Yo, sit back and let me explain to ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard of him, u possibly livin less than a rock inside the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This man was more than simply a monk within a saffron robe; he was just like a force of character, a true-existence legend who altered The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born in the late 40s, I do think, but Actually, his age didnt make a difference result in he experienced that previous-soul Strength from the start. He wasnt about that fancy town everyday living in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle person. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin things. And After i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—another pagoda. White types, gold kinds, massive kinds, smaller types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he created hundreds. Can u picture? The majority of us cant even end a LEGO set, and this monk is out right here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats in which things get true messy and genuine interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep inside the politics from the Karen people today. Back again while in the 90s, matters had been heated involving the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears crazy, right? Like, thoroughly in opposition to The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his soldiers quit eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He required a "pure" land the place individuals lived through the Dhamma, or at least his version of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few army man. His followers, guy, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," meaning Wonderful Instructor, and they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of individuals livin there in order to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like somewhat utopia he carved out from the chaos. Even though the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I bear in mind hearin stories bout how he’d just wander into harmful sites and nobody would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electrical power, Or even people today were just petrified website of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in the clinic in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was substantial. Like, A large number of individuals cryin, monks in all places, an actual unfortunate day for the Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his deal with on posters in minor tea outlets or stickers on vehicles drivin in the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a fancy dude, for sure. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he caused far more trouble. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it in the world, one brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his everyday living his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he named residence. Respect to the outdated person, U Thuzana. He was actually one of A form, an actual OG of the Theravāda tradition.