Why Is Buddhism so Popular in the West now?

Table of Contents

1. Facts Why Is Buddhism So Popular
2. Results
3. Celebrity Buddhists
4. Steven Seagal
5. Richard Gere
6. Tina Turner
7. Kate Bosworth
8. Orlando Bloom

Why Is Buddhism so Popular? Buddhism is one of the most ancient and peaceful religions on the planet. Many people don’t know anything about Buddhism except the Buddha himself.

However, this faith holds many interesting secrets and legends that we will get acquainted with today. India, although it is a third-world country, is actually not so far behind everyone else.

Facts Why Is Buddhism So Popular

Buddhism presents a stark departure from familiar beliefs, emphasizing the impermanent nature of all things. Its core principle revolves around the constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth across multiple worlds within Samsara, a realm of suffering encompassing all beings. Unlike other religions, Buddhism does not feature a creator God; instead, it views gods as subject to the same cycle of suffering, death, and rebirth as humans. Buddha, revered as an enlightened figure, has transcended this cycle into parinirvana, distinct from the concept of a deity. European culture, characterized by a quest for knowledge and understanding, contrasts with Buddhism’s aim to transcend worldly attachments entirely. This contrast fuels a continued fascination with Buddhism’s alternative worldview, offering fresh perspectives in contrast to the familiarity and fatigue associated with Christianity in popular culture.

Results

Studying different religions allows you to understand other cultures better: for example, without understanding Christianity, you cannot study European art, and without understanding Shintoism, Miyazaki’s work.

Celebrity Buddhists

Many of us know that Richard Gere is a Buddhist as he has always been outspoken about it. However, there are quite a few other celebrity Buddhists:

Steven Seagal

As a result of Steven Seagal’s announcement in 1997 that he is the Tibetan incarnation of the lama or tulku, the Buddhist world was deeply bemused. A respected Lama, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, acknowledged publicly that Seagal was a tulku.

After studying martial arts, acupuncture, and Zen in Japan, Segal returned to the United States in 1980, spending 15 years there. In Asia, he treated torture-induced traumas of Tibetan lamas fleeing China with acupuncture, which he learned while in China. According to Seagal, he has been doing serious meditation in his own pitiful way for nearly 27 years.

Richard Gere

Richard Gere, known for his roles in the hit movies Pretty Woman and Chicago and recognized as a close friend of the Dalai Lama, doesn’t even rank among the top five Buddhist celebrities.

He founded the Tibet House, established The Gere Foundation, and leads the International Campaign for Tibet. Due to his support for Tibet, authorities banned him from entering the People’s Republic of China. Additionally, he cannot present awards at the Academy Awards because he publicly criticized the Chinese government on stage.

Gere’s sincerity in practicing Buddhism is remarkable; he meditates daily, stating that it sets the right tone for his day.

Tina Turner

Her voice instantly stands out; she began her career in 1960, possesses remarkable legs, and devoutly practices Buddhism. One of Turner’s contributions to Nichiren Buddhism is chanting Nam Moho Rengye Kyo on Larry King Live.

Instead of attending meetings or waiting for others to approach her, Turner had to teach herself, a transformational experience.

Kate Bosworth

It might be unfair to assume that Bosworth embraced Nichiren Buddhism solely because she was dating Orlando Bloom. Perhaps.

Nevertheless, Bosworth found her involvement with the Buddhadharma profoundly meaningful for a brief period: “It’s just an amazing state of mind,” she expressed. “It’s about constantly improving yourself and making yourself a better person as well as putting out what you want for yourself and the world.”

Orlando Bloom

Thank you for reading!