List of Buddhists Totally Explained

Everything about List Of Historical Buddhist Teachers totally explained

A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists.

Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools

Individuals are grouped by nationality, except in cases where the vast majority of their influence was felt elsewhere. Gautama Buddha and his contemporary disciples ('Buddhists') are listed separately from later Indian Buddhist thinkers, teachers and contemplatives.

Buddha's disciples and early Buddhists

ť See also: and

The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama
Ambapali
Ananda, Siddhartha's cousin, personal attendant of the Buddha and one of his chief disciples
Anathapindika
Angulimala
Anuruddha
Assaji
Ajatasattu
Bhaddiya
Bimbisara
Channa
Citta
Cunda
Dabba Mallaputta
Devadatta, another cousin of Siddhartha and later rival who attempted to assassinate the Buddha
Dhammadinna
Hatthaka of Alavi
Janussoni
Jayasena
Jivaka Komarabhacca
Maha Kaccana
Kaccayana Gotta
Kankharevata
Maha Kappina
Kasi Bharadvaja
Kevatta
Khema
Khujjuttara
Kisa Gotami
Kondañña
Maha Kotthika
Magandiya
Mahākāśyapa
Mahanama
Mallika
Maudgalyayana (Sanskrit, Moggallana Pali), one of two chief disciples of the Buddha.
Maya Devi
Migara
Nanda
Maha Pajapati Gotami
Pasenadi
Pukkusati
Punna
Rahula, only child of Prince Siddhartha and Yashodhara before Siddhartha renounced and began his search for Enlightenment
Ratthapala
Revata
Samavati
Sariputta (Pali, Shariputra Sanskrit), one of the two chief disciples of the Buddha.
Subhuti
Suddhodana
Sundari
Sunita
Tissa
Udena
Upali, foremost disciple in knowledge of the Vinaya.
Uppalavanna
Vacchagotta
Vappa
Velukandakiya
Visakha
Yasa
Yashodhara, wife of Prince Siddhartha before he renounced and began his search for Enlightenment

Later Indian Buddhists (after Buddha)

Aryadeva, foremost disciple of Nagarjuna, continued the philosophical school of Madhyamika

Asanga, under of the Yogachara school, widely considered the most important Mahayana philosopher (with Nagarjuna)

Atisha, holder of the “mind training” (Tib. lojong) teachings, considered an indirect founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism

Bhavaviveka, early expositor of the Svatantrika Madhyvh,.amikha

Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen/Chán

Bodhiruci, patriarch of the Ti-Lun school

Buddhabhadra, founding abbot and patriarch of the Shaolin temple

Buddhaghosa, (Theravadin commentator)

Buddhapalita, early expositor of the Prasangika Madhyamikha

Candragomin, renowned grammarian

Chandrakirti, considered the greatest exponent of Prasangika Madhyamika

Dharmakirti, famed logician, author of the Seven Treatises; student of Dignana's student Ishvarasena; said to have debated famed Hindu scholar Shankara

Dignaga, famed logician

Gunaprabha, foremost student of Vasubandhu, known for his work the Vinayasutra

Kamalashila (8th century), author of important texts on meditation

Luipa, one of the eighty-four tantric Mahasiddhas

Nagarjuna, founder of the Madhyamika school, widely considered the most important Mahayana philosopher (with Asanga)

Nagpopa, one of the eighty-four tantric mahasiddas

Nadapada, (Tib. Naropa), Tilopa's primary disciple, teacher of Marpa the Translator and Khungpo Nyaljor

Padmasambhava (Tib. Guru Rinpoche) Indian founder of Tibetan Buddhism

Prahevajra (Tib. Garab Dorje) Indian founder of Dzogchen (Total Perfection) tradition

Sakyaprabha, prominent expositor of the Vinaya

Saraha, famed mahasiddha, forefather of the Tibetan Kagyu lineage

Shantarakshita, abbot of Nalanda, founder of the Yogachara-Madhyamika who helped Padmasambhava establish Buddhism in Tibet

