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This is a list of notable Buddhists, encompassing all the major branches of the religion (i.e. in Buddhism), and including interdenominational and eclectic Buddhist practitioners. This list includes both formal teachers of Buddhism, and people notable in other areas who are publicly Buddhist or who have espoused Buddhism.
Individuals are grouped by nationality, except in cases where their influence was felt elsewhere. Gautama Buddha and his immediate disciples ('Buddhists') are listed separately from later Indian Buddhist thinkers, teachers and contemplatives.
Candrakīrti, considered the greatest exponent of Prasaṅgika
Dharmakirti, famed logician, author of the Seven Treatises; student of Dignāga's student, Īśvārasēna; said to have debated famed Hindu scholar Adi Shankara
Chanmyay Sayadaw, well-known monk and editor of the Buddhist Scriptures in Pali for reciting Buddhist scriptures at the Sixth Buddhist Council in Myanmar
Taung Galay Sayadaw, Karen Theravadin Buddhist monk, and also known as a prolific writer and a historian
Sayadaw U Narada, planted many thousands of Bodhi trees, built thousands of pagodas and Buddha statues
Sayadaw U Pannavamsa, prominent Buddhist monk, known for his missionary work, particularly in Sri Lanka and Malaysia
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta (1516-1581), king of the Toungoo Dynasty, assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, viewed himself as the protector of Theravada Buddhism, and had long tried to promote and protect the religion in Ceylon, introduced more orthodox Theravada Buddhism to Upper Burma and the Shan states, prohibited all human and animal sacrifices throughout the kingdom
Harsha (606–648), Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism
Hulagu Khan, Mongol ruler who conquered much of Southwest Asia, he converted to Buddhism on his deathbed, spending most of his life as a Nestorian Christian
Nyanatiloka Mahathera, (1878–1957), translated several important Theravadin Pali texts into German, also wrote a Pali grammar, an anthology, and a Buddhist dictionary
Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu (1905–1960), is remembered for his reliable translations from the Pali into English, remarkable command of the Pali language and a wide knowledge of the canonical scriptures
Bhikkhu Bodhi (1944–), second president of the Buddhist Publication Society and has edited and authored several publications grounded in the Theravada Buddhist tradition
Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (1949–), known for his translations of almost 1000 Sutta in all and providing the majority of the sutta translations in a website known as "Access to Insight"
Bhikkhu Analayo (1962–), known for his comparative studies of Early Buddhist Texts as preserved by the various early Buddhist traditions
Buddhādasa Bhikkhu, his works literally take up an entire room in the National Library of Thailand, and inspired a group of Thai social activists and artists of the 20th century
Joseph Goldstein (1944–), one of the first American Vipassana teachers, contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism
Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda (1919–2006), Buddhist monk and scholar. in Malaysia, wrote approximately 60 Buddhist works, ranging from small pamphlets to texts of over 700 pages
Achan Sobin S. Namto (1931–), taught Vipassana meditation and Buddhist psychology in Southeast Asia and North America for over 50 years
Phra Dhammavisuddhikavi (1936–), Ex-Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Mahamakut Buddhist University and has written 70 books on Buddhism
P.A. Payutto (1937–), lectured and written extensively about a variety of topics related to Buddhism, awarded the 1994 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education
Phra Paisal Visalo, writing and editing books on environment and Buddhism, co-founder of Sekiyadhamma, a network of socially engaged monks in Thailand
Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu, (1979–), facilitates a meditation website for groups and individuals, maintains a YouTube channel where hosts both live chatrooms and pre-recorded videos answering viewers' questions about Theravada Buddhism
Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), major revivalist of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and a Buddhist modernist for his efforts in interpreting Buddhism through a Westernized len
Shunryū Suzuki (1904–1971), Sōtō Zen monk and teacher who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States
Sharon Salzberg (1953–), teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in the West, and also a New York Times Best selling author
Sheng-yen (1930–2009), religious scholar, one of the most respected teachers of Chinese Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism, and founder of spiritual and educational organization Dharma Drum Mountain
Taixu (1890–1947), activist and thinker who advocated the reform and renewal of Chinese Buddhism
Yin Shun (1906–2005), bring forth the ideal of "Humanistic" (human-realm) Buddhism and regenerated the interests in the long-ignored Āgamas among Chinese Buddhists
Mazie Hirono, U.S. Senator (2013–), U.S. Congresswoman (2007–2013) and Democrat from Hawaii; first elected female Senator from Hawaii, first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate, first U.S. Senator born in Japan and the nation's first Buddhist Senator
Pomnyun, South Korean Buddhist monk, Zen master, and peace activist who received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 2002 for his peace activism on the issue of Korean peninsula. (Korean Seon)
Robert Downey Junior (1965-), Americanjewish buddhist who is well-known as Iron Man. He has said many times that it has helped him with his drug and alcohol addiction.He was honored by Time Magazine's "Time 100" in 2008, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. His laurels include two Academy Award nominations, three Golden Globe wins, numerous other award nominations and wins, and tremendous popular and commercial success, particularly in his roles as Sherlock Holmes and Tony Stark (the latter of which he has so far played in Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). For three consecutive years, from 2012 to 2015, Downey has topped the Forbes list of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, making an estimated $80 million in earnings between June 2014 and June 2015.(Theravada)[11][12]
Ayushman Khurrana (1984-), is a Indian flim actor and activists. Ayushmann Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap are followers of Nichiren Buddhism, which has provided the fuel to fight their battles against cancer. Buddhism has also helped Khurrana articulate his journey as an actor better. “I practice Nichren Buddhism. It has taught me that you have to be mentally strong. It has an impact on your physical being. It (cancer) was a minor frustration for me. But I accepted it truly. I decided that I will not live in denial and hide it from the world,” says Tahira, who was detected with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) with high grade malignant cells last year. ( Niciren Buddhism) [21]
Kumar Sangakkara (1977-) is a Sri Lankan cricket commentator, former professional cricketer, businessman, ICC Hall of Fame inductee, and the former president of Marylebone Cricket Club. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wicket-keeper-batters in the history of the sport.[25][26] (Theravada)
Lasith Malinga (1981- ) is a Sri Lankan professional cricket player and Captain of T20 International cricket of Sri Lanka. he is considered as one of the greatest limited-overs bowlers of all time. He has got a lot of popularity for his ability to take Hat-trick in all three formats of the game. In addition to this, Malinga is the first player to take two world cup Hat-trick and three Hat-tricks in the ODIs.(Theravada)[27]
Tillakaratne Dilshan (1976–), Sri Lankan cricket player who converted from Islam to Buddhism at the age of 16, previously known as Tuwan Muhammad Dilshan. (Theravada)[28]
Tillakaratne Sampath (1982–), Sri Lankan cricket player who was previously known as Tuwan Mohammad Nishan Sampath
Lisa Simpson, feminist and daughter of Homer and Marge Simpson, character from the cartoon The Simpsons Episode 275 (Season 13 Episode 6) "She of Little Faith"
[[Lenny and Carl#Carl Carlson|]], Carl Carlson and Lenny Leonard
![Buddha and his disciples; the world's tallest walking statue of the Buddha, in Kandy, Sri Lanka[1]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Walking_statue_of_the_Buddha.JPG/440px-Walking_statue_of_the_Buddha.JPG)
