The screen hero, who's spent his prepositional career Marked for Death, Hard to Kill, Under Siege, Out for Justice and On Deadly Ground, has been named--we're not kidding here--a reincarnated lama and sacred vessel of Tibetan Buddhism, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
He was elevated to "tulku" by Penor Rinpoche, the Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Of course, Seagal has long been one of the Industry's high-profile Buddhists (along with Richard Gere and Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch). In fact, Tinseltown is so high on Tibetans that there are two films coming out this fall about the Dalai Lama: Martin Scorsese's Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt.
Rinpoche declared Seagal a tulku and a "terton" (someone with the abilities to perceive the root teachings of Tibetan Buddhism) in Feburary in a ceremony at the Namdroling Monastery in India. Only 30 others have been tapped as tulkus by Rinpoche.
Rinpoche's Stateside representative, Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso, called Seagal's spiritual elevation a great honor. "Seagal had his own vision of having some deeper knowledge in the dharma (divine law)," Gyatso said.
But some skeptics think the elevation from movie star to holy vessel had more to do with dinero than dharma. Some American Buddhists believe Seagal bought his title by donating to Rinpoche's school. "As much as I respect Penor Rinpoche, I still think this is a little fishy," writes one Buddhist in an Internet newsgroup. "Recognizing a tulku, especially when it is an American person with lots of fame and fortune, is like buying a stock option."
Others question Seagal's moral qualifications--pointing to allegations that he sexually harrassed aspiring actresses. (The charges have been denied by Seagal's attorney.)
Bunk, says Michelle Bega, Seagal's spokeswoman. "He was given the title on his merits."
Meanwhile, the last action lama is gearing up for a publicity blitz for his next film, due out in September.
We can only imagine the tagline: Watch His Holiness Beat Back the Fire Down Below!