Yo, sit down and allow me to explain to ya a story bout One of the more wild and respected dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard about him, u most likely livin beneath a rock during the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This dude was far more than just a monk in a very saffron robe; he was just like a force of nature, a true-lifetime legend who changed The entire vibe in the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born inside the late 40s, I do think, but Actually, his age didnt subject trigger he had that aged-soul energy from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant town lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And when I say buildin, I indicate buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White kinds, gold ones, huge kinds, smaller ones. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he created hundreds. Can u visualize? Many of us cant even end a LEGO set, which monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where points get serious messy and actual interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep inside the politics with the Karen individuals. Again within the 90s, points ended up heated involving the KNU along with the gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army sounds insane, proper? Like, completely from The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his soldiers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He wished a "pure" land where individuals lived via the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Edition of it.
But hey, dont think here he was just some armed forces person. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," which implies Great Trainer, and they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A huge number of men and women livin there in order to be in the vicinity of him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like slightly utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even when the outside planet was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just stroll into hazardous places and nobody would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or even men and women had been just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a very healthcare facility in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was substantial. Like, 1000s of people today cryin, monks everywhere, a true unhappy working day for your Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his encounter on posters in very little tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin through the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a complex dude, for sure. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he induced additional hassle. But u cant deny his effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to develop it in the world, one brick and one particular vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his lifetime his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he called household. Respect to the old man, U Thuzana. He was truly certainly one of A sort, an actual OG with the Theravāda tradition.