Life of Sadhu Sundar Singh: A Journey of Faith and Mysticism
October 28, 2024 Shunsuke Sato
Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889–1929), born into a Sikh family in Punjab, converted to Christianity at age sixteen after a visionary experience of Christ. Rather than adopting Western forms of Christianity, he became a sadhu, living in voluntary poverty and itinerant preaching across India, Tibet, and the Himalayas. He combined Christian theology with Indian ascetic and mystic traditions, referring to Christ as "Satguru" and emphasizing experiential knowledge of God, suffering as participation in Christ's passion, and interior stillness. His life and writings, such as At the Master's Feet, offer a model of theological inculturation and interreligious synthesis, influencing Indian Christian identity and global mysticism.