EAA is pleased to acknowledge the funding from the Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia Ltd

EAA is pleased to acknowledge the funding from the Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia Ltd which will allow us to digitise a rare manuscript in our collection. The manuscript is entitled “The Mahatma of the Baltics. The memorable life of the Most Rev. Karlis A. M. Tennisons, the Buddist Archbishop of Latvia.” By The Most Rev. Friedrich Lustig.

Left: Most Rev. Karlis A. M. Tennisons. Right: The Most Rev. Friedrich Lustig — From Left, Most Rev. Karlis A. M. Tennisons, the Buddist Archbishop of Latvia.” and The Most Rev. Friedrich Lustig. ~ Believed to have been taken in **Shwedagon Pagoda**, Myanmar in 1954

The manuscript is over 600 foolscap pages long and is extremely fragile. Making it available in a digital form will save the manuscript and give better access to researchers from all over the world.The story of the two Buddhist monks is part of pre WWII Estonian history. Lustig was Estonian, Tennisons was Latvian and they together roamed the countryside in their saffron robes and sandals, even in winter. Mocked by some, revered by others, their story continues to create interest in Estonia, France and Australia. They lived out their lives in Burma.

There are several researchers working on the story of the two monks. Not long ago a film was being made about their lives.

As part of the Lustig collection, our Archive hold Lustig’s writings, correspondence, newspaper clippings and photographs.

Maie Barrow
Archivist