List of converts to Buddhism
The following people are all converts to Buddhism, sorted alphabetically by family name.
From Abrahamic religions[change | change source]
From Christianity[change | change source]
From Islam[change | change source]
- Wong Ah Kiu (1918–2006), Malaysian woman born to a Muslim family but raised as Buddhist; her conversion from Islam became a legal issue in Malaysia on her death[1]
- Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lankan cricket player who converted from Islam to Buddhism at the age of 16, previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan[2]
- Kenneth Pai, Chinese American writer of Hui descent[3]
From Judaism[change | change source]
- Peter Coyote (1941–), American actor and author[4]
- Surya Das (1950–), lama who founded Dzogchen Foundation and Centers[5][6]
- Tetsugen Bernard Glassman (January 18, 1939–), American Zen Buddhist roshi and co-founder of the Zen Peacemakers[7]
- Jack Kornfield (1945–), teacher in the vipassana movement of American Theravada Buddhism[7]
- Sharon Salzberg (1952–), meditation teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society[7]
- Steven Seagal (1952–), American actor, producer, screenwriter, martial artist, and musician who holds American, Serbian, and Russian citizenship.
From Indian religions[change | change source]
From Hinduism[change | change source]
- Ashoka, Emperor of Maurya Empire, India's largest empire[8] [9]
- Aśvaghoṣa (80?–150 CE?), Indian Buddhist figure, philosopher- poet[10]
- B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956), converted from Hinduism[11]
- Jagdish Kashyap (1908–1976), Buddhist monk[12]
- Bhadant Anand Kausalyayan, Buddhist monk, writer, and scholar[13]
- Balachandran Chullikkadu (born 1957), Malayalam language poet from Kerala[14]
- Rahul Sankrityayan (1893–1963), Hindi author and translator[12]
- Iyothee Thass (1845–1914), Siddha practitioner and leader of the Dravidian movement[15]
- Lalai Singh Yadav (1921–1993), social justice activist and play writer. He translated Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's The Key To Understanding True Ramayan from Tamil to Hindi as Sachi Ramayan Ki Chabi[16]
- Laxman Mane (1949–), Dalit author and social worker[17]
- Rupa Kulkarni-Bodhi, social activist[18]
- Swami Prasad Maurya, politician[19]
- Udit Raj (1958–), prominent Indian social activist and Buddhist polemicist[20]
- Lenin Raghuvanshi (1970–), activist, one of the founding members of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)[21]
- S. N. Goenka, the foremost lay teacher of Vipassana meditation of Modern Time, Founder of multitude of Meditation Centers all-over the World, Raised in a Staunch Conservative Hindu Family in Burma. [22] [23]
- Suresh Bhat (1932–2003), Indian poet and writer[24]
- Kabir Bedi (1946–), Indian film actor[25]
- Pracheen Chauhan, Indian television actor[26]
- Tisca Chopra (1973–), Indian actress, author and film producer[27]
- Barkha Madan, former Indian model, film actress, ordained a Buddhist nun and changed her name to Ven Gyalten Samten[28]
- Vinay Jain, Indian television actor[29]
- Poonam Joshi (1980–), Indian television soap opera actress[30]
- Shibani Kashyap, ndia singer[31][32]
- Sweta Keswani (1980–), Indian actress, dancer and model[30]
- Manav Gohil, Indian television actor[33]
From other or undetermined[change | change source]
- Robert Baker Aitken (1917–2010), co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha[34][35]
- Reb Anderson (1943–), Zen teacher [36]
- Alistair Appleton (1970–), British television presenter[37][38][39]
- Stephen Batchelor (1953–), writer[40]
- Orlando Bloom (January 13, 1977–), actor who played Legolas in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit[41][42]
- Kate Bosworth (1983–), American actress[43]
- John Cage (1912–1992), American composer[44]
- Arabella Churchill (1949–2007), English charity founder, festival co-founder, and fundraiser[45]
- Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer/songwriter/poet[46]
- John Crook (1930–2011), British ethologist[47]
- Ernest Fenollosa (1853–1908), American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University[48]
- Richard Gere (1949–), actor and activist for Tibetan causes[43]
- Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997), poet[49]