Shantideva, (8th century) author of the Bodhisattvacaryavatra

Talika, (Tilopa in Tibetan), recipient of four separate transmissions from Nagarjuna, Nagpopa, Luipa, and Khandro Kalpa Zangmo; Naropa's teacher

Vasubandhu, author of (1) the Abhidharmakosha and (2) various Yogacara treatises; these may or may not be the same person

Vimuktisena, commentator on texts of Asanga's

Indo-Greek

Dharmaraksita (3rd century BCE), Greek Buddhist missionary of Ashoka the Great, and a teacher of Nagasena.

Mahadharmaraksita (2nd century BCE), Greek Buddhist master during the time of Menander.

Nāgasena (2nd century BCE), Buddhist sage questioned about Buddhism by Milinda, the Indo-Greek king in the Milinda Pañha.

Central Asian

An Shih Kao, a Parthian monk and the first known Buddhist missionary to China, in 148 CE.

Dharmaraksa, a Yueh-Chih Buddhist monk, the first known translator of the Lotus Sutra into Chinese.

Jnanagupta (561-592), a monk and translator from Gandhara, Pakistan.

Kumarajiva (c. 401), a Kuchean monk, and one of the most important translators.

Lokaksema, a Kushan monk, the first translator of Mahayana scriptures into Chinese, around 180 CE.

Prajna (c. 810). A monk and translator from Kabul, who translated important texts into Chinese and educated the Japanese Kūkai in Sanskrit texts.

Chinese

Baizhang Huaihai

Bodhidharma(1st Patriarch of Zen in China)

Dahui Zonggao 12th century koan master

Dao Xin(4th Patriarch of Zen in China)

Daoji (Buddhist monk revered as a deity in Taoism)

Fa Ru

Fa Xian (translator and pilgrim)

Fazang

Fu Yu (福裕)

Hong Yi (also calligraphist, painter, master of seal carving)

Hongren (5th Patriarch of Zen in China)

Huangbo Xiyun 9th century, teacher of Linji

Hui Guang (慧光)

Huike (2nd Patriarch of Zen in China)(慧可大師)

Huineng (6th Patriarch of Zen in China)(慧能大師)

Yi Jing (pilgrim and translator)

Ingen (17th century Chinese Zen monk, founder of the Ōbaku sect of Zen)

Jinaluo

Jizang founder of the Three Treatise School

Jnanayasas (translator)

Joshu (9th century Chinese Zen monk)

Linji (9th century Chinese monk, founder of the Linji school of Zen)(臨濟)

Mazu 8th century Zen master, teacher of Zhaozhou

Mo-ho-yen 8th century Chinese monk, advocate of “sudden” enlightenment

Ou-Yang Jin-Wu

Pu Ji

Sanghapala (6th century monk (Mon-Khmer?) who translated many texts to Chinese)

Seng Chou (僧稠)

Sengcan (3rd Patriarch of Zen in China)

Shenxiu (Tang Dynasty, Patriarch of "Northern School" Zen sect)

Wumen Huikai (author of the Gateless Gate Japanese: Mumonkan)

Xuanzang (brought Yogacara to China to found Faxiang school, significant pilgrim, translator)

Yunmen Wenyan (founder of one of the five Chán schools)

Zhaozhou 9th century Chán master; noted for "Mu" koan

Zhiyi (founder of Tiantai school)

Zongmi (WG: Tsung-mi; fifth patriarch of Chinese Huayan school)

Tibetan

Gampopa, a student of Jetsun Milarepa and founder of the Karma Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

Dolpopa founder of the Jonang school and the Shentong philosophy

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, the first Jamgon Kongtrul

Karsey Kongtrül, the second Jamgon Kongtrul

Khungpo Nyaljor, founder of the Shangpa Kagyü lineage

Longchenpa one of the greatest Nyingma philosophers

Mandarava, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava

Marpa (Marpa the Translator, Marpa of Lhobrag), student of Naropa and a founder of the Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism

