David Bowie's Lifelong Fascination with Buddhism Shows in the Way He Wants His Ashes Scattered

When the English rock star was alive, David Bowie experimented with religions, particularly Christianity and Buddhism.  Now, after the rock star's death, his will has been disclosed.  The "Lazarus" singer, in his 20-page will filed under his real name David Robert Jones, wants to be cremated in Bali.  And if it was "not practical" then he wanted his remains cremated and his ashes scattered there still. Apparently, he wanted his ashes scattered in Bali "in accordance with the Buddhist rituals," However, according to the death certificate, filed with the will, his body was cremated Jan. 12 in New Jersey. 

During his teen years, Bowie was particularly fascinated with Buddhism. The year was 1967. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who had fled Tibet and would eventually move to North America, was at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. David Bowie started visiting Samye Ling at the inspiration of his friend and collaborator, Tony Visconti (who even worked on Bowie's brilliant swansong, the just-released Blackstar), as well as that of Bowie's girlfriend at the time, Hermione Farthingale.

Bowie even contemplated being a monk. "I was within a month of having my head shaved, taking my vows, and becoming a monk," Bowie has said about that period of his life. But, he was torn and so sought the counsel of a Buddhist teacher, usually assumed to be Trungpa - though that's now been refuted. The teacher replied to the famous young seeker that he should remain a musician, for that was how he could be of the most benefit.

After a few months' study at Tibet House in London, he was told by a Lama, "You don't want to be Buddhist. ... You should follow music."

Meanwhile, according to Bowie's will, he has left his $100 million estate to his children and his widow Iman.  Bowie left his SoHo home he shared with Iman to her, and half of the rest of his worth. His son Duncan Jones from a previous marriage received 25 percent and his daughter Alexandria also received 25 percent as well as his Ulster County mountain home. Bowie left $2 million to his longtime personal assistant Corinne Schwab and left her shares he owned in a company called Oppossum Inc. He left $1 million to Marion Skene, Alexandria's nanny.

 

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