Venerable Gelong Thubten, a Buddhist monk of the Tibetan tradition and a mindfulness teacher based in the United Kingdom, has been actively involved in teaching mindfulness meditation at businesses, schools, and prisons for years. However, his latest students are somewhat more glamorous, including top Hollywood stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, and other cast members of the recent Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster Doctor Strange, which hit theaters in October.

British actor Tilda Swinton, who plays the mystical character the Ancient One in Doctor Strange and is also a friend of Ven. Thubten, invited the monk to get involved in the film, which is themed around the idea of mind training. “I introduced him to the project and he’s been hanging out with us and teaching everybody, if they don't know, about mindfulness and about how to still the mind,” Swinton said. (Reuters)

Ven. Thubten accepted the invitation and subsequently spent time on the set of the film in London, teaching mindfulness to the cast and crew. “I said yes, but I didn't realize I'd end up there all the time during filming. It was great fun,” said Ven. Thubten, who also directs the Samye Foundation Wales in the UK. Ven. Thubten was even able to attend last month’s premiers for the film in London and Los Angeles. (Yorkshire Coast Radio)