Movie Star Declared a Lama / Seagal elevated to sacred status in Tibetan Buddhism

One of Tibet's leading spiritual teachers has proclaimed that Steven Seagal, the actor and action hero, is a reincarnated lama and sacred vessel of Tibetan Buddhism.

Seagal, star of "Marked for Death", "Hard to Kill" and "Under Siege," is one of Hollywood's big- time Tibet supporters and high- profile Buddhists.

His spiritual elevation to "tulku" has raised eyebrows in American Buddhist circles and has provoked a heated debate on the Internet over whether Tibetan titles have been put up for sale.

Seagal's publicist, Michelle Bega, denied that the actor's elevation has anything to do with his financial contributions.

"That is not true," she said. "He was given this title on his merits."

Seagal declined to discuss the matter.

Granting the title of "tulku" upon Seagal was Penor Rinpoche, the Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Penor Rinpoche's top representative in the United States, Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso, said Seagal's elevation dates back to a meeting last year in Los Angeles between the actor and the guru.

"Seagal had his own vision of having some deeper knowledge in the dharma," Gyatso said.

In February, Seagal traveled to India, where Penor Rinpoche conducted ceremonies at the Namdroling Monastery recognizing Seagal as a "tulku," or reincarnated lama, and a "terton," someone with special abilities to perceive the root teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

"It's a great honor," said Gyatso, who oversees Penor Rinpoche's U.S. headquarters in Poolesville, Md.

Gyatso said he did not know whether Seagal had made financial contributions to the Penor Rinpoche's school of Buddhism.

There has been much speculation about that among Buddhists on the Internet.

"As much as I respect Penor Rinpoche, I still think this is a little fishy," one Buddhist wrote. "Recognizing a tulku, especially when it is an American person with lots of fame and fortune, is like buying a stock option."

Gyatso said there are about 30 tulkus under Penor Rinpoche.

Seagal's spiritual elevation is only the latest example of Hollywood's love affair with Buddhism and the Tibetan struggle against Chinese occupation.

Actor Richard Gere gave the cause international attention with his 1993 Academy Awards speech against Chinese repression.

The Dalai Lama's appearances in California -- including his recent visits to San Francisco and Los Angeles -- are increasingly star-studded.

This fall, two films about the Dalai Lama and Tibet are scheduled to be released -- Martin Scorsese's "Kundun" and "Seven Years in Tibet," starring Brad Pitt.

Professor Robert Thurman, an expert on Buddhism at Columbia University in New York and a leader of the Tibetan cause, acknowledged that Hollywood tends to idealize and romanticize Tibet.

But, Thurman added, there's a good reason for that.

"We're glad Hollywood is interested," said Thurman, the father of actress Uma Thurman. "Where the Shangri-la representation comes from is the realization that there is something unique about Tibetan culture and society. It's not that everyone from Tibet is a saint, but there is something special about it."