Yo, sit back and let me inform ya a story bout Among the most wild and revered dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard about him, u most likely livin underneath a rock while in the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This guy was far more than simply a monk in a saffron robe; he was similar to a drive of mother nature, a true-everyday living legend who transformed The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born within the late 40s, i think, but Actually, his age didnt matter lead to he had that old-soul energy from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant city life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle male. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And Once i say buildin, I indicate buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White ones, gold types, large types, tiny kinds. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he developed hundreds. Can u think about? Many of us cant even finish a LEGO set, and this monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats exactly where matters get serious messy and genuine appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside a temple chanting all day. He was deep while in the politics of your Karen people today. Back again from the 90s, points have been heated amongst the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military Appears ridiculous, appropriate? Like, fully versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his troopers end eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He wished a "pure" land exactly where people today lived from the Dhamma, or at least his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Assume he was just a few armed forces man. His followers, male, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Teacher, and so they meant it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of people today livin there only here to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a little bit utopia he carved out in the chaos. Even if the surface planet was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I try to remember hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into harmful locations and no-one would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) power, Or possibly men and women were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in the healthcare facility in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was massive. Like, Many persons cryin, monks everywhere, a real unfortunate working day for your Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his face on posters in small tea shops or stickers on vehicles drivin through the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, for sure. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on far more problems. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on this planet, a person brick and one particular vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his lifestyle his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed home. Regard on the aged guy, U Thuzana. He was truly certainly one of a kind, an actual OG from the Theravāda custom.