List of converts to Buddhism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From Abrahamic Religions

[edit]From Christianity

• Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–1891) Founder of Theosophical Society at New York.
• Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907) Founder of Theosophical Society at New York.
• Thomas William Rhys Davids^[1]
• Roberto Baggio (1967- ) an Italian footballer (former Catholic)^[2]
• Solomon Bandaranaike, (1899–1959), Sri Lankan leader who converted from Christianity.^[3]
• Ajahn Candasiri, (1947-), Thai Buddhist nun from Scotland. (from Christianity)^[4][5]
• Pema Chödrön, (1936-), Tibetan Buddhist nun from New York (from Catholic Christianity)^[6]
• Junius Richard Jayewardene (1906–1996) First President of Sri Lanka, and former Prime minister^[7]
• Charles R. Johnson, (1948-), Political cartoonist, novelist, and Buddhist writer who converted at 14. (fromAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church)^[8]
• Herman Vetterling, (1849–1931), American mystic (from Swedenborgianism, but he maintained elements of Swedenborg thought after his conversion)^[9][10]
• 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 (1944-), mastermind behind Star Wars. He claims to be a Buddhist-Methodist. He went from Christian to Buddhist-Christian ^[11]
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - famous actor of Nigerian descent^[12]
• Hank Johnson - is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives also elected to Congress^[13]
• Meshell Ndegeocello (1968) songwriter ^[14]
• Ernestine Anderson jazz singer (1928)^[15]
• Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle religious teacher (1898) ^[16]
• Irvin Kershner (1923) American film director ^[17]
• Roberto Baggio footballer^[18]
• Wayne Shorter (1933) - saxophonist^[19]

[edit]From Islam

• Tillakaratne Dilshan, (1976-), Sri Lankan Cricket player. Converted from Islam. Previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan.^[13]
• Wong Ah Kiu, (1918-2006), Her conversion from Islam became a legal issue in Malaysia on her death.^[14]
• Suraj Randiv, Sri Lankan Cricket player previously known as Mohamed Marshuk Mohamed Suraj.
• Mehmet Scholl - german football player ^[15]
• RZA - rapper and actor, incorporates buddhism, taoism and confucianism into his life^[16][17][18]

[edit]From Judaism

• Goldie Hawn, (b.1945-), actress.
• Surya Das, (b.1950-), Lama who founded Dzogchen Foundation and Centers. (from Judaism)^[19]

[edit]From Indian religions

[edit]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.^[20][21]
• B. R. Ambedkar, (1891-1956), converted from Hinduism, an early leader of the Dalit Buddhist movement.^[22]
• Balachandran Chullikkadu - Malayalam language poet from Kerala^[23]
• Jagdish Kashyap - Buddhist monk^[24]
• Udit Raj - Prominent Indian dalit activist and Buddhist polemicist^[25]
• Rahul Sankrityayan - Hindi author and translator^[24]
• Iyothee Thass - Siddha practicioner and leader of the Dravidian movement^[26]
• Kanshiram- Prominent dalit leader and founder of Bahujan Samaj Party in India

[edit]From Other or Undetermined

Richard Gere converted to Buddhism

• Devanampiyatissa, (circa 247 BC - 207 BC), Sri Lankan king.^[27]
• Menander I, (died circa 130 BCE), Greco-Buddhist king. (from pre-Christian Hellenistic religion)^[28]

• Tan-luan, (6th to 7th century), Chinese Buddhist monk important to Pure Land Buddhism.(fromTaoism)^[29]

• Ernest Fenollosa, (1853-1908), An American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University.^[30]
• 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.^[31][32]
• Philip Whalen, (1923-2002), Beat generation poet and Zen monk.^[33]
• George Cockcroft, (1932-), American author, converted to Zen at an unspecified point.^[34]

• Tina Turner, (1939-), American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress who has won eight Grammy Awards.^[35]
• Joseph Jarman, (1937-), Jazz musician and Jodo Shinshu priest.^[36][37]
• Herbie Hancock, (1940-), Jazz pianist who has also released funk and disco albums.^[38]
• Robert Thurman, (1941-), Buddhist priest and writer who has been called "The Billy Graham of Buddhism."^[39]
• Buster Williams, (1942-), Jazz bassist who introduced Hancock to Buddhism.^[38]
• Tenzin Palmo, (1943-), Nun of Drukpa Kagyu lineage.^[40]
• Dennis Genpo Merzel, (1944-), Abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center.^[41][42]

• Richard Gere, (1949-), Actor and activist for Tibetan causes.^[43]
• Arabella Churchill (1949-2007), English charity founder, festival co-founder, and fundraiser.^[44]

• Steven Seagal, (1951), Action-film actor who was proclaimed a tulku.^[45]
• Alistair Appleton, (1970-), British television presenter.^[46]
• Fabian Barthez - goalkeeper ^[47]
• Russell Simmons - richest hip-hop entrepeneur, brother of the famous Run–D.M.C. ^[48]
• Keanu Reeves - actor ^[49]
• Tiger Woods - golfer ^[50]
• Jackie Chan - actor ^[51]
• Jet Li - actor ^[52]
• Phil Jackson - former American professional basketball player and the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers ^[53]
• MCA (musician) - rapper and founding member of hip hop trio the Beastie Boys