Question
Here is the question : WHICH ACTOR IS A DEVOUT BUDDHIST WHO HAS STUDIED WITH THE DALAI LAMA?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Johnny Depp
- Richard Gere
- Sean Penn
- Tom Cruise
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
Richard Gere is an actor best known for his status as a sex symbol and his leading film roles, including in American Gigolo, An Officer and A Gentleman, Pretty Woman and Chicago. Throughout his career, Gere has devoted most of his time to his social and political issues. The longtime Buddhist has been the chairman of the board for the International Campaign for Tibet since 1995, and he co-founded the Tibet House in 1987. In order to assist the promotion of human rights in Tibet, he founded the Gere Foundation. He also actively supports the Dalai Lama.
Richard Gere is a devout Buddhist actor who has studied directly under Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. Gere developed a deep interest in Tibetan Buddhism in the 1970s and has been an outspoken activist for Tibetan rights and independence. He considers himself a devout Buddhist practitioner and has said “the Dalai Lama’s philosophy of compassion, tolerance, and nonviolence speaks to me very deeply.”
Gere began practicing Tibetan Buddhism in the late 1970s after reading books by Chogyam Trungpa. He became disillusioned with Hollywood’s empty materialism and found spiritual purpose studying meditation and yoga. Gere believes Buddhism has helped him develop greater compassion, patience, and wisdom in both his personal and professional life. He has cited Buddhist teachings as instrumental to overcoming past struggles with addiction and infidelity.
Gere is also a vocal advocate for Tibetan autonomy and has supported the Dalai Lama’s campaign of nonviolent resistance against Chinese rule. He helped found the Gere Foundation which supports humanitarian aid and educational programs in Tibet. Gere has met with the Dalai Lama on multiple occasions, discussing spiritual and political topics, and considers him a personal teacher and friend.
Though Gere’s spirituality and activism have been lifelong pursuits, they are frequently overlooked aspects of his public persona. He is better known as a prominent leading man in major Hollywood films from the 1980s through 2000s, including American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Chicago. However, Gere believes his Buddhist faith has been instrumental to navigating a career that often prioritized fame, status and material excess over deeper meaning or purpose.
Buddhism has provided Gere with an ethical framework to guide him beyond mere celebrity or success. It has enabled a journey of self-reflection, compassion and spiritual growth through a life both blessed and troubled. Gere remains an outspoken proponent of religious harmony, believing all faiths share the same fundamental truths about love, virtue and the holy quest for wisdom. His devotion to Buddhism continues to shape him into an advocate for peace, justice and a more ethical worldview.
Though Richard Gere is best known as one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs, his lifelong commitment to Buddhist philosophy and activism reminds us of the profound purpose that exists beneath the spectacle. Gere’s spirituality has provided direction through triumph and struggle alike, inspiring a journey of meaning far beyond any role or relationship. His powerful yet understated faith continues to shape him into a deeply principled, generous and truth-seeking man.