Richard Gere on Hollywood Fame: 'Dark Clouds' Threaten Inner Peace

Richard Gere, a prominent figure in Hollywood for decades, has navigated the complexities of fame by relying on his long-standing Buddhist practice to manage the "dark clouds" of ego, greed, and impatience.

In an interview reflecting on his career, Gere, 77, discussed his role as executive producer of the documentary "Wisdom of Happiness," which delves into the teachings of the Dalai Lama and the pursuit of lasting joy. "Everyone goes through that," Gere said. "Everyone has the forces of greed, anger, self-cherishing, impatience, jealousy, the whole gamut. Everyone has that. So I think from Buddhist training and looking at these afflictive emotions and seeing where they’re coming from, they’re not innate in me. They’re kind of add-ons to basic clarity of the mind."

He described these negative emotions as transient, comparing them to "dark clouds coming through. They come, and they go." This perspective, cultivated over more than 40 years of practicing Buddhism, helps him maintain inner peace amidst the pressures of the entertainment industry.

Gere emphasized that genuine happiness and peace are not external but arise from within. "It comes from inside all of us, and it’s there. You don’t have to create that. But I think it’s removing the bad habits, removing the causes that make us feel bad ultimately," he stated. He believes individuals are responsible for their experiences and can change their circumstances by altering their reactions.

His outlook also extends to questioning the significance of material success. "Well, what’s really important? Is it what I own or what I am?" Gere reflected. "I’m not going to get anything from the outside that is permanently going to make me happy."

Currently, Gere divides his time between Spain, his wife Alejandra Silva's home country, and upstate New York, where he has fond childhood memories. He noted that his wife's happiness significantly contributes to his own.

Gere, who shares two sons with Silva and has an older son, Homer, from a previous marriage, also reflected on the different concerns he had in his younger years compared to now. "Frankly, I don’t care that much about it right now, what anyone thinks or says," he said about public perception.

His upbringing in a Christian family in Pennsylvania instilled values of helping others, which he found resonance with in Buddhism. "Buddhism wanted to engage those things [for me]," he explained, referring to exploring larger questions about reality and the human condition.

He drew parallels between the disciplined life of farmers and the dedication of the Dalai Lama. "Farmers work really hard," Gere noted, recalling his grandfather's early mornings to milk cows. He sees a similar commitment in the Dalai Lama, who reportedly wakes at 3:30 a.m. for his daily spiritual practice.

Gere hopes that "Wisdom of Happiness" inspires viewers to recognize their innate capacity for kindness and generosity. "The beginning point, and maybe the end point, is basic kindness, a warm heart and generosity of spirit," he concluded.

The documentary "Wisdom of Happiness" is now available for digital rental or purchase.