Bloom Becomes Buddhist

[Miss Knightley]

Movie hunk Orlando Bloom has committed himself to Buddhism in an hour- long ceremony in Britain. The Lord Of The Rings star joined 60 others in a ritual at the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist Movement headquarters at Taplow Court Mansion in Maidenhead, England, on Saturday reports British newspaper Daily Mirror. The publicity-shy actor visited the center to receive his Gohonzon - a Chinese and Sandskrit characters on it - from director Ricky Barnes. One visitor says, "He shook Ricky's hand like the other people getting their Gohonzons and looked calm. When everyone had theirs we all clapped and cheered. "Afterwards we all had a cup of tea together and Orlando went to the gift shop. People were queuing up to get his autograph and have their picture taken with him. "He was very friendly and didn't seem to mind."

From IMDB News.

[Celede]

yea there's been uproar about this... some say its not true and others are waiting for conformation from Orlando or Robin

Someone posted this at IMDb and im inclined to agree

I doubt very much you'll seen confirmation or denial from Robin or Orlando. His religion and personal spiritual philosophy are no one's business but his own, after all.

Orlando's mother has confirmed his interest in Buddhism in past interviews, saying that its teachings helped her son when he hurt his back and was in chronic pain/had life affecting questions. Please don't ask me to find this for you - if you want a reference, orlandomultiimedia.net or one of the other comprehensive sites probably has the interview on file. It was an interview in an English publication, shortly after Troy came out if I remember correctly.

He had a private session with the Dalai Lama in Australia while filming Ned Kelly. There are photos of him with the Dalai Lama and a prayer scarf - which you present to a Buddhist monk upon meeting him or her, and they return to you as a ritual gesture. No details of that meeting have ever surfaced, none should.

He's on record as having attended at least one Tibetan Buddhist conference in L.A.

He's been known to chant between filming scenes to ground himself - some called it "humming". It's a specific sound for a specific purpose, easily idenitifiable to anyone familiar with Buddhism.

You can be Christian and Buddhist at the same time. Please do some research on Tibetan Buddhism or Zen Buddhism before jumping to any fearful conclusions. And in the end, it's no one's business but his own what faith he belongs to. "My religion is loving kindness," the Dalai Lama has said. He was involved with meditation/Buddhism before his fans came along, which means it may be part of why those who meet him feel so grounded. Tibetan B. monks have the same effect when you meet them.

In the end, we protect from those who don't or can't undersand what's valuable to us. I don't look for Orlando to give an interview on meditation or the Four Noble Truths anytime soon.

[OrliKeiraluva]

I'm a devoted Christian, but it's his choice, so I try to support him and hope he's always happy... And whoa! quite some news huh? ...

[Jems]

Whatever makes him happy. Im not into the religion thing, so it doesn't bother me.

[Reens]

Religion is absolutely a person's own business. I support him as an actor, regardless.