Why Beastie Boy Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch Became a Buddhist

Ten years ago, Beastie Boys played their final gig ever at Bonnaroo. Soon after, the band announced that member Adam “MCA” Yauch had been diagnosed with cancer. Yauch, who passed away in 2012, was known for his oddball style and flow on the mic but also for his social activism. He advocated for women’s rights and for a free Tibet. In 1996, he spoke with Inside Edition’s sister show American Journal about why he converted to Buddhism after a trip to Nepal and how he staged the Tibetan Freedom Concert to raise awareness about the plight of the Buddhist people.