Milarepa, a foremost student of Marpa Lotsawa who is said to have achieved buddhahood in one lifetime

Padmasambhava, (Tib. Guru Rinpoche) Indian founder of Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism

Sakya Pandita one of the greatest Sakya philosophers

Taranatha important Jonang scholar

Tsongkhapa (14th century Tibetan monk, founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, based upon the Kadam tradition)

Yeshe Tsogyal, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava

Japanese

Bankei Yōtaku (1622-1693), 'Unborn' Zen

Deiryu, Jun-san - zen monk and artist. (1895-1954)

Dogen Zenji (founder of Soto Zen, based upon the Chinese Caodong tradition)

Eisai (12th century Japanese monk, travelled to China and returned to found the Japanese Rinzai sect of Zen)

Ippen, founder of the Japanese Pure Land Ji sect (Ji-shu)

Ikkyu

Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769, Rinzai Zen)

Hōnen, founder of the Japanese Pure Land Jodo sect (Jodo-shu)

Kūkai (9th century Japanese monk, founder of Shingon)

Myoe (Japanese monk of the Shingon and Kegon schools, known for his propagation of the Mantra of Light)

Nakahara Nantenbo, Toju Zenchu- Zen master and artist. 1839-1925

Nichiren (founder of Nichiren Buddhism)

Nikkō (founder of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism)

Rōben (8th century Japanese monk, invited Simsang to Japan and founded the Kegon tradition, based upon the Korean Hwaeom school)

Ryōkan (18th century Japanese Zen monk and poet)

Saichō (9th century Japanese monk, founder of Tendai tradition, based upon the Chinese Tiantai school)

Shinran, founder of the Japanese Pure Land Jodo Shin sect (Jodo Shinshu) and disciple of Hōnen

Takuan Sōhō (Zen teacher, and, according to legend, mentor of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi)

Yamamoto Gempo Zen Master (1866-1961)

Korean

Gihwa (1376-1433) Korean Seon monk; wrote commentaries on the Diamond Sutra and Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment

Jinul Korean Seon monk (1158-1210); founder of modern Korean gong'an meditation system

Simsang (8th century Korean monk, who at the request of Rōben helped transmit Hwaeom to Japan, thereby founding the Japanese Kegon tradition)

Uisang (7th century Korean monk, founder of Hwaeom tradition, based upon the Chinese Huayan school)

Wonhyo (617-668) Korean monk; prolific commentator on Mahayana sutras

Woncheuk

Thai

Ajahn Chah Subhatto

Ajahn Maha Bua (Luang Ta Maha Bua)

Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta, Thai Buddhist monk who is credited with establishing the Thai Forest Tradition

Ajahn Sao Kantasilo

Phramonkolthepmuni (1885-1959) (Thai monk who founded the Dhammakaya Tradition)

Somdej Toh (Thai monk specializing in magical amulets)

Historical rulers and political figures

Ashoka the Great (304–232 BC), Mauryan Emperor of ancient India, and the first Buddhist ruler to send Buddhist missionaries outside of India throughout the Old World (阿育王)

Brhadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty

Menander (Pali: Milinda), 2nd century BCE, an Indo-Greek king of northwestern India, who questioned Nāgasena about Buddhism in the Milinda Pañha, and is said to have become an arhat.

Theodorus (1st century BCE), Indo-Greek governor, author of a Buddhist dedication.

Kanishka, ruler of the Kushan Empire

Shōtoku (574-622), crown prince and regent of Japan

Liang Wudi (梁武帝) (502-549), emperor during the Chinese Liang Dynasty

Harshavardhana (606-648), Indian emperor who converted to Buddhism.

Wu Zetian

Jayavarman VII (1181-1219), king of Cambodia

Anawrahta (1044-1077), first unifier and Buddhist King of Myanmar. Introduced Buddhism to Myanmar.

