One religion that is popular in Hollywood is Buddhism – having seen many celebs embracing it over the ones they were born into. we bring you some Hollywood celebrities who have been interested in Buddhism.
1. Angelina Jolie
Image Credit: fanpop (dot) com
One of the most beautiful women in the world, Angelina Jolie’s views on Buddhism are more centered around her son Maddox than anything else. A Cambodian orphan, Maddox Chivan found a new family in Brangelina – and Jolie regards Buddhism an important part of his heritage. Shortly after she adopted him, she got a tattoo in Khmer script which is a Buddhist prayer. Though she does not necessarily believe in a god, Buddhism is an important part of her household.
2. Brad Pitt
Image Credit: optionsri (dot) org
This is where Brad Pitt also comes in. He and Jolie have been seen frequenting Buddhist temples – all for their adopted Cambodian child Maddox. The couple ensures Maddox gets his Buddhist lessons regularly.
3. Kate Hudson
Image Credit: fanpop (dot) com
Although raised in her maternal grandmother’s Jewish religion, ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ star has embraced the various teachings of Buddhism. And the Buddhist influence in her life has been her mother Goldie Hawn. While Hudson describes herself as spiritual, her mother has taught her to look at life as lessons to be learned: how everyone experiences love and disappointment, laughter and pain.
4. Orlando Bloom
Image Credit: thehdwallpapers (dot) net
‘The Lord of the Rings’ star Orlando Bloom embraced Buddhism early in life and in 2004, he became a full member of Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist association affiliated with the teachings of Nichiren. When he was dating actress Kate Bosworth, also a Buddhist, they had built a Buddhist altar at his London home – and were also planning to build a retreat at Malibu, California.
5. Sharon Stone
Image Credit: infoalbania (dot) org
‘Basic Instinct’ star Sharon Stone has also converted to Tibetan Buddhism. Self-confessed and religious, she openly believes in God and is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church. In the 1990s, she was a member of the Church of Scientology, until fellow actor Richard Gere introduced her to the Dalai Lama.
6. Richard Gere
Image Credit: fanpop (dot) com
No prizes for guessing that the next celeb on our list is Richard Gere. He first studied Zen Buddhism under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki. His interest in Buddhism grew when he traveled to Nepal when he was 29 and later met the Dalai Lama in India. An active supporter of the Dalai Lama, Gere is a practicing Buddhist. Gere visits Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, regularly.
7. Sarah Jessica Parker
Image Credit: fanpop (dot) com
The obvious reason why people, especially celebs are drawn to Buddhism is for its simple philosophy and focus on spirituality – and Jewish-raised Sarah Jessica Parker has apparently also gone the spiritual way. She had made many headlines for being a Jew-Bu – a term used for people who combine Buddhist philosophy with Hebrew teachings.
8. Steven Seagal
Image Credit: blogspot (dot) com
The ‘Under Siege’ star is another Hollywood celeb interested in Buddhism. Tibetan lama Penor Rinpoche had even announced that Seagal was a tulku (incarnate lama). This went on to arouse controversy in the American Buddhist community, and it was suggested that Seagal bought his Buddhahood by donations to Penor’s Buddhist center. Seagal, in an interview later, was quoted as saying, “I was born very different, clairvoyant and a healer.”
9. Uma Thurman
Image Credit: chickidex (dot) com
‘Kill Bill’ heroine Uma Thurman was brought up a Buddhist by her dad – although she now calls herself an agnostic. In fact, her father was the first westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Uma’s name is derived from the Tibetan name ‘Dbuma Chenpo’ (the ‘db’ is silent) – meaning, ‘the great middle way’. She has been quoted as saying, “it’s more my religion than any other because I was brought up with it in an intellectual and
spiritual environment”
spiritual environment”
10. Keanu Reeves
Image Credit: fanpop (dot) com
Although he is rumored to be a Buddhist, it is not so. This is in spite of the fact that he has himself cited an intense interest in the teachings of the religion. One of the reasons for the misconception is probably his role as Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment in the 1993 movie, ‘Little Buddha’.
11. Robert Downey Jr
There are many more who are converting into Buddhism.