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.
Philosophers and founders of schools 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.
Buddha's disciples and early Buddhists
Gautama Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama
Clergy Ānanda, the Buddha's cousin, personal attendant of the Buddha and a chief disciple Aṅgulimāla, serial killer who attained to sainthood after renouncing wickedness Anuruddhā, one of the ten principal disciples Aśvajit, one of the first five disciples of the Buddha Devadatta, another cousin of Siddhārtha and later rival who attempted to assassinate the Buddha Kātyāyana, foremost in explaining the Dharma Kaundinya (also known as Kondañña or Ājñātakauṇḍinya), the first arhat and one of the first five disciples of the Buddha Khemā, a chief of the women disciples Kisā Gautamī Mahākāśyapa Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, Buddha's aunt and foster mother, as well as the first woman to be ordained Maudgalyāyana, one of two chief disciples of the Buddha Nanda, younger half-brother of the Buddha Paṭācārā Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja Pūrṇamaitrāyaṇīputra, one of the ten principal disciples Rāhula, son of Siddhārtha and Yasodharā Revata Śāriputra one of two chief disciples of the Buddha Subhūti, one of the ten principal disciples Sundarī Nandā, the Buddha's half-sister Sunīta, a low-caste man who reached enlightenment Upāli, foremost disciple in knowledge of the Vinaya Utpalavarṇā Yasodharā, Siddhārtha's wife before he renounced the palace life
Laity Amrapali, royal courtesan who donated her mango grove, Ambapali vana to the Order Anathapindika, wealthy merchant, banker and the chief male patron Ajātasattu, King of Magadha and the son of King Bimbisāra Bimbisāra, King of Magadha Chandaka, prince Siddhārtha's charioteer Citta, wealthy merchant and chief lay male disciple of the Buddha and an Anāgāmi Cunda Kammāraputta, a smith who gave the Buddha his last meal Hatthaka of Alavi, chief lay male disciple of the Buddha and an Anāgāmi Khujjuttara, one of the Buddha's foremost female lay disciples and the servant of Queen Samavati Pasenadi, King of Kosala Samavati, one of the queens of King Udena of Kosambi and a Sotāpanna Śuddhodana, leader of the Shakya clan and father of the Buddha Velukandakiya, lay female disciple Viśākhā, an aristocratic woman and chief female patron
Later Indian Buddhists (after Buddha)
Aryadeva, foremost disciple of Nagarjuna, continued the philosophical school of Madhyamaka Aśvaghoṣa, Sarvāstivāda Buddhist philosopher, dramatist, poet and orator from India Atiśa, holder of the "mind training" teachings, considered an indirect founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism B. R. Ambedkar, founder of Navayāna Bhāviveka, early expositor of the Svatantrika branch of the Madhyamaka school Bodhidharma, founder of Chan Buddhism Bodhiruci, patriarch of the Dilun (Chinese: ) school Batuo, founding abbot and patriarch of the Shaolin Monastery Buddhaghosa, Theravadin commentator Buddhapālita, early expositor of the Prasaṅgika branch of the Madhyamaka school Chandragomin, renowned grammarian 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 Dharmakīrtiśrī, author of the "Wheel of Sharp Weapons" in what is believed to be modern Sumatra, Malay, or Burma Dignāga, famed logician Kamalaśīla (8th century), author of important texts on meditation Kumārajīva, Buddhist monk, scholar, missionary and translator from the Kingdom of Kucha, Central Asia Luipa, one of the eighty-four tantric Mahasiddhas Nagarjuna, founder of the Madhyamaka school, widely considered the most important Mahayana philosopher (with Asanga) Nadapada (Tibetan: Naropa), Tilopa's primary disciple, teacher of Marpa the Translator and Khungpo Nyaljor Saraha, famed mahasiddha, forefather of the Kagyu lineage Śāntarakṣita, abbot of Nalanda, founder of the Yogacara who helped Padmasambhava establish Buddhism in Tibet Shantideva (8th century), author of the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra Śīlabhadra, Buddhist monk and philosopher and erstwhile abbot of Nālandā University in India Tilopa, recipient of four separate transmissions from Nagarjuna, Nagpopa, Luipa, and Khandro Kalpa Zangmo; Naropa's teacher
Indo-Greek Dharmaraksita (3rd century BCE), Greek Buddhist missionary sent by emperor Ashoka, and a teacher of the monk 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 Shigao, Parthian monk and the first known Buddhist missionary to China, in 148 CE Dharmarakṣa, Yuezhi monk, the first known translator of the Lotus Sutra into Chinese Jñānagupta (561–592), monk and translator from Gandhara Kumārajīva (c. 401), Kuchan monk and one of the most important translators Lokaksema, Kushan monk from Gandhara, first translator of Mahayana scriptures into Chinese, around 180 CE Prajñā (c. 810), monk and translator from Gandhara, who translated important texts into Chinese and educated the Japanese Kūkai in Sanskrit texts
Chinese
