Yo, sit back and allow me to notify ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard of him, u most likely livin underneath a rock during the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This man was more than simply a monk in a very saffron robe; he was similar to a force of nature, an actual-everyday living legend who adjusted The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born within the late 40s, I feel, but honestly, his age didnt issue lead to he had that old-soul Strength from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant city lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And when I say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—Yet another pagoda. White kinds, gold kinds, big ones, little types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Individuals say he built hundreds. Can u imagine? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO established, which monk is out below constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where by things get genuine messy and authentic attention-grabbing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day. He was deep within the politics on the Karen individuals. Back again during the 90s, items were heated between the KNU as well as the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military Appears mad, appropriate? Like, absolutely versus the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers halt eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He preferred a "pure" land in which individuals lived through the Dhamma, or no less than his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just a few military services guy. His followers, click here person, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They known as him "Sayadaw," which suggests Terrific Instructor, they usually intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of people today livin there only to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a bit utopia he carved out on the chaos. Even if the surface environment was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin tales bout how he’d just stroll into unsafe locations and nobody would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or perhaps people were just scared of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 within a clinic in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was enormous. Like, 1000s of individuals cryin, monks just about everywhere, an actual unfortunate day for your Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his deal with on posters in minimal tea stores or stickers on vans drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, for sure. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he triggered extra difficulty. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on the planet, just one brick and one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he known as property. Regard into the outdated male, U Thuzana. He was certainly amongst a kind, a real OG of your Theravāda tradition.