Yo, sit down and let me convey to ya a story bout One of the more wild and revered dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard about him, u possibly livin under a rock inside the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This guy was far more than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was like a pressure of nature, an actual-everyday living legend who changed The entire vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born from the late 40s, i think, but Actually, his age didnt subject lead to he had that old-soul energy from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle male. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And when I say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—Yet another pagoda. White kinds, gold ones, massive ones, compact kinds. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he developed hundreds. Can u envision? Many of us cant even finish a LEGO set, which monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats the place points get authentic messy and serious exciting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep in the politics of the Karen individuals. Again inside the 90s, factors have been heated between the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems outrageous, suitable? Like, thoroughly versus The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers quit eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He needed a "pure" land in which persons lived via the Dhamma, or at the very least his Model of it.
But hey, dont Believe he was just a few military services person. His followers, guy, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They known as him "Sayadaw," which suggests Terrific Teacher, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of individuals livin there only to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like just a little utopia he carved out from the chaos. Regardless of whether the skin earth was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, on the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just stroll into hazardous locations and nobody would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electricity, or maybe individuals ended up just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in a very healthcare facility in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was large. Like, 1000s of individuals cryin, monks in all places, an actual sad working day with the Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his facial area on posters in minimal tea stores or stickers on vehicles drivin in the mud in Kayin State.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, website some say he triggered far more hassle. But u cant deny his affect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on this planet, one brick and one particular vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his daily life his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he referred to as home. Respect to your aged guy, U Thuzana. He was really considered one of a kind, an actual OG on the Theravāda custom.