Yo, sit back and allow me to inform ya a Tale bout Among the most wild and revered dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard of him, u possibly livin under a rock during the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This dude was extra than just a monk in a saffron robe; he was similar to a force of mother nature, an actual-daily life legend who transformed The entire vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born in the late 40s, I do think, but honestly, his age didnt make any difference induce he had that previous-soul Vitality from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy city lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And Once i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White types, gold ones, massive ones, small types. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he built hundreds. Can u envision? Most of us cant even end a LEGO established, and this monk is out here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where points get serious messy and serious intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day long. He was deep inside the politics of your Karen folks. Back again within the 90s, points were heated amongst the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems nuts, proper? Like, fully from the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers stop eatin meat. Yeah, a complete army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He wanted a "pure" land in which individuals lived via the Dhamma, or no less than his version of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few armed forces dude. His followers, guy, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," which implies Excellent Teacher, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless folks livin there in order to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a bit utopia he carved out with website the chaos. Even when the outside entire world was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin tales bout how he’d just stroll into dangerous areas and nobody would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electric power, Or perhaps individuals were just terrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 within a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was huge. Like, A large number of folks cryin, monks all over the place, a real sad working day for that Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his experience on posters in minor tea outlets or stickers on vehicles drivin from the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, obviously. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on a lot more difficulties. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to build it in the world, just one brick and one particular vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his life his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he called house. Respect to your aged gentleman, U Thuzana. He was certainly one of a kind, a true OG with the Theravāda custom.