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Lords of the Rings star embraces Buddhism (Orlando Bloom)
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9652-Lords_of_the_Rings_star_embraces_Buddhism.html ^

Posted on 12/09/2004 3:13:31 PM PST by fishtank

Lords of the Rings star embraces Buddhism

Item 9652 • Posted: Wed, Dec. 08 2004 • Weblogged by ReligionNewsBlog.com

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Hindustan Times (India), Dec. 6, 2004 http://www.hindustantimes.com

Another Hollywood star Orlando Bloom is to become a Buddhist. The Lord of the Rings star, 27, took part in an hour long ceremony at a centre to commit himself to the faith, according to a Mirror report.

Orlando, who jealously guards his private life, joined 60 other fledgling Buddhists at the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist movement HQ at Taplow Court Mansion in Maidenhead, Berkshire. A visitor was cited: "He looked really happy. He looked comfortable and quite excited."

Bloom was presented with his Gohonzon, a scroll with Chinese and Sanskrit characters on it. Dressed in jeans, a camel coloured sweater and shirt, he accepted his scroll from centre director Ricky Baynes. An onlooker said: "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 take with him. He was very friendly and didn't seem to mind."

Orlando said his Gohonzon would take place of pride in his home. It is likely to be kept in a wooden shrine, surrounded by candles. He would chant the holy Japanese mantra nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the scroll twice a day. He must also read and recite two chapters from the Lotus Sutra holy scripture.

Orlando, who played elf Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has never publicly spoken about his religious faith but has often been seen clutching Buddhist prayer beads.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: buddhism; lotr
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To: highlandbreeze

"He's cute, but I prefer someone who looks more like...say...Gerard Butler."

Oh, now there's a man's man. And a woman's fantasy. He's gorgeous. Those eyes. I salivate.



121 posted on 12/15/2004 11:42:09 PM PST by flaglady47
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To: Mr. Jeeves

"He was OK in "Pirates", it's just that he got completely upstaged by Johnny Depp."

Of course he was upstaged by Johnny Depp. Depp was the star of the movie, not Orlando. Plus Depp has been an actor in a lot more films than Orlando has been in. Give Orlando time. I think he is a good actor with great potential.


122 posted on 12/15/2004 11:44:24 PM PST by flaglady47
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To: fishtank

There is nothing wrong with being Buddist, in south Asia it is more of a philosophy.


123 posted on 12/15/2004 11:47:19 PM PST by Porterville (Liberal babyboomers... creating hoops for professionals, to protect their unqualified positions)
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To: fishtank
I don't quite remember. Was he one of the gay Vulcan's?
124 posted on 12/15/2004 11:47:25 PM PST by BigCinBigD
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To: fishtank

lol!


125 posted on 12/15/2004 11:50:23 PM PST by ApesForEvolution (You will NEVER convince me that Muhammadanism isn't a death cult that must end. Save your time...)
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To: flaglady47

Yes, there's all that, but best of all, that broque. To die for!


126 posted on 12/16/2004 5:21:20 AM PST by highlandbreeze
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To: flaglady47

Ooh...thanks for reviving the thread again! Got to see that one picture again...few posts up.

Mmm...


127 posted on 12/16/2004 5:22:46 AM PST by RosieCotton (He is a very shallow critic who cannot see an eternal rebel in the heart of a conservative. - GKC)
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To: highlandbreeze

Hello again! ;-)


128 posted on 12/16/2004 5:23:25 AM PST by RosieCotton (He is a very shallow critic who cannot see an eternal rebel in the heart of a conservative. - GKC)
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To: fishtank

I don't see the appeal of nothingness and total self-abnegation.


129 posted on 12/16/2004 5:27:26 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: RosieCotton

Hello back!

=0)


130 posted on 12/16/2004 5:37:37 AM PST by highlandbreeze
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To: Conservative Canuck
What I meant was Buddhists never started religious wars like the Crusades, etc...

Maybe they will when they're attacked by Mohammedans for centuries, have their lands overrun, their places of worship destroyed, and their people forcibly converted.

131 posted on 12/16/2004 5:37:54 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: highlandbreeze
He's cute, but I prefer someone who looks more like...say...Gerard Butler.

Sean Bean. MMmmm. Eye Candy!


132 posted on 12/16/2004 5:49:02 AM PST by SuziQ (W: STILL the President)
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To: SuziQ

Oh yes, I like him too! Mmmmmm. ;-P


133 posted on 12/16/2004 6:03:53 AM PST by highlandbreeze
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To: Aquinasfan
What I meant was Buddhists never started religious wars like the Crusades, etc....
Maybe they will when they're attacked....

It would seem that Aquinasfan derives his definition of the word "started" from the source that provided the previous occupant of the White House with his definition of the word "is".

134 posted on 12/16/2004 9:58:07 AM PST by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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To: fishtank; All

I wonder if this former Buddhist is still running around loose. Would be great to get them together:

Another gleaning from old emails. THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE GOD STORIES . . . regarding a BUDDHIST MONK that God converted all on HIS own. . . . Addy's etc. are likely out of date.
From: "ANZAC prophetic list"

prophetic@storm-harvest.asn.au

To: ANZAC Prop List

prophetic@storm-harvest.asn.au

Subject: Resurrected Budhhist speaks

DAWN News service

A few weeks ago, we published the astonishing story of a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, who rose from the dead during his own funeral, three days after his death. The report was distributed on cassette. We have now obtained a translation of the report, of which this Friday Fax is a summary.