Mindon Min (1808–1878), king of Myanmar and facilitator of "Fifth World Theravada Buddhist Council" or Fifth Sangayana

Mongkut, king of Thailand and founder of the Thammayut Nikaya

Emperor Ming of Han China.

Tang Dynasty

Kublai Khan Mongol Ruler.

Modern teachers

Theravada teachers

Ajahn Amaro (1956- )

Venerable Ananda Maitreya (1896-1998)

Bhikkhu Bodhi (1944- )

Ajahn Brahm (1951- )

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1906-1993)

Ajahn Chah (1918-1992)

Dipa Ma (1911-1989)

S. N. Goenka (Born 1924)

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (1927- )

Ayya Khema (1923-1997)

Venerable Ledi Sayadaw (1846-1923)

Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw (1904-1982)

Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta (1870-1949)

Preah Maha Ghosananda (1929-2007), Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia

Ajahn Sumedho (1934- )

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1949- )

U Ba Khin (1899-1971)

Bikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnanananda (1979- )

Tibetan Buddhist teachers

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935)(External Link

)

Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002)

Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987)

Dhardo Rimpoche (1917-1990)

Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987)

Kalu Rinpoche (1905-1989)

Pawo Rinpoche (1912-1991)

Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924–1981), the 16th Karmapa

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, (1920-1996), Dzogchen, Mahamudra and the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa (Chokling Tersar).

Thubten Zopa Rinpoche

Zen teachers

Japanese

Soyen Shaku, Rōshi (1859-1919)

D.T. Suzuki (1870-1966)

Harada Daiun Sogaku (1871-1961)

Bassui Tokushō (1327-1387)

Nyogen Senzaki, Rōshi (1876-1958)

Katsube Keigaku

Eido Tai Shimano (b. 1932)

Genki Takabayashi (b. 1933)

Kodo Sawaki (1880-1965)

Haku'un Yasutani, Rōshi (1885-1973)

Jakushitsu Genkō (1290–1367)

Keido Fukushima

Imakita Kosen (1816-1892)

Sesshū Tōyō (1420-1506)

Shodo Harada (b. 1940)

Sesson Yūbai (1290-1348)

Shunryu Suzuki, Rōshi (1904-1971)

Muso Kokushi (1275-1351)

Taisen Deshimaru (1914-1982)

Soko Morinaga, Rōshi (1925-1995)

Dainin Katagiri (1928-1990)

Taizan Maezumi (1931-1995)

Soyu Matsuoka, Rōshi (?-1998)

Oda Sesso (1901-1966)

Soen Nakagawa (1907-1984)

Yamada Koun (1907-1989)

Harada Daiun Sogaku (1871-1961)

Sobin Yamada

Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769)

Bankei Yōtaku (1622-1693)

Zenkei Shibayama (1894-1974) Chinese

Ven. Hsu Yun (1840-1959)

Ven. Guang Qin (1892-1986)

Ven. Hsuan Hua (1918-1995)

Ven. Hsing Yun (1927-)

Ven. Fayun (1933-2003)

Ven. Sheng-yen (1931-) European

John Garrie Roshi (1923 - 1998) American

Anne Hopkins Aitken, (1911-1994)

Bodhin Kjolhede, Rōshi (1948- )

Brad Warner, Sensei

Cheri Huber

Daito Zenei Eric Thompson, Sensei (1956- )

Daizui MacPhillamy, Rev. Master (19??-2003)

Elihu Genmyo Smith (1948-)

Genjo Marinello (1954- )

Dogo Barry Graham (1966-)

Haju Linda Murray, Sunim (1944 -)

Jakusho Kwong, Rōshi (1935- )

Houn Jiyu-Kennett (1924-1996)

James Ishmael Ford, Rōshi (1948- )

Jeff Tipp, [ pŏpsa], Jidō Pŏpsanim

Jiyu Kennett, Rōshi (1924-1996)

