Richard Gere Reveals the Buddhist Lesson He Teaches His 25-Year-Old Son Homer and His 2 Other Younger Sons (Exclusive)
- - Richard Gere Reveals the Buddhist Lesson He Teaches His 25-Year-Old Son Homer and His 2 Other Younger Sons (Exclusive)
Brian Anthony Hernandez, Alexandra SchonfeldNovember 16, 2025 at 1:00 AM
0
Manoli Figetakis/Getty; Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty I
Richard Gere on Nov. 12, 2025; his son Homer James Jigme Gere on April 22, 2025 -
Richard Gere, a practicing Buddhist since 1978, explained to PEOPLE which Buddhist lesson he’s teaching his three children
Richard has three sons: Homer, 25, Alexander, 6, and James, 5
“I have a 25-year-old [Homer], and he thanks me for not pushing anything on him,” the actor said of his eldest child
More than 45 years ago, Tibetan monks introduced Richard Gere to Buddhism, which led to his now-longtime friendship with the Dalai Lama.
Now, while attending the DOC NYC Visionaries Tribute Luncheon at New York City’s Gotham Hall on Nov. 12, the 76-year-old actor exclusively told PEOPLE which Buddhist lesson he’s teaching his three children.
“You show kindness. That’s the best thing you can do,” the Pretty Woman star says of his method of teaching by example.
The Chicago actor also shared how his son Homer James Jigme Gere — whose middle name Jigme is a nod to Buddhism and means “fearless” in Tibetan — has reacted to him not forcing the faith on him.
“I have a 25-year-old [Homer], and he thanks me for not pushing anything on him, but he’s a meditator now,” Richard explains. “He found it himself.”
Mike Coppola/Getty
Alejandra Silva, Richard Gere and Homer James Jigme Gere in November 2024
Aside from Homer, whom he shares with ex-wife Carey Lowell, Richard is a dad to sons Alexander, 6, and James, 5, with his wife, Alejandra Silva.
Elaborating on the “basic kindness” he would love his three sons to exemplify in their lives, Richard recalled a memorable interaction between a couple and his now-longtime friend, the Dalai Lama.
“I remember His Holiness was asked many, many years ago by a friend of mine — they were a couple,” he says. “She was pregnant and they were worried how do you bring a kid into this world, how do you teach them.”
Richard adds what he recalls the Dalai Lama saying: “And His Holiness said, ‘Teach them to be kind to insects, whom normally people don’t think well of and step on and don’t even think about it. To even respect the life of an insect, [that’s] something that carries over into all of your life.’ ”
Richard Gere/Instagram
Richard Gere and wife Alejandra Silva with their kids Alexander and James in May 2025
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In October, while promoting the new documentary film Wisdom of Happiness — which Richard produced and which focuses on the teachings of the Dalai Lama — Richard opened up to PEOPLE about what he’s learned about joy as a longtime Buddhist.
“We’re feeling beings, and we’re creatures of kindness and compassion and empathy, and we feel better when we behave that way. The happiness we’re looking for starts to manifest when we behave with kindness,” he said. “It helps the other being, yes, but it does something to enrich our own hearts. Helping other people is going to make you feel better.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
