Sadananda

Sadananda (also called Svami Sadananda Das) (1908–1977) was born Ernst-Georg Schulze of Germany. He met Bhakti Hridaya Bon, a disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Bon took Schulze to India, where he received diksa from Bhaktisiddhanta and took the name Sadananda Dasa. He was the first known individual who was not of Asian origin to embrace the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. After conversion of Vamana Dasa (Walter Eidlitz) Sadananda continued to preach in Europe.

1908

Birth on the 3rd of January in Zittau (Germany). Only child of the fiscal officer F. C. E. Schulze (deceased 1919) and his wife, physician Anna Schulze-Jochem (deceased 1946).

1928

Graduation (Abitur).

1928–1932

Study of comparative theology and Philosophy at the Universities of Leipzig and Berlin and attendance of the Oriental Seminar in Berlin.

1932

Doctoral thesis on "Das Prajna-Paramita-Hridaya-Sutra und seine Bedeutung für die Entwicklung der Shunyata-Spekulation" (The Prajna-Paramita-Hridaya-Sutra and its impact on the development of the Shunyata-speculation). Rigorosum: Main subject: Comparative History of Religions. Minor subjects: Sanskrit and Philosophy.

1933

Independent scholar in Berlin. Preparation of a work on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara (buddh. Sanskrit-text) and acting as scientific foreign consultant for the "Gemeinde um Buddha" (Buddha's community) in Berlin. Winter: Invitation to a guest lecture at the University of Tokyo and preparation for the final emigration to Japan. Gets the book "Shri Krishna Caitanya" (written by Prof. N. Sanyal) from friends in London as a present. Contacts the author and his teacher Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati, who lived in Mayapur (Bengal). Following his recommendation to get accustomed to the Indian way of life and thinking before leaving for India, he stays in London together with Bhakti Siddhanta's disciples.

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