Personalities Who Practice Buddhism

When we talk about Buddhism, many things come to mind like sacred prayer, protective tattoo, meditation and peace. Practitioners are no longer limited to the originals but many Westerners are seduced by this religion, in particular Hollywood stars. But who are they and what does Buddhism mean to them? 

Female Buddhist Celebrities

Let's take examples of divas who have converted to Buddhism:

• Sharon Stone: This former American model turned actress and film producer converted to Tibetan Buddhism in 2008. She met the Dalai Lama through her colleague and friend Richard Gere;

• Kristen Stewart: the beautiful “Bella” from the film “Twilight” has chosen to turn to Nichiren Buddhism. This spirituality gives her strength and is a haven of peace for the actress;

• Uma Thurman: Even the actress's first name is of Tibetan origin, which means "light". His anchor with Buddhism is his father. A former religion teacher in Asia, he became a Buddhist priest. The actress spent her youth in India and the Dalai Lama is a family friend;

• Tina Turner: The singer is a figure in “Nichiren Buddhism”, a Japanese Buddhist movement. She even had the privilege of performing the Buddhist mantra Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in 1993 in the film "What's Love Got to Do with It."

• Angelina Jolie: the actress is a feminine figure of Buddhism through her life as a people. This religion allows him to find peace, to accept his discomfort and above all to live in harmony with his family, especially his children. She is the only female personality who embodies her beliefs through tattoos. There are around ten.

Male Buddhist Celebrities

Here are some examples of male personalities who choose Buddhism:

• Richard Gere: the actor has been involved in Tibetan Buddhism since 1982. He has even been the spokesperson for the Dalai Lama over the past decade. He was blessed by him in 2010. The attractive and romantic Edward Lewis from the film "Pretty woman", released in the early 90s, is a passionate practitioner;

• Orlando Bloom: This British actor has been involved in Buddhism for several years. This spirituality is for him a true source of joy and peace. She flourishes thanks to this religion;

• Mathieu Ricard: this famous writer took the step towards Buddhism in 1967 during his trip to India. During his stay, he met Tibetan spiritual masters. Thanks to this meeting, he decided to settle there to learn and practice Buddhism with his master Kangyur Rinpoche. In 1979, he became a monk in the Himalayas;

• Arnaud Desjardin: this former director of the ORTF was seduced by Buddhism around 1974. He was one of the first Westerners to make documentaries on Buddhism, then to present it to the French. He shared great spiritual traditions such as Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and Zen.

What is a Hollywood personality?

Hollywood is the emblem of cinematographic culture. At the end of the 19th century, this cinema capital was founded by Daeida Wilcox and Horace. The first filmings, on the other hand, took place in 1915 with the title “Birth of a Nation” and in 1916 with “Intolerance”. Both films were directed by the great producer of the time, D.W. Griffith. Charlie Chaplin was one of the first comedians and actors to sign a contract in Hollywood. He played the character of Charlot, known until today for his bowler hat, his mustache, his cane and his inimitable appearance.

Since 1917, directors, screenwriters, designers, architects, fashion designers, actors among many others have become stars. Generally speaking, all Hollywood stars are considered personalities because each one is very well known for their know-how, the character played, the title of the film, etc. Once appreciated by fans, an actor, a director, a screenwriter, etc. becomes a personality.

The different talents on Hollywood stages

While the first aspect of Hollywood personalities is framed by the basic characters of cinematography, its other aspect affects another type of personality. For more than thirty years, the great directors of the cinema capital have been interested in a new category of actors. Their choice fell on celebrities such as renowned singers, musicians and athletes such as professional basketball player Michael Jordan with the film "Space Jam" in 1996 and professional boxer Mike Tyson with the film “Ipman 3” released in 2015; singer Miley Cyrus with the film “The last song” in 2010 and diva Rihanna with the recently released film “Guava Island”. Indeed, some have even become more than just actors in Hollywood, like Jennifer Lopez, who is now both an actress and producer.

The stars and Buddhist practices

Many stars are interested in this spirituality, the majority of them publicly declaring in magazines, exclusive interviews about their practice of Buddhism. Each of these celebrities believes in reincarnation in the sense that meditation, a practice linked to Buddhism, can change an entire life. Some of them aim to develop balance and peace of mind in meditation, such as the case of actors Eva Mendes, the talented actress of “The Fast and the Furious” and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

For others, meditation is a source of joy and happiness, the great director Clint Eastwood said that he practiced for about forty years and felt the essence of human life while meditating. Beyond the big Hollywood portal, athletes, writers, composers, architects, rally drivers, etc. are also personalities. Women and men, young and old, Buddhism serves as a point of reference according to them.