaken.

Almond, flowering: Hope.

Balm: Sympathy.

Bamboo: The emblem of Buddha. The seven-knotted bamboo denotes the seven degrees of initiation and invocation in Buddhism.

Bay leaf: I change but in death.

Bell flower, white: Gratitude.

Bluebell: Constancy.

Broken flower: A life terminated, mortality.

Buttercup: Cheerfulness.

Calla lily: Symbolises marriage.

Campanula: Gratitude.

Carnation, red: Beauty always new

Chrysanthemum: I love.

Clover, white: Think of me.

Clover, four-leaved: Be mine.

Cinquefoil: maternal affection, beloved daughter.

Convolvulus, major: Extinguished hopes or eternal sleep.

Coreopsis, Arkansa: Love at first sight.

Crocus: Youthful gladness.

Cuckoo Pint: Ardour.

Cypress tree: Designates hope.

Daffodil: Death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard.

Daisy: Innocence of child, Jesus the Infant, youth, the Son righteousness, gentleness, purity of thought.

Daisy, garden: I share your sentiment.

Dead leaves: Sadness, melancholy.

Dogwood: Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection.

Fern: Sincerity, sorrow.

Figs, Pineapples: Prosperity, eternal life.

Fleur-de-lis: Flame, passion, ardour, mother.

Flower: frailty of life.

Forget-me-not: Remembrance / true love.

Furze or Gorse: Enduring affection.

Grapes: represent Christ.

Grapes and leaves: Christian faith.

Harebell: Grief.

Hawthorn: Hope, merriness, springtime.

Heartsease or Pansy: I am always thinking of you.

Holly: Foresight.

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection.

Honesty: Sincerity.

Ivy: Memory, immortality, friendship, fidelity, faithfulness, undying affection, eternal life, marriage.

Jonquil: “I hope for a return of affection.”

Lalla: Beauty, marriage.

Laurel leaves: Special achievement, distinction, success, triumph.

Marigold: Grief or despair.

Morning glory: Resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality.

Mystic rose: Mother.

*some of these flower symbols have Greek or Roman origins but were also used in ancient Egyptian culture.

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

🖱️References

https://www.proflowers.com/blog/plant-symbolism-guide

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/396668679699365428/

https://lilysflorist.com/blog/the-symbolism-of-flowers-in-literature-and-poetry-a-look-at-the-hidden-meanings-of-blooms-in-classic-texts/#:~:text=Rose%20%2D%20Represents%20love%2C%20beauty%2C,and%20the%20Tree%20of%20Life.

[under-olympos-bodhi-tree]

My newly cleaned and sorted devotional space, plus a picture with a slight filter put over it.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Depending on what pantheon/mythology you’re looking at if you claim your goal is to kill a god there will be varying degrees of probability and possibility for you.

The things we’re worshipping is kind of the earth and animals and people themselves of course they die (various forms of animism and ancestor worship)

Dying is kind of a promotion in this religion if you’re important enough (some types of Buddhism, Catholicism from certain points of view)

Technically possible to kill a god and it has happened before but you probably won’t be the one to do it (Egyptian, Norse, Aztec, some other polytheistic religions)

Lol and also lmao gods don’t die. You can stab them though. (Greco-Roman mythology)

God(s) became mortal on purpose you’re not special L + Ratio this was part of the plan the whole time (Christianity, some avatar stories in Hinduism)

What are you gonna do? Stab the entire universe? You’re picking a fight with reality itself. Idiot. (Most monotheistic religions)

[madmonksandmaenads]

Nothing quite like the feeling of knowing a new used obscure book is on its way

thriftbooks my best friend thriftbooks…….

[katerinaaqu]

Hello! Omg this is my first ask to u!

I was just curious about something. As far as I've heard, there were some ancient Greeks who believed Dionysus and Herakles were from India? I'm not sure if that's completely true, especially about Dio cuz the Dionysiaca says otherwise.

So I just wanted to have some proper info about that one particular belief, where Alexander considered Nagara (Dionysopolis) as the resting (and something birth) place for Dio. And also maybe some info regarding the Herakles myth (which I'm assuming here happened during the Indo-Greek kingdom era, when he was syncretized with Buddha but again, im not sure).

Hahahahahaha apparently it iiiiiis!!!! Hahahaha!

There are definitely many different legends and myths in regards to the regions Dionysus comes from or potentially born into, for example one is that he comes from the land of the Hyperboreans, which is up to the north. It is linked to the myths of sequence between Dionysus and Apollo as they change places upon the sanctuary of Delphi with the turn of seasons.

One of course need to take into account why Greeks have their myths in the first place and connect them to specific areas. It was not as much to indicate a god's origins or the origins of his worship but rather to show that they had the right to be in an area. "If Dionysus was born here that means we Greeks were there in the first place so we have the right to be here now" or "If Zeus passed from this place then that means this place involved Greeks originally" etc. Alexander was born and raised into this culture so when he was founding or conquering cities he also seems to be taking advantage of that and establish the myths that allegedly connect the Greeks to that area. This same method was used by Alexander the Great most likely. The political and religious implications are always there.

I would expect that yes when it comes to Heracles in India it has its roots to the Greco-Buddhism, the movement that started after the war of Alexander the Great and later on by the Seleucus kingdom and all and the exchanges of culture lead to exchanges of religion and ideas and all as well. According to Appian we also hear on wars that the Seleucid king did with the Indian one. And many other moments such as this indicate this shift to the area of modern day Afganistan if I am not mistaken and the circle around them close to India. For Heracles I discover a mention that Heracles was adopted to represent Vajrapāni and was assigned as a protector of Buddha. I did find a reference of the patronage of Heracles as a god for the Kushana Empire era but unfortunately I do not have much experience on Indian history to know many details. There seem to be wrestling matches to honor Heracles to the area and also honoring the more spiritual aspects of his worship especially influenced by Hinduism or Buddhism. There are references in sculpture as well such as Gandharan sculpture that depicts Heracles by the side of Buddha where he acts as his protector. You can also see tumblr creators such as @jacobpking who depicted Heracles with Buddha:

Depictions of Heracles appear also in Tajikistan again in similar influences. I believe as you said very well it is connected to this mixture of traditions after Alexander the Great and his descendants to the area and the osmosis of culture.

That is just the scrapping of the surface that I could think of but I would be glad to ellaborate further if I can to future reblogs or discussions. Sorry I am not THAT much familiar to the history of India in general so I shall need some time to get familiar with it.