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Estonian Buddhism monk From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karl August Tõnisson (Latvian: Kārlis Tennisons; 20 August (Jc 8 August) 1883 – 5 May 1962) also known as Brother Vahindra (Estonian: Vend Vahindra) and Barefoot Tõnisson (Estonian: Paljasjalgne Tõnisson), was an Estonian writer and religious figure. [1] The first Estonian convert to Buddhism, he was generally seen as eccentric but had a significant impact on Estonian views of Buddhism.[2] In 1930 he left Europe for Thailand, later settling in Burma, dying in Rangoon, aged 78.[2]
![Thumb](#/media/File:Karl_A.M._Tõnisson_ja_"Laul_tormilinnust_ehk_minu_elust"._(ERM_Fk_532-102);_Eesti_Rahva_Muuseum;_097818_ERM_Fk532_102_097818_pisipilt.jpg)
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Tõnisson was born in Umbusi in 1883 into a Lutheran peasant family.[3] His parents died at an early age (his father in 1891 and his mother in 1895) after which he was raised by his uncle.[4]
In the 1900s Tõnisson travelled to Riga, where he likely met local Theosophists.[4] Around 1910 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he likely met Agvan Dorzhiev and other Kalmyk and Buryat lamas.[4] He converted to Buddhism around this time, and likely helped build the Datsan Gunzechoinei.[4]
At the start of the First World War he was drafted into the Russian army, but released soon afterwards.[5]
In 1915 he moved to Tallinn.[6] In 1917 he returned to Russia, where he stayed until 1923.[7] He spent part of this time guarding the Datsan Gunzechoinei building site.[8]
In 1923 he returned to Latvia after unsuccessfully attempting to return Estonia.[9]
In 1930 he met Friedrich V. Lustig, who became his disciple and followed him on his travels for the rest of his life.[10]
In 1931 the two left Europe for Thailand.[11] During and after World War II Tõnisson and Lustig became involved in Thai politics, raising a Soviet flag on their roof and criticizing Thailand's wartime collaboration with Japan.[11][12] As a result they were expelled From Thailand into Burma in 1949.[11]
They eventually integrated into the Burmese Buddhist community.[11] At one point they lived at Chan Htoon's family shrine.[13] They participated in the third and fourth World Fellowship of Buddhists conferences.[13] The Dalai Lama sent condolences to Lustig when Tõnisson died in 1962.[14]
In various writings, elements of his biography vary, including his date and place of birth.[15]
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