"We first heard of the events from a number of Burmese church leaders, who investigated the reports and have no doubt as to their authenticity. The monk, Athet Pyan Shintaw Paulu, has turned his life around, and suffers and risks much to tell his story. Nobody would undergo such hardship for nothing. He has already led hundreds of monks to Jesus, has been imprisoned, despised by his relatives, friends and colleagues, and been threatened with death if he does not tone down the reports. His current whereabouts are not certain: one Burmese source claims that he is in prison and may have been murdered, another that he is free and preaching."

(AMO: see below)

MY NAME IS ATHET PYAN SHINTAW PAULU

I was born in 1958 in Bogale in the Irrawaddy Delta, Southern Myanmar (Burma). When I became 18 years of age, my Buddhist parents sent me as a novice to a monastery. At 19, I became a monk, entering the Mandalay Kyaikasan Kyaing monastery, where I was instructed by probably the most famous Buddhist teacher of the time, U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw, who was killed in a car crash in 1983. I was given a new name when I entered the monastery: U Nata Pannita Ashinthuriya.

I tried to deny my own selfish thoughts and desires; even when mosquitoes landed on my arm, I would let them bite me instead of brushing them away. I became very ill, and the doctors diagnosed a combination of Malaria and Yellow Fever. After a month in hospital, they told me that they could do no more for me, and discharged me so that I could prepare myself for my death. Back in the monastery, I became ever weaker, and finally lost consciousness.

I only discovered that I had died later: my body started to decay and smelled of death, my heart had ceased beating. My body was put through the Buddhist cleansing rites.

BUT MY SPIRIT WAS WIDE AWAKE

I found myself in a powerful storm which blew everything away. Not a single tree, nothing was left standing. I was in an empty plain. After some time, I crossed a river, and saw a terrible lake of fire. I was confused, because Buddhism knows no such thing. I did not know that it was Hell until I met Yama, the King of Hell. His face was that of a lion, his feet like snakes, and he had many horns on his head. When I asked his name, he said 'I am the King of Hell, the Destroyer'. I then saw the saffron-coloured robes of Myanmar's monks in the fire, and upon looking closer, saw U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw's shaven head. 'Why is he in the lake of fire?'

I asked. 'He was a very good teacher; his cassette "Are you a human or a dog?" helped thousands of people recognise that they are worth more than a dog.' 'Yes, he was a good teacher,' said Yama, 'but he did not believe in Jesus Christ. That's why he is in Hell.'

BUDDHA IN HELL

I was then shown another man, with long hair bound in a ball on the left side of his head. He also wore a robe, and when I asked who he was, I was told 'Gautama, who you worship (Buddha).' I was distraught. Buddha in Hell, with all of his ethics and moral character?' 'It is not important how good he was. He did not believe in the eternal God, so he is in Hell,' answered the King of Hell.

I also saw Aung San, the revolutionary leader. 'He is here because he persecuted and killed Christians, but mainly because he did not believe in Jesus Christ,' I was told. Another man was very tall, wearing armour and carrying a sword and shield. He had a wound on his forehead. He was larger than anyone else I could see, around 22 feet tall. The King of Hell said 'That is Goliath, who is in Hell because he mocked the eternal God and his servant David.'

I had never heard of either Goliath or David. Another 'King of Hell' approached me and asked 'Are you also going into the lake of fire?'. 'No,' I said, 'I am just here to look.' 'You are right,' the creature said. 'You only came to look. I can't find your name. You'll have to go back to where you came from.'

On the way back, I saw two paths, one wide, one narrow. The narrow path, which I followed for about an hour, was soon made of pure gold. I could see my own reflection perfectly! A man calling himself Peter told me 'Now go back to tell the people who worship Buddha and other gods that they will end up in Hell if they do not change. They should believe in Jesus.

He then gave me a new name: Athet Pyan Shintaw Paulu (Paul, who returned to life). The next thing I heard was my mother crying. 'Son, why are you leaving us now?!' I realised that I was lying in a coffin. When I moved, my parents cried out 'He's alive!', but the others around them did not believe them. When they saw me, they were frozen with fear, and started shouting 'It's a ghost!'. I noticed that I was sitting in about 3 1/2 cups of an odorous liquid, which must have come from my body as I lay in the coffin. I was told that they were about to cremate me. When a monk dies, his name, age and the number of years of his service as a monk are inscribed in the coffin. I had already been registered as dead, but as you can see, I'm alive!"

Source: Asian Minorities Outreach, P.O. Box 901, Palestine, TX

HERE: http://www.antioch.com.sg/mission/asianmo

Text (c) DAWN Europe. Redistribution is explicitly allowed as long as the copyright remains intact with the text. Editor: Wolfgang Simson.

HERE: http://www.jesus.org.uk/dawn/index.html

MAY GOD'S ETERNAL, TIMELESS MAJEST BY EXALTED.


135 posted on 12/16/2004 10:02:29 AM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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Comment #136 Removed by Moderator

To: Nakatu X
Protestants have no rituals except for baptism which isn't required in a lot of denominations.

What about the ritual of passing around the"love offering" plate? Every Protestant service I have ever attended did that.
sarcasm off
137 posted on 12/16/2004 10:50:04 AM PST by newcats
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To: fishtank

Soka Gakkai is to Buddhism what the JW's are to Christianity.


138 posted on 12/16/2004 2:04:15 PM PST by Y-Man
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To: skeeter

Nohm yon remne kyo
Nohn yon remne kyo

(sorry, I'm doing phonetic spelling)

I had a Gohonzin once. I joined the NSA Buddhists in Philly when I was 21 because the boys were real cute. I lasted about two weeks.


139 posted on 12/16/2004 7:53:32 PM PST by ariamne (reformed liberal)
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To: ariamne
Nohm yon remne kyo

LOL

140 posted on 12/17/2004 7:08:47 AM PST by skeeter (OBL "Americans" won't honor any law that interferes with their pocketbooks)
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