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]
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. Around 1910 he moved to St. Petersburg, where he likely met Agvan Dorzhiev and other Kalmyk and Buryat lamas. He converted to Buddhism around this time, and likely helped build the Datsan Gunzechoinei.
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]