Baizhang Huaihai, Zen Buddhist master of Tang dynasty Bodhidharma, first patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Dahui Zonggao, 12th-century kōan master Daman Hongren, fifth patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Dayi Daoxin, fourth patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Dazu Huike, second patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Faxian, translator and pilgrim Fazang, the third of the five patriarchs of the Huayan school of Mahayana Buddhism, of which he is traditionally considered the founder. Guifeng Zongmi, fifth patriarch of the Huayan school Hong Yi, calligraphist, painter, master of seal carving Huangbo Xiyun, 9th-century teacher of Linji Yixuan Huineng, sixth and last patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Ingen, 17th-century Chinese Chan monk, founder of the Ōbaku sect of Zen Ji Gong, Buddhist monk revered as a deity in Taoism Jizang, founder of East Asian Mādhyamaka Jnanayasas, translator Linji Yixuan, 9th-century Chinese monk, founder of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism Mazu Daoyi, 8th-century Chan master Moheyan, 8th-century Chinese monk, advocate of "sudden" enlightenment Sanghapala, 6th-century monk (Mon-Khmer?) who translated many texts to Chinese Sengcan, third patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China Wumen Huikai, author of the Gateless Gate Xuanzang, brought Yogacara to China to found the East Asian Yogācāra school; significant pilgrim, translator Xueting Fuyu, 13th-century Shaolin Monastery abbot of the Caodong school Yijing, pilgrim and translator Yunmen Wenyan, founder of one of the five schools of Chan Buddhism Yuquan Shenxiu, Tang dynasty, patriarch of "Northern School" sect of Chan Buddhism Zhaozhou, 9th-century Chan master; noted for "Mu" koan Zhiyi, founder of the Tiantai school
Tibetan
Gampopa, student of Jetsun Milarepa and founder of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism Jigten Sumgön, founder of Drikung Kagyu Lineage Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, founder of the Jonang school and advocate of the shentong philosophy Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), leader of Rime (nonsectarian) movement Longchenpa, one of the greatest Nyingma philosophers Mandarava, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava Marpa Lotsawa, student of Naropa and a founder of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism Milarepa, foremost student of Marpa Lotsawa Padmasambhava, founder of Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism Karmapa, the founder of Karma Kagyu or Kamtsang Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism Jamgon Kongtrul, Tibetan Buddhist scholar, artist, physician and polymath and leader in Rime movement Sakya Pandita, one of the greatest Sakya philosophers Taranatha, important Jonang scholar Je Tsongkhapa, 14th-century Tibetan monk, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, based upon the Kadam Yeshe Tsogyal, important female student and consort of Padmasambhava Rongzom Mahapandita, important Nyingma scholar and meditation master of Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism
Japanese
Bankei Yōtaku (1622–1693), Zen master of the Rinzai school Dōgen Zenji (1200–1253), founder of the Sōtō school of Zen, based upon the Caodong school Eisai (1141–1215), travelled to China and returned to found the Rinzai school of Zen Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769), Rinzai school of Zen Hōnen (1133–1212), founder of the Jōdo-shū school of Pure Land Buddhism Ikkyū (1374–1481), Zen Buddhist monk and poet Ippen (1234–1289), founder of the Ji-shū sect of Pure Land Buddhism Kūkai (774–835), founder of Shingon Buddhism Myōe (1173–1232), monk of Kegon and Shingon Buddhism, known for his propagation of the Mantra of Light Nakahara Nantenbō (1839–1925), Zen master and artist Nichiren (1222–1282), founder of Nichiren Buddhism Nikkō (1246–1333), founder of Nichiren Shōshū Rōben (689–773), invited Simsang to Japan and founded the Kegon tradition based upon the Korean Hwaeom school Ryōkan (1758–1831), Zen monk and poet Saichō (767–822), founded Tendai school in Japan, also known by the posthumous title Dengyō Daishi Shinran (1173–1263), founder of the Jōdo Shinshū school of Pure Land Buddhism and disciple of Hōnen Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645), Zen teacher, and, according to legend, mentor of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi Gempō Yamamoto (1866–1961), Zen master Shinjō Itō (1906–1989), founder of Shinnyo-en
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 Uisang (7th century), Korean monk, founder of Hwaeom tradition, based upon the Chinese Huayan school Woncheuk Wonhyo (617–668), Korean monk; prolific commentator on Mahayana sutras
Burmese Shin Arahan (1034–1115), Thathanabaing of the Pagan Kingdom from 1056 to 1115 Taunggwin Sayadaw (1844–1938) last Buddhist monk to hold the official title of Thathanabaing of Burma Ledi Sayadaw (1846–1923), scholarly monk and propagator of Vipassanā meditation Mingun Jetawun Sayādaw (1868–1955), one of the key figures in the revival of Vipassanā meditation Sunlun Sayadaw (1878 - 1952), renowned Vipassanā meditation master and popular meditation teacher among the monks Webu Sayadaw (1896–1977), renowned Vipassanā meditation master Mogok Sayadaw (1899–1962), renowned Vipassanā meditation master Mahasi Sayadaw (1904–1982), who had significant impact on the Vipassana movement in the West and throughout Asia Thamanya Sayadaw (1910–2003), Buddhist monk of Pa-O descent and best known for his doctrinal emphasis on metta Mingun Sayadaw (1911–1993), best known for his memory skills and his important role in the Sixth Buddhist Council, awarded the title of Tipitakadhara, meaning Keeper and Guardian of the Tipitaka Panditarama Sayadaw (1921–2016), renowned Vipassanā meditation master who taught many Western meditation teachers and students Chanmyay Sayadaw (born 1928), well-known monk and editor of the Buddhist scriptures in Pali for the Sixth Buddhist Council Sayadaw U Pannavamsa (1928–2017), well known for his missionary work, the abbot of Dhammikarama Burmese Temple in Penang and Burmese Buddhist Temple (Singapore)