Mouni Sadhu
Encyclopedia
Mouni Sadhu was the nom de plume of Mieczyslaw Demetriusz Sudowski, an author of mystical and esoteric subjects. Although born in Poland
, he eventually became an Australian citizen. As a writer his subject matter concerned Western Hermeticism
, and the Yoga
tradition of India. In these his two greatest personal influences were the Russian esotericist G.O. Mebes and Ramana Maharshi
, respectively. The name "Mouni Sadhu" means "silent (mouni) holy man (sadhu
)" in Sanskrit
.
His literary estate was left to the Australian Society of Authors
, of which he was a member. The royalties that have accrued from the estate now provide for services to Australian Authors.
According to Sadhu's own application for Australian citizenship, he claimed to have being born in Warsaw, Poland. He married, in 1933, a Catherine Gunt, who died six years later in a bomb-attack coinciding with the outbreak of World War Two. Between September and November 1939, he was a prisoner of war in the USSR. From then until 1945 he was a prisoner of war in Germany. He was released in 1945 and served with the US Army in France until November 1946.
Between 1946 and 1948 he lived for two years in Brazil, before emigrating to Australia. In 1949, he spent five months in India (see below). Sadhu gave his occupation as "electrical mechanic," and "part-time writer."
Hermetists and published a number of books on Tarot
and the occult.
In 1949, Sadhu spent several months at the ashram
of Ramana Maharshi
in Arunachala
, India, where he studied Advaita Vedanta
. He described this experience in his book "In Days Of Great Peace." Sadhu claimed that his contact with Ramana caused him to attain nirvikalpa samadhi. In almost all of Sadhu's subsequent books, he paid tribute to Ramani Maharshi as the "last of the Great Indian sages." After he moved to Australia, he established a group of Maharshi devotees, but his abiding interest in occultism led the Australian group to part ways with the Indian ashram.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, he eventually became an Australian citizen. As a writer his subject matter concerned Western Hermeticism
Hermeticism
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus...
, and the Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
tradition of India. In these his two greatest personal influences were the Russian esotericist G.O. Mebes and Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
, respectively. The name "Mouni Sadhu" means "silent (mouni) holy man (sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
)" in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
.
His literary estate was left to the Australian Society of Authors
Australian Society of Authors
The Australian Society of Authors is the peak body representing Australia's literary creators and is the major advocate for the rights and remuneration of authors in Australia...
, of which he was a member. The royalties that have accrued from the estate now provide for services to Australian Authors.
Biographical details
Hard and fast information about Sadhu's early life is hampered by the fact that the author was often reluctant to speak about his background. Also, different commentators have furnished conflicting accounts of his early life, whilst furnishing very little in the way of evidence.According to Sadhu's own application for Australian citizenship, he claimed to have being born in Warsaw, Poland. He married, in 1933, a Catherine Gunt, who died six years later in a bomb-attack coinciding with the outbreak of World War Two. Between September and November 1939, he was a prisoner of war in the USSR. From then until 1945 he was a prisoner of war in Germany. He was released in 1945 and served with the US Army in France until November 1946.
Between 1946 and 1948 he lived for two years in Brazil, before emigrating to Australia. In 1949, he spent five months in India (see below). Sadhu gave his occupation as "electrical mechanic," and "part-time writer."
Esoteric involvement
As a young man in Europe, from 1926 to 1933, Sadhu belonged to an order of RosicrucianRosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
Hermetists and published a number of books on Tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
and the occult.
In 1949, Sadhu spent several months at the ashram
Sri Ramana Ashram
Sri Ramana Ashram also known as Sri Ramanasramam is the ashram, which was home to modern sage and Advaita Vedanta philosopher, Ramana Maharishi from 1922 till his death here in 1950...
of Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
in Arunachala
Arunachala
Arunachala refers to the holy hill at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, where the Annamalaiyar Temple, a temple of Lord Shiva is located. Every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai , the Karthigai Deepam is lit atop the hill...
, India, where he studied Advaita Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
. He described this experience in his book "In Days Of Great Peace." Sadhu claimed that his contact with Ramana caused him to attain nirvikalpa samadhi. In almost all of Sadhu's subsequent books, he paid tribute to Ramani Maharshi as the "last of the Great Indian sages." After he moved to Australia, he established a group of Maharshi devotees, but his abiding interest in occultism led the Australian group to part ways with the Indian ashram.
External links
- http://www.mounisadhu.com/
- What Is Meditation by Mouni Sadhu