why is Richard Gere a Buddhist?

[tweety234]

Does anyone no why? Have you ever heard why?

 

[WPM]

I don't think he is .. we probably shouldn't meddle in the privacy of stars and celebrities.

 

[Agabus]

I don't think he is .. we probably shouldn't meddle in the privacy of stars and celebrities.

He has publicly spoken about being a Buddhist before, and has in the past funneled some money into Buddhist projects.

The American version of Buddhism used to be quite a fashionable religion.

 

[That person]

He agreed to do a guest spot on The Simpsons on the condition that Lisa's conversion to Buddhism wasn't undone. I can tell you more about Lisa Simpson's Buddhism that would be interesting to you.

Edit: That was Paul McCartney and Lisa's vegetarianism. Richard Gere's conditions were that Buddhism was accurately portrayed and that Lisa say "Free Tibet" at some point.

 

[Jetavan]

Does anyone no why? Have you ever heard why?

I believe he is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, specifically of the Gelukpa tradition (the Dalai Lama's tradition).

Why? Well, some people like to practice Buddhism, I guess. :

 

[Shanghaiski]

It seems like Mr. Gere at least takes it seriously and not as a cafeteria faith or fad.

 

[WPM]

Seems fabricated or fictional.

Probably because the underlying assumption of Buddhist practice isn't authentic.

 

[Jetavan]

Does anyone no why? Have you ever heard why?

I believe he is a student of Tibetan Buddhism, specifically of the Gelukpa tradition (the Dalai Lama's tradition).

Why? Well, some people like to practice Buddhism, I guess. :

Seems fabricated or fictional.

In Buddhism, that which is impermanent is, by definition, fabricated.

Melvin McLeod: Does His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] work with you personally, cutting your neuroses in the many ways that Buddhist teachers do, or does he teach you more by the example of his being?

Richard Gere: There's no question that His Holiness is my root guru, and he's been quite tough with me at times. I've  had to explain to people who sometimes have quite a romantic vision of His Holiness that at times he's been cross with me, but it was very skillful. At the moment he did it, I'm not saying it was pleasant for me, but there was no ego attachment from his side. I'm very thankful that he trusts me enough to be the mirror for me and not pull any punches. Mind you, the first meetings were not that way; I think he was aware how fragile I was and was being very careful. Now I think he senses that my seriousness about the teachings has increased and my own strength within the teachings has increased. He can be much tougher on me.

 

[WPM]

If you were living in a Buddhist country - it be different but it seems like the frontier of the Western world instead of the East.

 

[WPM]

why is Richard Gere a Buddhist?

I dunno ... in the United States people are free to practise any belief or religion they choose.

 

[tweety234]

It seems like Mr. Gere at least takes it seriously and not as a cafeteria faith or fad.

do you admire him for that? because this is the feeling i am getting from your response.

 

[tweety234]

why is Richard Gere a Buddhist?

I dunno ... in the United States people are free to practise any belief or religion they choose.

this is true mostly everywhere these days.

 

[Shanghaiski]

It seems like Mr. Gere at least takes it seriously and not as a cafeteria faith or fad.

do you admire him for that? because this is the feeling i am getting from your response.

Well, he would stick out from many celebrities for actually believing in something and sticking with it instead of using a religion for his own mystique.

 

[AveChriste11]

It seems odd that Julia Roberts is now a theological cousin to him, coming out as a Hindu.  That movie "Pretty Woman" was a good movie...

 

[Arachne]

It seems odd that Julia Roberts is now a theological cousin to him, coming out as a Hindu.

One thing's for sure: Jules will never look as good in a sari as Liz Hurley.

 

[KBN1]

It seems odd that Julia Roberts is now a theological cousin to him, coming out as a Hindu.

One thing's for sure: Jules will never look as good in a sari as Liz Hurley.

I'm sari you feel that way.

 

[Romaios]

Does anyone no why? Have you ever heard why?

Because of some meritorious deed in a previous life, I presume.

 

[J Michael]

Who cares?

 

[Romaios]

Who cares?

His brother's keeper.

 

[Jetavan]

Who cares?

Uriah the Hittite cares.

 

[Iconodule]

I can't speak for Richard Gere, but several things appealing about Tibetan Buddhism off the bat:

1. It has a highly developed, rigorous, and subtle psychological system which bespeaks some very powerful and wise minds in its construction, while also leaving plenty of room for mystical experience.

