Wisdom of the Sadhu

A modern Saint Francis, Sundar Singh probes the essence of the Gospels with unusual freshnessSundar Singh (1889–1929) left the wealth of his home at sixteen to live as a sadhu, or wandering holy man. His beggar-like existence, his intense devotion, his mystical encounters with Jesus, and his simple yet profound parables became the stuff of legends. No one who met him – including the thousands who flocked to hear him during his visits to Europe, the Far East, and the United States – remained unaffected.Known in his lifetime as India’s most famous convert to Christianity, Sundar Singh would not approve of that characterization. He loved Jesus and devoted his life to knowing and following him, but he never accepted Christianity’s cultural conventions, even as he embraced its stark original teachings.Wisdom of the Sadhu, a collection of anecdotes, sayings, parables, and meditations, brings together the best of Sundar Singh’s teachings. Couched as they are in a distinctly Indian idiom, they probe the essence of the Gospels with unusual freshness and offer insights of great depth and value to every serious seeker.

One of the first Indian Christian teachers to receive worldwide attention in modern times, Sundar Singh (1889-1929) wandered throughout Tibet and the Indian subcontinent as a sadhu, a penniless pilgrim wearing the traditional saffron robe. His simple explanations of spiritual truths severed the link between Christian faith and western culture, bringing to life the teachings of Jesus for millions of Indians.