Yes, there has been a significant amount of mutual influence between Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism, including the Madhyamaka and Yogacara schools. This interaction occurred primarily due to historical and geographical factors, as well as shared philosophical concerns.
Historical Context: India has been a melting pot of diverse philosophical and religious traditions, where ideas often intermingled and influenced each other. During the time when both Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism were flourishing (roughly around the early centuries CE), there was extensive intellectual exchange among scholars and practitioners of different traditions.
Shared Concerns: Despite differences in terminology and methodology, both Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism share common philosophical concerns, such as the nature of ultimate reality (Brahman or Sunyata), the concept of non-dualism, and the nature of the self (Atman or Anatman).
Madhyamaka and Advaita Vedanta: Madhyamaka, particularly as expounded by Nagarjuna, and Advaita Vedanta, as formulated by Adi Shankaracharya, both aim to deconstruct conceptual frameworks to reveal the ultimate reality. While they use different terminology and approaches, both traditions emphasize the non-dual nature of reality and critique the inherent existence of phenomena.
Yogacara and Advaita Vedanta: Yogacara philosophy, with its emphasis on consciousness and the nature of perception, shares some common ground with Advaita Vedanta's exploration of consciousness and the self. Both traditions delve into the nature of experience and aim for liberation from ignorance and suffering.
Textual Exchange: There is evidence of textual exchange between these traditions. For example, some scholars suggest that texts like the Ashtavakra Gita, which is foundational to Advaita Vedanta, may have been influenced by Buddhist thought. Similarly, Buddhist philosophers engaged with Vedantic ideas in their commentaries and treatises.
Despite this mutual influence, it's important to note that there are also significant differences between Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana Buddhism, particularly in their metaphysical frameworks and methodologies. While they may share some commonalities, each tradition maintains its distinct philosophical outlook and doctrinal formulations.