John Crook (1930- )

John Daido Loori, Rōshi

John Tarrant, Roshi (1949 - )

Joko Beck (1917- )

Kobutsu Shindo Malone, Rōshi

Kongo Richard Langlois Roshi (1935-1999)

Paul Haller, Rōshi

Paul Lynch, [Dochongpŏpsa], Jidō Pŏpsanim (1957- )

Philip Kapleau, Rōshi (1912-2004)

Robert Baker Aitken, Rōshi (1917- )

Ji Bong Haeŭm sŏnsa, [RobertMoore], Zen Master (1941- )

Sevan Ross, Sensei (1951- )

Sherry Chayat, (1943- )

Soeng Hyang (Barbara Rhodes)

Tenshin Reb Anderson

Tetsugen Bernard Glassman, Rōshi

Zentatsu Richard Baker, Rōshi

Zoketsu Norman Fischer

Ven. Heng Sure (1949-) Korean

Samu Sunim (born 1941)

Seung Sahn, Soen Sa (1927-2004)

Seongcheol, Soen Sa (1912-1993) Vietnamese

Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-)

Thich Chan Khong (1938-)

Thich Thien An (1926-1980)

Miscellaneous

Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933),

Issan Dorsey (1933-1997)

Modern scholars in Buddhist studies

Eugène Burnouf (1801–1852)

Robert Caesar Childers (1838-1876)

Robert Chalmers (1858-1938)

B. R. Ambedkar (1891-1956)

Edward Conze (1904-1979)

A. K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

Viggo Fausböll (1821 - 1908)

Wilhelm Geiger (1856-1943)

Victor Sogen Hori

Takakusu Junjirō (1866-1945)

A.P. Buddhadatta Mahathera (1887-1962)

Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera (1899-1973)

Hermann Oldenberg (1854-1920)

Jean Przyluski (1885-1944)

C.A.F. Rhys Davids (1857-1942)

T.W. Rhys Davids (1843-1922)

D.T. Suzuki (1870-1966)

Dr.John Crook (1930 - )

Jack Kornfield

Modern Buddhist authors

Nakamura Hajime (1911-1999)

Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945)

Nishitani Keiji (1900-1990)

Ven. Tai Xu (1890-1947)

Ven. Yin Shun (1906-2005)

Han Yong-un (1879-1944)

Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907)

Tanaka Chigaku (1861-1939)

Chittadhar Hridaya (1906-1982)

Alan Watts (1915-1973)

Modern politicians, activists, and protesters

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956)

Celebrity Buddhists

Orlando Bloom, English actor

Leonard Cohen Canadian singer/songwriter/poet

Richard Gere, American actor

Angelina Jolie, American actress, humanist activist, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency

Tina Turner, American singer-songwriter

Uma Thurman, American actress

Miranda Kerr, Australian supermodel, one of Victoria's Secret Angels

Jet Li, Chinese martial artist, Hollywood actor

Kate Hudson

Allen Ginsberg, poet

Philip Glass, composer

Phil Jackson, Basketball coach of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers

K.D. Lang, Canadian singer

Courtney Love, American singer-songwriter

Alanis Morissette, Canadian singer-songwriter

Victor Pelevin, novelist

Keanu Reeves, American actor

Brenda Song, Asian American Actress

Sting, English singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of The Police

Thuy Trang (1973-2001), Vietnamese American Actress

Tiger Woods American Golfer

Naomi Watts, British-Australian actress.

Sharon Stone, American actress, producer, and former fashion model.

Ming-Na Wen, Chinese American Actress

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc.

Steven Seagal, American actor and aikido expert

Fictional Buddhists

Lisa Simpson, feminist and daughter of Homer and Marge Simpson

Yoh Asakura, protagonist of the anime/manga Shaman King

Trini Kwan, original Yellow Ranger of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Wendy Wu, protagonist of the Disney Channel Original Movie Further Information

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