   this is a list of notable buddhists, encompassing all the major branches of the religion, 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. == historical buddhist thinkers 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=== :see also: disciples of gautama buddha and family of gautama buddha  * the buddha, siddhartha gautama * amrapali * ananda, siddhartha's cousin, personal attendant of the buddha and one of his chief disciples * anathapindika * angulimala * anuruddha * assaji * ajatasattu * bimbisara * channa * citta * cunda * devadatta, another cousin of siddhartha and later rival who attempted to assassinate the buddha * hatthaka of alavi * kaccÄna * khema * khujjuttara * kisa gotami * kondaÃ±Ã±a * mahÄkÄÅyapa * maudgalyayana (), one of two chief disciples of the buddha. * maya, buddha's mother * nanda * mahapajapati gotami, buddha's aunt and foster mother * pasenadi * pindola bharadvaja * punna * rÄhula, only child of siddhartha and yasodharÄ before siddhartha renounced and began his search for enlightenment * samavati * sariputta, one of the two chief disciples of the buddha. * subhuti * suddhodana * sundari * sunita * upali, foremost disciple in knowledge of the vinaya. * uppalavanna * velukandakiya * visakha * yasodharÄ, siddhartha's wife before he renounced ===later buddhists (after buddha)=== * aryadeva, foremost disciple of nagarjuna, continued the philosophical school of madhyamaka * asanga, founder of the yogacara school, widely considered the most important mahayana philosopher along with nagarjuna * atiÅa, holder of the âmind training teachings, considered an indirect founder of the gelug school of tibetan buddhism * bhÄviveka, early expositor of the svatantrika branch of the madhyamaka school * bodhidharma, the founder of chan buddhism * bodhiruci, patriarch of the dilun () school * batuo, founding abbot and patriarch of the shaolin monastery * [[buddhagh
Lists_of_Buddhists