2. It has beautiful liturgy, art, music, etc.

3. It is an ancient and deep-rooted tradition with strong monastic as well as lay foundations.

4. A lot of the monks/ nuns you'll meet seem like genuinely kind, caring, and thoughtful people.

 

[tweety234]

I can't speak for Richard Gere, but several things appealing about Tibetan Buddhism off the bat:

1. It has a highly developed, rigorous, and subtle psychological system which bespeaks some very powerful and wise minds in its construction, while also leaving plenty of room for mystical experience.

2. It has beautiful liturgy, art, music, etc.

3. It is an ancient and deep-rooted tradition with strong monastic as well as lay foundations.

4. A lot of the monks/ nuns you'll meet seem like genuinely kind, caring, and thoughtful people.

Most of these can be found in christianity as well as suffism.

 

[Achronos]

Richard Gere is probably the greatest actor of all time, guys, so let's take this thread very seriously, because what he believes in is of the most utmost importance.

Also, because making a Runaway Monk movie would be the best with Michelle Yeoh.

 

[Marc1152]

Yes

 

[Aristocles]

Who cares?

+1

 

[orthonorm]

Who cares?

+1

Wait for it . . .












Do we have a thread for what we couldn't possibly care less about?

 

[Arachne]

I can't speak for Richard Gere, but several things appealing about Tibetan Buddhism off the bat:

1. It has a highly developed, rigorous, and subtle psychological system which bespeaks some very powerful and wise minds in its construction, while also leaving plenty of room for mystical experience.

2. It has beautiful liturgy, art, music, etc.

3. It is an ancient and deep-rooted tradition with strong monastic as well as lay foundations.

4. A lot of the monks/ nuns you'll meet seem like genuinely kind, caring, and thoughtful people.

Most of these can be found in christianity as well as suffism.

Isn't variety grand?

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Does anyone no why? Have you ever heard why?

Because he apparently hasn't heard of Orthodoxy.

 

[Schultz]

this took all of nine seconds via google

Richard Gere's Buddhism doc from BBC

As noted previously, he actually takes his Buddhism more seriously than most Western celebrities seem to.  He's not some fly-by-night Buddhist who read about it in a magazine.  He's actually studied it.  Of course, I think his spiritual conclusions are wrong, but I respect his faith (although that's a weird word to use in the context but you know what I mean).

 

[orthonorm]

this took all of nine seconds via google

Richard Gere's Buddhism doc from BBC

As noted previously, he actually takes his Buddhism more seriously than most Western celebrities seem to.  He's not some fly-by-night Buddhist who read about it in a magazine.  He's actually studied it.  Of course, I think his spiritual conclusions are wrong, but I respect his faith (although that's a weird word to use in the context but you know what I mean).

Wasn't he in the running for being a reincarnated lesser llama or something, but Segal beat him in the end to possessing the cycles of previous enlightenment?

This came up in google images for segal gere buddhist reincarnated:

 

[orthonorm]

I can't speak for Richard Gere, but several things appealing about Tibetan Buddhism off the bat:

1. It has a highly developed, rigorous, and subtle psychological system which bespeaks some very powerful and wise minds in its construction, while also leaving plenty of room for mystical experience.

2. It has beautiful liturgy, art, music, etc.

3. It is an ancient and deep-rooted tradition with strong monastic as well as lay foundations.

4. A lot of the monks/ nuns you'll meet seem like genuinely kind, caring, and thoughtful people.

Most of these can be found in christianity as well as suffism.

Isn't variety grand?

Unlike the maxim, I find it rarely to be the spice of life. And really a sorta interesting saying if you take its meaning rather literally. (Note to non-nerds who are obsessed it is cognate with wart. And something like wart is probably its more radical meaning.)

Guess if you lead a spicy enough life you will probably have a wart or two.

 

[Jetavan]

....

This came up in google images for segal gere buddhist reincarnated:

Steven Seagal created controversy last week in the Baltic nation of Estonia, but not for his cinematic efforts. The actor, better known for his Hollywood tough guy roles is also, it transpires, a blues singer and guitar player. But his attempts to bring his musical talent to Estonia has gone down badly in a country that has a fraught history with its eastern neighbour Russia, as Seagal has been vocal in his support of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
....
Seagal told Russian news outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta: "He's one of the greatest world leaders alive today. I consider him my friend. But what has really rankled Estonians was Seagal's comment that Russia's annexation of Crimea was "entirely reasonable".

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Mr. Seagal is a very sick man.  Let us pray he is healed soon.

 

[TheTrisagion]

Mr. Seagal is a very sick man.  Let us pray he is healed soon.

I chalk it up to being kicked in the head one too many times.

 

[Iconodule]

My uncle took aikido lessons from Segal, before he got famous. He says that even then he acted like a movie star.