List of converts to Buddhism Facts for Kids

Many people choose to follow different spiritual paths during their lives. This article is about people who were born into one religion but later decided to become Buddhists. This is called converting to Buddhism. These individuals come from all walks of life, including actors, athletes, writers, and even royalty, showing that Buddhism appeals to many different people around the world.

Famous People Who Chose Buddhism
See also

Famous People Who Chose Buddhism

From Abrahamic Religions

From Christianity

Many people who grew up Christian have found a new spiritual home in Buddhism.

From Islam

Some people who were raised in the Islamic faith have also chosen to become Buddhists.

Princess Mother Sri Sulalai (1770–1837): She was a very important person in Thailand's history. She was a queen and the mother of King Rama III.
The Bunnag family: This was a powerful noble family in Thailand. They were originally from Persia and had Muslim roots, but their family later became Buddhist.
Napapa Tantrakul (1986–): A Thai actress who was raised Muslim and became a Buddhist in 2016.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (1976–): A famous cricket player from Sri Lanka. He converted from Islam to Buddhism when he was 16 years old.
Pai Hsien-yung (1937–): A Chinese American writer whose father was a Muslim general.
Wong Ah Kiu (1918–2006): A Malay woman born into a Muslim family but raised as a Buddhist. Her choice became a legal discussion in Malaysia after she passed away.

From Judaism

Many people from Jewish backgrounds have also become Buddhist teachers and followers.

Nyanaponika Mahathera (1901–1994): A German-born Buddhist monk who helped start the Buddhist Publication Society.
Bhikkhu Bodhi (1944–): An American Buddhist monk and scholar who founded the Buddhist Global Relief organization.
Ayya Khema (1923–1997): A German Buddhist teacher who helped organize the first big meeting for Buddhist women.
Larry Rosenberg (1932–): An American Buddhist teacher who started the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center.
Peter Coyote (1941–): A well-known American actor and writer.
Surya Das (1950–): A lama (a Tibetan Buddhist teacher) who founded the Dzogchen Foundation.
Tetsugen Bernard Glassman (1939–2018): An American Zen Buddhist teacher who co-founded the Zen Peacemakers.
Jack Kornfield (1945–): A respected teacher in the Vipassana (insight meditation) movement in American Buddhism.
Sharon Salzberg (1952–): A meditation teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society.
Goldie Jeanne Hawn (1945–): A famous American actress, producer, dancer, and singer.
Steven Seagal (1952–): An American actor, producer, martial artist, and musician.
Robert Downey Jr. (1965–): A popular American actor and producer.

From Indian Religions

From Hinduism

Buddhism began in India, and over time, many people from Hindu backgrounds have chosen to become Buddhists.

B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956): He was a very important leader in India and helped write the Constitution of India. He encouraged many people to convert to Buddhism.
Jagdish Kashyap (1908–1976): A Buddhist monk and scholar.
Balachandran Chullikkadu (1957–): A poet from Kerala, India.
Hansika Motwani: An Indian actress.
Rahul Sankrityayan (1893–1963): A Hindi author and translator.
Iyothee Thass (1845–1914): A leader of a social movement in India who practiced Siddha Yoga.
Laxman Mane (1949–): An Indian author and social worker.
Udit Raj (1958–): A well-known Indian social activist and supporter of Buddhism.
Tisca Chopra (1973–): An Indian actress, author, and film producer.
Poonam Joshi (1980–): An Indian television actress.

From Other Backgrounds

Richard Gere is an actor who became a Buddhist.

Many people from various other backgrounds have also found their way to Buddhism.

Sister Uppalavannā (Else Buchholtz) (1886–1982): A German Buddhist nun, known as the first European Buddhist nun in modern times.
U Dhammaloka (Laurence Carroll) (1856–1914): An Irish-born worker who became a Buddhist monk and played a role in the Buddhist revival in Asia.
Paul Dahlke (1865–1928): A German doctor and one of the first people to bring Buddhism to Germany.
Sīlācāra (John Frederick S. McKechnie) (1871–1951): A former Buddhist monk, writer, and translator.
Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu (Osbert John S. Moore) (1905–1960): A British Buddhist monk and translator of ancient Buddhist texts.
Robert Baker Aitken (1917–2010): He helped start the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, a Zen Buddhist center.
Reb Anderson (1943–): A Zen Buddhist teacher.
Alistair Appleton (1970–): A British television presenter.
Stephen Batchelor (1953–): A well-known writer on Buddhism.
Orlando Bloom (1977–): An actor famous for playing Legolas in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Kate Bosworth (1983–): An American actress.
John Cage (1912–1992): A famous American composer.
Chester Carlson (1906–1968): An American physicist and inventor who created the process of electrophotography (which led to photocopiers).
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016): A Canadian singer, songwriter, and poet.
Chris Evans (1981–): An American actor, best known for playing Captain America.
Richard Gere (1949–): A famous actor and activist who supports Tibetan causes.
Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997): A well-known American poet.
Herbie Hancock (1940–): A legendary jazz pianist.
Miranda Kerr (1983–): A famous model.
k.d. lang (1961–): A Canadian singer.
Jet Li (1963–): A famous actor and martial artist.
Courtney Love: An American singer-songwriter.
Menander I (died c. 130 BCE): A Greco-Buddhist king from ancient times.
Alanis Morissette: A Canadian-American singer.
Ole Nydahl (1941–): A lama (Tibetan Buddhist teacher).
Tenzin Palmo (1943–): A Buddhist nun of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.
Li Gotami Govinda (Ratti Petit) (1906–1988): An Indian painter, photographer, writer, and composer who came from a Zoroastrian background.
Oliver Stone (1946–): A famous American film director.
Sharon Stone (1958–): An American actress, producer, and former fashion model.
Tan-luan (6th to 7th century): A Chinese Buddhist monk important to Pure Land Buddhism, who came from a Taoist background.
Thích Thanh Từ (1924–): A Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk who came from Caodaism.
Robert Thurman (1941–): A Buddhist priest and writer.
Tina Turner (1939–2023): A legendary American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress.
Adam Yauch (1964–2012): Also known as MCA, he was an American rapper from the group Beastie Boys, a songwriter, and a film director.

List of converts to Buddhism facts for kids

Contents