Short answer: No. Of course not! There are far more famous, talked about, and recognizable figures in the history of Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama, Ānanda, the Dalai Lama and even Hollywood Actor Orlando Bloom. It’s not fair or accurate to say she’s the the most famous Buddhist of all time, but you could make the argument that Lisa Simpson the most famous cartoon Buddhist or Buddhist in American pop culture.
Is Lisa Simpson a Buddhist?
Yes! Lisa became a Buddhist in season 13, Episode 6 of The Simpsons titled “She of Little faith”. The episode first aired on December 16, 2001. In this episode Lisa loses her faith in Christianity and begins searching for a new faith. Richard Gere and her father’s coworkers: Lenny and Carl introduce her to the practice. We see Lisa plant her own Bodhi tree. She Chants “Om mani padme hum”, a mantra popularly associated with Tibetan Buddhism. She takes part in a group meditation practice and learns about some core tenants of Buddhism such as Impermanence, loving kindness and non-attachment.
What could make Lisa Simpson the Most Famous Buddhist of All Time?
The Simpsons has firmly cemented itself in the cultural zeitgeist of American culture during its 30 year run on television. In 2002, “She of Little Faith” was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour). There were approximately 12-14 million Americans tuning into the Simpsons every week at that time. By contrast, there were approximately 1.2 million buddhists living in America according to the Pew Research center. This means this single episode reached 10x as many people as there were Buddhists living in America. This isn’t the end all-be-all benchmark to use. Though it’s still fair to say that Lisa Simpson was possibly the most well known Buddhist in a specific country at a specific time. Arguably, even more recognizable than the classic “laughing Buddha” popular among westerners.
Is Lisa still a Buddhist?
Continuity in animated TV series isn’t always perfect. Despite this there are some instances where Lisa’s faith is referenced in later episodes. In “The Wreck of the Relationship” (Season 26, Episode 2) Lisa draws on Buddhist principles to argue her point about compassion and understanding about parent-child relationships. “Holidays of Future Passed” (Season 23, Episode 9) depicts a flash-forward in which Lisa is depicted as still being a practicing Buddhist. In “I, D’oh-Bot” (Season 15, Episode 9) she references Buddhist teachings when trying to calm her father, Homer. Lisa also continues to be a vegetarian throughout the series which is a common practice among many Buddhists trying to adhere to the first buddhist precept.
Is Buddhism Her Most Defining Trait?
Like all of us Lisa isn’t a one dimensional character. Throughout the series Lisa can be seen facing off against Bart in “Lisa on Ice” (Season 6, Episode 8) in a hockey game and unleashing her inner competitive spirit . In “The Girl Who Slept Too Little” (Season 17, Episode 2) we see her battling insomnia and fear. She spends most of “Lisa the Simpson” (Season 9, Episode 17) anxious that she will inherit her father’s dim-wittedness. Like many practitioners Buddhism is a core part of who Lisa Simpson is, but there is far more to her character than her faith. Her inquisitive nature, thoughtfulness and compassion towards all living creatures reflect her Buddhist faith. Nevertheless, Buddhism is just one of many facets that make up the character we all know and love.