- Natalie Goldberg (1948–), writer [50]
- Herbie Hancock (1940–), jazz pianist who has also released funk and disco albums[43]
- Joseph Jarman (1937–), jazz musician and Jodo Shinshu priest[51][52]
- Miranda Kerr (1983–), model[53]
- k.d. lang, Canadian singer[54]
- Jet Li (1963–), actor[55]
- Courtney Love, American singer-songwriter[56]
- Menander I (died c. 130 BCE), Greco-Buddhist king (from pre-Christian Hellenistic religion)[57]
- Dennis Genpo Merzel (1944–), abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center[58][59]
- Alanis Morissette, Canadian singer-songwriter
- Ole Nydahl (1941–), lama teacher [60]
- Tenzin Palmo 1943–), nun of Drukpa Kagyu lineage[61]
- Zeena Schreck (formerly LeVey) (1963–), a Berlin-based American visual and musical artist, author, the spiritual leader of the Sethian Liberation Movement (SLM), Tantric Tibetan Buddhist yogini and second daughter of the late Church of Satan's founder Anton LaVey.[62][63]
- Oliver Stone, American film director[64]
- Sharon Stone, American actress, producer, and former fashion model[65]
- Ajahn Sumedho (1934–), most senior representative of the Thai Forest Tradition in the Western hemisphere; abbot of the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in the UK
- Tan-luan (6th to 7th century), Chinese Buddhist monk important to Pure Land Buddhism (from Taoism)[66]
- Robert Thurman (1941–), Buddhist priest and writer who has been called "the Billy Graham of Buddhism"[67]
- Tina Turner (1939–), American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress who has won eight Grammy Awards[46]
- Philip Whalen (1923–2002), Beat generation poet and Zen monk[68]
- Adam Yauch (1964–2012), aka MCA, American rapper (member of Beastie Boys), songwriter, film director, and human rights activist[69]
Related pages[change | change source]
- List of Buddhists
- List of Buddhist conversions in India
- List of converts to Buddhism from Christianity
- List of converts to Christianity
- List of converts to Islam
- List of converts to Hinduism
- List of converts to Judaism
- List of converts to Sikhism
- List of people by belief
- Index of Buddhism-related articles
- Secular Buddhism
References[change | change source]
- ↑ AP/Al Jazeera Archived March 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad attacks Tillakaratne Dilshan over religion". India Today. September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Palladino, D.J. (September 28, 2006). "Peony Dreams". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Coyote reflects on wild dogs and the next 1,000 years". PeterCoyote.com. Mill Valley Herald. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ↑ Dzongchen bio Archived June 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "The Natural Great Perfection: An Interview with Lama Surya". Integral Yoga Magazine. 2006.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Is The Jew Still In The Lotus?". Zen Peacemakers. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Bodhisattva that the Brahman," see Chap. xvi Archived 17 July 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ History of Library Development by B. D. Panda, page 9 In the 1950s
- ↑ Joshi, N. V. (1977). Indian Philosophy: From the Ontological Point of View. Mumbai: Somaiya Publications. p. 216.
- ↑ Queen, Christopher (1993). "The Great Conversion: Dr. Ambedkar and Buddhist Revival in India". Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Revival of the Buddha Dhamma in India". Sunday Observer. April 14, 2002. Archived from the original on January 3, 2006.
- ↑ Modernisation of Buddhism: Contributions of Ambedkar and Dalai Lama XIV, Lella Karunyakara, Gyan Books, 2002 p. 180
- ↑ "Malayalam poet embraces Buddhism". Rediff.com. January 24, 2000. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ↑ Existential dilemmas Archived 2010-07-01 at the Wayback Machine The Hindus – June 6, 2010
- ↑ Bharti, Kanwal (September 24, 2016). "Lalai Singh Yadav: Fiery hero of rebel consciousness". Forward Press. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ "One lakh people convert to Buddhism". The Hindu. May 28, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ↑ "Sumedha Raikar-Mhatre: Why we chose the Buddha". April 29, 2018.
- ↑ "Converting to Buddhism as a Form of Political Protest". The Atlantic. April 11, 2018.
