List of converts to Buddhism
The following people are all converts to Buddhism. They are sorted by time or by alphabet.
From Abrahamic Religions
From Christianity
- Roberto Baggio (1967- ) an Italian footballer (former Catholic)
- Solomon Bandaranaike, (1899-1959), Sri Lankan leader who converted from Christianity.[1]
- Ajahn Candasiri, (1947-), Thai Buddhist nun. (from Christianity)[2][3]
- Pema Chödrön, (1936-), Tibetan Buddhist nun (from Catholic Christianity)[4]
- Junius Richard Jayewardene (1906-1996) First President of Sri Lanka, and former Prime minister[5]
- Charles R. Johnson, (1948-), Political cartoonist, novelist, and Buddhist writer who converted at 14. (from African Methodist Episcopal Church)[6]
- Herman Vetterling, (1849-1931), American mystic (from Swedenborgianism, but he maintained elements of Swedenborg thought after his conversion)[7][8]
- Henry Steel Olcott, (1832-1907), First well known person to convert to Buddhism. He helped bring about a resurgence and renaissance of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
- Ajahn Sumedho, (1934-), Most senior representative of the Thai Forest Tradition in the Western hemisphere. Abbot of the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in the UK.
- Ajahn Brahm, (1951-), Religious teacher and student of the late Thai monk Ajahn Chah. Currently he is the abbot of the Bodhinyana Monastery, Perth and spiritual advisor to many Buddhist societies and organizations in Southeast Asia and Australia.
- George Lucas (?-), mastermind behind Star Wars. He claims to be a Buddist-Methodist. He went from Christian to Buddist-Christian [9]
From Islam
- Tillakaratne Dilshan, (1976-), Sri Lankan Cricket player. Converted from Islam. Previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan.[10]
- Wong Ah Kiu, (1918-2006), Her conversion from Islam became a legal issue in Malaysia on her death.[11]
- Suraj Randiv, Sri Lankan Cricket player previously known as Mohamed Marshuk Mohamed Suraj.
From Judaism
- Goldie Hawn, (b.1945-), actress.
- Surya Das, (b.1950-), Lama who founded Dzogchen Foundation and Centers. (from Judaism)[12]
From Indian religions
From Hinduism
- Aśvaghoṣa, (?80-?150 CE), Indian Buddhist figure, philosopher- poet
- Ashoka the Great, (277 BCE-232 BCE), converted from Hinduism, Indian emperor and early convert to Buddhism.[13][14]
- B. R. Ambedkar, (1891-1956), converted from Hinduism, an early leader of the Dalit Buddhist movement.[15]
File:Ambedkaryoung.gif B. R. Ambedkar converted from Hinduism - Balachandran Chullikkadu - Malayalam language poet from Kerala[16]
- Jagdish Kashyap - Buddhist monk[17]
- Udit Raj - Prominent Indian dalit activist and Buddhist polemicist[18]
- Rahul Sankrityayan - Hindi author and translator[17]
- Iyothee Thass - Siddha practicioner and leader of the Dravidian movement[19]
From Other or Undetermined
- Devanampiyatissa, (circa 247 BC - 207 BC), Sri Lankan king.[20]
- Menander I, (died circa 130 BCE), Greco-Buddhist king. (from pre-Christian Hellenistic religion)[21]
- Tan-luan, (6th to 7th century), Chinese Buddhist monk important to Pure Land Buddhism.(from Taoism)[22]
- Ernest Fenollosa, (1853-1908), An American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University.[23]
- Christmas Humphreys, (1901-1983), Founder of the Buddhist Society.
- Anne Hopkins Aitken, (1911-1994), one of the early leaders of Zen Buddhism in the West, co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha.
- Robert Baker Aitken, (1917-), co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha.[24][25]
- Philip Whalen, (1923-2002), Beat generation poet and Zen monk.[26]
- George Cockcroft, (1932-), American author, converted to Zen at an unspecified point.[27]
- Tina Turner, (1939-), American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress who has won eight Grammy Awards.[28]
- Joseph Jarman, (1937-), Jazz musician and Jodo Shinshu priest.[29][30]
- Herbie Hancock, (1940-), Jazz pianist who has also released funk and disco albums.[31]
- Robert Thurman, (1941-), Buddhist priest and writer who has been called "The Billy Graham of Buddhism."[32]
- Buster Williams, (1942-), Jazz bassist who introduced Hancock to Buddhism.[31]
- Tenzin Palmo, (1943-), Nun of Drukpa Kagyu lineage.[33]
- Dennis Genpo Merzel, (1944-), Abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center.[34][35]
- Richard Gere, (1949-), Actor and activist for Tibetan causes.[36]
- Arabella Churchill (1949-2007), English charity founder, festival co-founder, and fundraiser.[37]
- Steven Seagal, (1951), Action-film actor who was proclaimed a tulku.[38]
- Alistair Appleton, (1970-), British television presenter.[39]
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. (born October 2, 1954) is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
RZA is a rapper with the Wu Tang Clan who stated he took on various forms of buddhism as stated in the Wu Tang Manual.
MCA aka Adam Yauch, founding member of hip hop trio the Beastie Boys.
References
- ^ New York Times
- ^ BBC
- ^ Ajahn Candasiri's website
- ^ PBS
- ^ de Silva, K. M. (1988). J.R. Jayewardene of Sri Lanka. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. p. 133. ISBN 0824811836.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Charles R. Johnson interview at Monsters&Critics: "Buddhism has been my refuge (as it was intended to be for practitioners) since I was 14-years-old, and first sat in formal meditation."
- ^ The Dharma of Emanuel Swedenborg: A Buddhist Perspective
- ^ Imagining Tibet : Perceptions, Projections, and Fantasies by Thierry Dodin
- ^ George Lucas, under "Personal Life"
- ^ Cricket Info Profile
- ^ AP/Al Jazeera
- ^ Dzongchen bio
- ^ "Bodhisattva that the Brahman," see Chap. xvi
- ^ History of Library Development by B. D. Panda, page 9
- ^ Columbia University
- ^ Malayalam poet embraces Buddhism Rediff - January 24, 2000
- ^ a b Revival of the Buddha Dhamma in India Sunday Observer - April 14, 2002
- ^ 50,000 DALITS EMBRACE BUDDHISM - Buddhism Today
- ^ Ravikumar (September 28, 2005). "Iyothee Thass and the Politics of Naming". The Sunday Pioneer. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- ^ "Buddhism--a Modern Perspective" by Charles S. Prebish, pg 161
- ^ Indian Historical Review
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Modernism's History: A Study in Twentieth-Century Art and Ideas
- ^ University of Hawaii
- ^ Buddha.net
- ^ Poetry Flash Interview
- ^ BBC
- ^ CBS News
- ^ Jazz Weekly interview
- ^ All About Jazz interview
- ^ a b Beliefnet
- ^ "Honk if you love Buddha" article in "The New York Times"
- ^ Salon.com
- ^ Salt Lake Weekly
- ^ Deseret Morning News
- ^ Charlie Rose interview
- ^ Obituary in "The Guardian"
- ^ The Action Lama - Steven Seagal
- ^ BBC