list of people who converts to Buddhism From Christianity Adewale Akinnuoye- Agbaje – famous actor of Nigerian descent[1] Roberto Baggio (born 1967), an Italian footballer (former Catholic) [2][3] Solomon Bandaranaike (1899–1959), Sri Lankan leader who converted from Christianity.[4] Orlando Bloom (born 1977), actor[5] Ajahn Candasiri (born 1947), Thai Buddhist nun from Scotland. (from Christianity) [6] [7] Pema Chödrön (born 1936), Tibetan Buddhist nun from New York (from Catholic Christianity) [8] Thomas William Rhys Davids (1843–1922), British scholar of the Pāli language[9] Hugo Enomiya- Lassalle (1898–1990), religious teacher [10] (Father Hugo Lassalle, SJ, remained a Roman Catholic and a priest, though he was also a Zen teacher.) Junius Richard Jayewardene (1906–1996), First President of Sri Lanka, and former Prime minister [11] Steve Jobs (1955–2011) – co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc .[12][13] Charles R. Johnson (born 1948), Political cartoonist, novelist, and Buddhist writer who converted at 14. (from African Methodist Episcopal Church ) [14] Irvin Kershner (1923–2010), American film director [15] Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), founder of Theosophical Society at New York, and first well known person to convert to Buddhism. He helped bring about a resurgence and renaissance of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Wayne Shorter (born 1933), saxophonist [16] Herman Vetterling (1849–1931), American mystic (from Swedenborgia nism , but he maintained elements of Swedenborg thought after his conversion) [17] [18] From Islam Wong Ah Kiu (1918–2006), Malaysian woman born to a Muslim family but raised as Buddhist . Her conversion from Islam became a legal issue in Malaysia on her death. [19] Tillakaratne Dilshan , Sri Lankan Cricket player who converted from Islam to Buddhism at the age of 16 and previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan. [20] Kenneth Pai, Chinese American writer of Hui descent.[21] Suraj Randiv, Sri Lankan Cricket player previously known as Mohamed Marshuk Mohamed Suraj. Princess Sri Sulalai (1770– 1837), Royal concubine of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , the King of Siam ( Thailand). From Judaism Peter Coyote (born 1941), American actor and author.[22] Surya Das (born 1950), Lama who founded Dzogchen Foundation and Centers.[23][24] Tetsugen Bernard Glassman (born January 18, 1939), American Zen Buddhist roshi and co-founder of the Zen Peacemakers. [25] Jack Kornfield (born 1945) teacher in the vipassana movement of American Theravada Buddhism. [25] Sharon Salzberg (born 1952) meditation teacher and co- founder of the Insight Meditation Society. [25] From Indian religions From Hinduism B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956), converted from Hinduism, an early leader of the Dalit Buddhist movement .[26] Ashoka the Great (277–232 BCE), converted from Hinduism, Indian emperor and early convert to Buddhism. [27] [28] Aśvaghoṣa (? 80–?150 CE), Indian Buddhist figure, philosopher- poet[29] Balachandran Chullikkadu (born 1957), Malayalam language poet from Kerala[30] Jagdish Kashyap (1908–1976), Buddhist monk [31] Laxman Mane (born 1949), Dalit author and social worker. [32] Udit Raj (born 1958), Prominent Indian social activist and Buddhist polemicist[33] Rahul Sankrityayan (1893–1963), Hindi author and translator [31] Iyothee Thass (1845–1914), Siddha practitioner and leader of the Dravidian movement ---- en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Buddhism
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 02:12:37 +0000
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