List of converts to Buddhism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following people are all converts to Buddhism. They are sorted by time.
- Ashoka the Great, (273 BCE-232 BCE), converted from Hinduism, Indian emperor and early convert to Buddhism.[1][2]
- Devanampiyatissa, (circa 247 BC - 207 BC), Sri Lankan king.[3]
- Menander I, (died circa 130 BCE), Greco-Buddhist king. (from pre-Christian Hellenistic religion)[4]
- Aśvaghoṣa, (?80-?150 CE), Indian Buddhist figure.
- Tan-luan, (6th to 7th century), Chinese Buddhist monk important to Pure Land Buddhism.(from Taoism)[5]
- Herman Vetterling, (1849-1931), American mystic (from Swedenborgianism, but he maintained elements of Swedenborg thought after his conversion)[6][7]
- Ernest Fenollosa, (1853-1908), An American professor of philosophy and political economy at Tokyo Imperial University.[8]
- B. R. Ambedkar, (1891-1956), converted from Hinduism, an early leader of the Dalit Buddhist movement.[9]
- Solomon Bandaranaike, (1899-1959), Sri Lankan leader who converted from Christianity.[10]
- 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.[11][12]
- Wong Ah Kiu, (1918-2006), Her conversion from Islam became a legal issue in Malaysia on her death.[13]
- Philip Whalen, (1923-2002), Beat generation poet and Zen monk.[14]
- George Cockcroft, (1932-), American author, converted to Zen at an unspecified point.[15]
- Pema Chödrön, (1936-), Tibetan Buddhist nun (from Catholic Christianity)[16]
- Tina Turner, (1939-), American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress who has won eight Grammy Awards.[17]
- Joseph Jarman, (1937-), Jazz musician and Jodo Shinshu priest.[18][19]
- Herbie Hancock, (1940-), Jazz pianist who also has funk and soul influences.[20]
- Robert Thurman, (1941-), Buddhist priest and writer who has been called "The Billy Graham of Buddhism."[21]
- Buster Williams, (1942-), Jazz bassist who introduced Hancock to Buddhism.[22]
- Tenzin Palmo, (1943-), Nun of Drukpa lineage.[23]
- Dennis Genpo Merzel, (1944-), Abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center.[24][25]
- Ajahn Candasiri, (1947-), Thai Buddhist nun. (from Christianity)[26][27]
- Charles R. Johnson, (1948-), Political cartoonist, novelist, and Buddhist writer who converted at 14. (from African Methodist Episcopal Church)[28]
- Richard Gere, (1949-), Actor and activist for Tibetan causes.[29]
- Arabella Churchill (1949-2007), English charity founder, festival co-founder, and fundraiser.[30]
- Surya Das, (1950-), Lama who founded Dzogchen Foundation and Centers. (from Judaism)[31]
- Steven Seagal, (1951), Action-film actor who was proclaimed a tulku.[32]
- Roberto Baggio (1967- ) an Italian footballer (former Catholic)
- Alistair Appleton, (1970-), British television presenter.[33]
- Tillakaratne Dilshan, (1976-), Sri Lankan Cricket player. Converted from Islam. Previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan.[34]
[edit] References
- ^ "Bodhisattva that the Brahman," see Chap. xvi
- ^ History of Library Development by B. D. Panda, page 9
- ^ "Buddhism--a Modern Perspective" by Charles S. Prebish, pg 161
- ^ Indian Historical Review
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ The Dharma of Emanuel Swedenborg: A Buddhist Perspective
- ^ Imagining Tibet : Perceptions, Projections, and Fantasies by Thierry Dodin
- ^ Modernism's History: A Study in Twentieth-Century Art and Ideas
- ^ Columbia University
- ^ New York Times
- ^ University of Hawaii
- ^ Buddha.net
- ^ AP/Al Jazeera
- ^ Poetry Flash Interview
- ^ BBC
- ^ PBS
- ^ CBS News
- ^ Jazz Weekly interview
- ^ All About Jazz interview
- ^ Beliefnet
- ^ "Honk if you love Buddha" article in "The New York Times"
- ^ Beliefnet
- ^ Salon.com
- ^ Salt Lake Weekly
- ^ Deseret Morning News
- ^ BBC
- ^ Ajahn Candasiri's website
- ^ 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."
- ^ Charlie Rose interview
- ^ Obituary in "The Guardian"
- ^ Dzongchen bio
- ^ The Action Lama - Steven Seagal
- ^ BBC
- ^ Cricket Info Profile
