List of Buddhists

Walking_statue_of_the_Buddha

List of notable Buddhists

The following is a list of notable Buddhists, encompassing individuals who have made significant contributions to Buddhism or are known for their practice of Buddhism.

Historical Figures

• Gautama Buddha - The founder of Buddhism, also known as Siddhartha Gautama.
• Ananda - One of the principal disciples and a devout attendant of the Buddha.
• Ashoka - An Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who promoted the spread of Buddhism.
• Nagarjuna - An important philosopher and founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism.
• Bodhidharma - A Buddhist monk who is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Zen Buddhism to China.

Modern Figures

• Thich Nhat Hanh - A Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist, and founder of the Plum Village Tradition.
• Dalai Lama - The title given to the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, currently held by Tenzin Gyatso.
• Pema Chödrön - An American Tibetan Buddhist nun and author.
• Jack Kornfield - An American author and teacher in the Vipassana movement in American Theravada Buddhism.
• Shunryu Suzuki - A Soto Zen monk and teacher who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States.

Celebrities and Public Figures

• Richard Gere - An American actor and humanitarian known for his practice of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Tina Turner - An American singer and actress who practices Nichiren Buddhism.
• Orlando Bloom - An English actor who practices Nichiren Buddhism.

Related Pages

• Buddhism
• Zen Buddhism
• Mahayana Buddhism
• Theravada Buddhism
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Nichiren Buddhism
• Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhist meditation