Buddhist influences on Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedānta and Mahāyāna Buddhism share significant similarities. Those similarities have attracted attention both by Indian and Western scholars of Eastern philosophy and Oriental studies, and have also been criticised by concurring schools. The similarities have been interpreted as Buddhist influences on Advaita Vedānta, though some deny such influences, or see them as expressions of the same eternal truth.

Advaita Vedānta (Sanskrit: अद्वैत वेदान्त; literally, not-two) is the oldest extant sub-school of Vedānta, an orthodox (āstika) school of Hindu philosophy and religious practice. Advaita darśana (philosophy, worldview, teaching) is one of the classic Indian paths to spiritual realization and liberation. It first took shape systematically with the writings of the medieval Indian philosopher Gauḍapāda in the 6th century CE.

Mahayana Buddhism refers to a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India (c. 1st century BCE onwards). The earliest evidence of Mahāyāna Buddhism comes from sūtras ("discourses", scriptures) originating around the beginning of the common era.

Buddhism as a whole saw a major decline in the Indian subcontinent during the Middle Ages after the rise of new forms of Hinduism, especially the Advaita tradition.