Yo, sit back and allow me to inform ya a story bout Among the most wild and revered dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard about him, u most likely livin less than a rock while in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This guy was far more than simply a monk within a saffron robe; he was similar to a power of mother nature, a true-lifestyle legend who altered The entire vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born during the late 40s, I do think, but honestly, his age didnt issue induce he had that outdated-soul Power from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant town existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin matters. And After i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—A different pagoda. White kinds, gold types, huge types, small kinds. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he built hundreds. Can u visualize? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO set, which monk is out right here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats exactly where matters get authentic messy and real intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a very temple chanting all day long. He was deep during the politics of your Karen folks. Back again in the 90s, matters were heated amongst the KNU and also the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, check here a monk leadin an army Seems outrageous, ideal? Like, completely versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his troopers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, a complete army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He wanted a "pure" land in which people lived via the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Edition of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just some military services dude. His followers, person, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Instructor, and so they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A huge number of people livin there just to be in the vicinity of him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a bit utopia he carved out in the chaos. Even if the skin earth was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, into the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I try to remember hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into hazardous spots and no-one would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) power, Or possibly people today have been just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 in a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was huge. Like, A huge number of people today cryin, monks almost everywhere, a true sad working day for that Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his confront on posters in minor tea stores or stickers on vehicles drivin with the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a posh dude, of course. Some people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on a lot more problems. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to create it on the planet, 1 brick and a person vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his daily life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he identified as property. Respect towards the old man, U Thuzana. He was actually one of A form, a real OG of your Theravāda custom.