Yo, sit back and let me notify ya a story bout Among the most wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard about him, u in all probability livin below a rock in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This male was far more than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was like a power of mother nature, an actual-lifestyle legend who changed The complete vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul in the Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born during the late 40s, I believe, but honestly, his age didnt matter trigger he experienced that aged-soul Electricity from the start. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin matters. And Once i say buildin, I indicate buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White kinds, gold types, massive ones, compact kinds. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he constructed hundreds. Can u think about? Most of us cant even finish a LEGO set, which monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where by factors get serious messy and true appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep during the politics of the Karen folks. Back while in the 90s, factors were heated amongst the KNU along with the gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military sounds mad, proper? Like, completely against The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He created his troopers stop eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He required a "pure" land wherever men and women lived via the Dhamma, or at least his version of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just some armed service guy. His followers, person, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Instructor, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of persons livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like somewhat utopia he carved out on the chaos. Although the outside globe was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I bear in mind hearin stories bout how he’d just wander into dangerous areas and nobody would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or even individuals have been just fearful of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 inside of a hospital in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was massive. Like, 1000s of people today cryin, monks almost everywhere, an actual unhappy working more info day for the Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his face on posters in small tea shops or stickers on vans drivin from the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, of course. Lots of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he caused extra problems. But u cant deny his effect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on earth, just one brick and one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his existence his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he called dwelling. Respect on the previous male, U Thuzana. He was certainly certainly one of A form, an actual OG in the Theravāda custom.