nightstand Buddhist
n.— «One in four Americans ages 18 to 29 say they are not affiliated with a religion, according to the survey. Many in this age group—whom Smith teaches at Ripon College—he refers to as “nightstand Buddhists.” They keep a Buddhist statue on their nightstand, he said, read Buddhist text because they like the message, but do not practice the religion.» —“Keeping the faith? More people look inward to find peace” by Amie Jo Schaenzer Fond du Lac Report (Wisconsin) May 7, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Ribbon fall. Gallery forest. You won’t find terms like these in most dictionaries, but they and hundreds like them are discussed by famous writers in the book Home Ground: A Guide to the American Landscape. The book is an intriguing collection...
When you had sleepovers as a child, what did you call the makeshift beds you made on the floor? In some places, you call those bedclothes and blankets a pallet. This word comes from an old term for “straw.” And: What’s the story...
I’d have to find references, but this sounds like what we used to call “West Coast Buddhists” from some time in the 70s, I’d say. The reference would be to the various Buddhist and other esoteric spiritual retreats established in California. Many of them pursued a rather less rigid path to dharma than would be recognised by Gautama.