Yo, sit back and let me inform ya a Tale bout Just about the most wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard of him, u likely livin beneath a rock from the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This male was far more than just a monk in the saffron robe; he was similar to a force of character, a real-daily life legend who improved The complete vibe in the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born in the late 40s, I feel, but Truthfully, his age didnt make any difference trigger he had that outdated-soul energy from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant town existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And Once i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Just about everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White kinds, gold ones, massive types, modest ones. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he built hundreds. Can u consider? Most of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out right here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats wherever things get real messy and actual exciting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep inside the politics from the Karen individuals. Back again while in the 90s, points had been heated amongst the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to split and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears outrageous, correct? Like, completely versus the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He made his soldiers stop eatin meat. Yeah, a whole army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He preferred a "pure" land wherever people lived from the Dhamma, or at the least his version of it.
But hey, dont Assume he was just some armed forces person. His followers, man, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They referred to as him "Sayadaw," which implies Fantastic Trainer, and they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of persons livin there simply to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a bit utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even if the outside earth was lookin at him sideways cause of the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into harmful locations and nobody would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) electrical power, Or possibly men and women had been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 within a medical center in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was big. Like, thousands of people cryin, monks almost everywhere, a true unfortunate day with the Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his experience here on posters in minor tea outlets or stickers on vans drivin with the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he induced additional problems. But u cant deny his affect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on the planet, just one brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he referred to as dwelling. Regard to your outdated male, U Thuzana. He was certainly certainly one of A sort, a real OG in the Theravāda tradition.