- ↑ 50,000 DALITS EMBRACE BUDDHISM Archived October 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine – Buddhism Today
- ↑ (born 1970), activist, one of the founding members of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
- ↑ Braun, Erik (1 October 2013). "S. N. Goenka, Pioneer of Secular Meditation Movement, Dies at 90". Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ↑ "Global Goenka Centers". www.dhamma.org. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ↑ Maitreya, Yogesh. "Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: In Suresh Bhat's ghazals, a fight against oppression". firstpost. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Tiwari, Vijaya (May 30, 2013). "Buddha & Buddhism the biggest export of India: Kabir Bedi". India Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Thakur, Shweta (July 18, 2009). "I'm closer to my parents now: Pracheen". India Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Antao, Lisa (November 24, 2011). "I seek the blessings of my parents and teachers: Tisca Chopra". India Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ "I should have become a nun long ago, says Barkha". YouTube.
- ↑ Malini, Navya (December 26, 2011). "Practicing Buddhism a major priority in my life: Vinay Jain". India Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Naval-Shetye, Aakanksha (April 20, 2011). "Why celebrities are turning to Buddhism". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Kashyap, Shibani (August 29, 2011). "Chanting: Prayer or meditation?". India Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ Virmani, Ashish (October 16, 2012). "Buddhism makes for a happy celeb!". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Budding Buddhism in the city".
- ↑ University of Hawaii Archived August 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Buddhist Masters and Their Organisations: Robert Aiken Roshi". Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ Ford, 127–128
- ↑ "Autobiography". Alistair Appleton. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Alistair Appleton Interview – Cash in the Attic". BBC America. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Why Buddhist". Alistair Appleton. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Interview with Stephen and Martine Batchelor". Dharma.org. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "The Times & The Sunday Times". The Times. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ "celebrity on Female First". Female First. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 "Top Ten celebrity Buddhists". Wildmind.org. June 5, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Cage 1973, 12.
- ↑ Howard-Gordon, Frances (December 22, 2007). "Obituary: Arabella Churchill". The Guardian. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Top Ten celebrity Buddhists". Wildmind.org. June 5, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Master Sheng-yen. "Dr. John H. Crook Interview « Sweeping Zen – The Zen Buddhism Database". Sweepingzen.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ Smith, Bernard (January 1, 1998). Modernism's History: A Study in Twentieth-century Art and Ideas. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300073925. Retrieved June 14, 2016 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Morgan, Bill. I Celebrate Myself: The Somewhat Private Life of Allen Ginsberg. New York: Viking, 2006.
- ↑ an interview by shara stewart. "zen and the art of natalie goldberg". Ascentmagazine.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ "www.jazzweekly.com - Interviews". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ Jazz, All About (November 8, 2003). "Joseph Jarman". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Miranda Kerr converts to Buddhism". Hindustan Times. December 24, 2009. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ↑ "The second coming of kd Lang". The Times. London. January 13, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ↑ "How did you come to follow Tibetan Buddhism?". The Official Jet Li Website. May 21, 2001. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2001.
- ↑ Lash, Jolie (November 18, 2005). "Enduring Love". The Guardian. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ "The Indian Historical Review". Vikas Publishing House. January 1, 1981. Retrieved June 14, 2016 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Salt Lake Weekly". Retrieved June 14, 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Jarvik, Elaine (August 27, 2005). "The Zen of sitting". Deseret News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ Nydahl, Ole "Entering The Diamond Way, Tibetan Buddhism Meets the West", Blue Dolphin Publishing (1999). ISBN 978-0-931892-03-5
- ↑ Salon.com Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Professional description in biography: "She is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist yogini, teaches at the Buddhistische Gesellschaft Berlin"". 13.performa-arts.org. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ↑ "Beelzebub's Daughter: How Zeena Schreck left the Church of Satan". Vice.
- ↑ Lagrossa, Edward (October 20, 1997). "Stone Soul Booksigning". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Lee, Luaine (October 17, 1998). "Sharon Stone's now at peace with her world". Deseret News. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ "Buddhism - religion". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Honk if you love Buddha" article in "The New York Times"
- ↑ Meltzer, David (August–September 1999). "Whatnot: A Talk with Philip Whalen". Poetry Flash (282). Archived from the original on April 14, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
- ↑ Van Biema, David; McDowell, Jeanne (October 13, 1997). "Buddhism in American". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2020.