Hey Arche! I'd love to learn more about how you practice Greco-Buddhism! Where did you learn about it and how do you syncretize it? 🪻
Hey, Euanthe! I’m glad you asked!
Before I begin, I’d like to preface this with the fact that I don’t speak for all Greco-Buddhists, and I didn’t coin this term. If you’re interested on learning more about this path, I’d recommend checking out some other Greco-Buddhist blogs to get some more input from other practitioners!
Historically, Greco-Buddhism referred to cultural exchange between Hellenistic art and Buddhism. This exchange was more of an exchange between art and philosophy—not religious syncretism between religions; however during this time we do see evidence of some ancient Greeks adopting Buddhism, especially prominent philosophers who would travel with Alexander the Great. Below is one of the most popular examples of Greco-Buddhist art, but please keep in mind that some art attributed to having Greek influence could’ve likely been produced by locals rather than Greeks in the area, and that most Hellenistic influence on Buddhism during this era never went beyond art.
For more information on this, I’d recommend Religion For Breakfast’s video called: “The Greeks who Converted to Buddhism”.
Typically me and many other Greco-Buddhists don’t use the term in the historical context. Instead we use this term to refer to syncretism between Hellenic Polytheism and Buddhism. Greco-Buddhists can be a mix of many types of paths: reconstructionist HelPol, revivalist HelPol, zen/chan Buddhist, they could belong to another school, they could practice other polytheist faiths alongside HelPol and Buddhism, or they could choose to be completely unlabeled. I personally would describe myself as being a reconstructionist Hellenic Polytheist and a lay Buddhist, though I currently don’t follow any particular school of Buddhism.
Where did I learn about Greco-Buddhism?
I originally was solely a Hellenic Polytheist. For a long time one of my hobbies is researching different religions. This extends beyond reconstructionist polytheist faiths such as my own, and eventually I started to research Buddhism. As I read about it, I found that I resonated with the teachings of the Buddha, but I wasn’t willing to give up worshipping the Theoi to pursue this religion. I brought up my dilemma to one of my HelPol friends, and she recommended practicing both. Somehow the idea never really dawned on me, and after looking at a few blogs, talking with a few other Greco-Buddhists and Buddhists online, and reading/watching sources she sent, it inspired me to pick up the path.
How do I practice Greco-Buddhism?
Many people might be curious as to how syncretizing these two faiths is possible. This usually comes from the misconception that Buddhism is atheistic, and while some Buddhists can be, the religion itself doesn’t condemn the worship of god(s). Instead it teaches that true liberation comes from within—not from the worship of god(s). To add onto this, I’d like to bring up that many Buddhists also venerate Bodhisattvas, local deities, and sometimes even Devas. There’s also many people who practice religions like Shintō or Daoism alongside Buddhism, and sometimes these people may or may not call themselves religious at all. Buddhism is a very complex faith, and the ways it’s syncretized with local religions has shown how flexible it can be when practicing it alongside other faiths.
As a Greco-Buddhist, I worship the Theoi to get by my day-to-day life, however I find my ultimate refuge in the dharma. I mostly practice Buddhism solitarily, since the only two Buddhist temples near where I live are a 20-45 minute drive away, and I don’t have a drivers license (yet). Though I’m lucky to have lovely connections to other Hellenic Polytheists online, I’m hoping to someday join an in-person Sangha. I spend a lot of my time doing personal study, learning how to apply Buddhist teachings in my social life, meditating (which is something I need to improve on), and worshipping the Theoi. Unfortunately, a lot of my practice is self-taught, and I tend to not have a lot of time to focus on studying ancient Greek religion and the dharma due to school. Though I still do my best to make room (even if it cuts into my time doing schoolwork) because of my passion for learning about religion and studying my own faiths.
If anyone has any questions, corrections, or concerns, feel free to leave them in the comments. I can’t promise I can answer all of them since I’ve only been practicing Buddhism for a few months, however I’ll gladly do my best to answer any and all questions!
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