DEBES, Paul. Elberfeld, Wuppertal 8.9.1906 — Bindlach, Kr. Bayreuth 6.6.2004. German Bauddha. Born in a poor Catholic family, son of a carpenter. Without means for academic studies had commercial training, Originally he intended to become a missionary, but in 1927 found Buddhism in H. Much’s books. In 1931-32 studied in Ceylon under Nyanatiloka, together with his brother Heinrich Debes (1903–1943). Then travelled around selling natural products to health food stores in Germany. Served in the army in Ukraine and France, in 1944-45 war prisoner in the Isle of Man. After war concentrated on Buddhism. Founded 1948 in Hamburg the Buddhistische Seminar für Seinskunde and edited its organ, the Wissen und Wandel. In 1963-64 visited Burma and Sri Lanka. From 1976, largely withdrawn from public life, lived in Wangen on Lake Constance, then in Bindlach (Bavaria). Married 1936 Ina Foerster (d. 1968), five children, and in 1994 Ingetraut Anders.
Publications: Das Dasein und seine Meisterung nach der Lehre des Buddha. 378 p. Bindlach 1963.
– Begriffe der Buddhareden mit Erklärung. 433 p. 1979.
– Meisterung der Existenz durch die Lehre des Buddha. 1-2. Bindlach 1982.
– Meditation nach dem Buddha. 430 p. Bindlach 1987.
– Paul Debes beantwortet Fragen zu buddhistischer Anschauung und Lebensführung. 1-2. Bindlach 2005.
Sources: *G. Genau in theravada.ch with photo; Peiris, Buddhism 158; Payer’s Web-Materialien; lambert-schneider.com with photo; German Wikipedia briefly.
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