Yo, sit back and let me convey to ya a story bout One of the more wild and respected dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard of him, u in all probability livin less than a rock inside the Kayin State or sumthin. This dude was more than simply a monk in the saffron robe; he was like a drive of character, an actual-existence legend who improved The entire vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu spot. Born from the late 40s, I believe, but Truthfully, his age didnt issue lead to he experienced that previous-soul Electricity from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy town lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle person. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And when I say buildin, I suggest buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Just about everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White types, gold kinds, big ones, tiny types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Individuals say he designed hundreds. Can u visualize? The majority of us cant even finish a LEGO set, which monk is out right here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where by things get actual messy and authentic appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day. He was deep while in the politics of your Karen people. Back again within the 90s, things were heated concerning the KNU as well as the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems insane, correct? Like, thoroughly against The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He created his troopers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He required a "pure" land where by folks lived with the Dhamma, or no less than his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few armed forces man. His followers, person, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," meaning Great Instructor, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Many folks livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a little utopia he carved out in the chaos. Even though the surface planet was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into perilous sites and no-one would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electrical power, or maybe people ended up just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 inside of a hospital in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was enormous. Like, Many persons cryin, monks everywhere you go, an actual unfortunate working day for the Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his confront on posters in little tea stores or stickers on vans drivin through the mud in Kayin State.
He was a complex dude, of course. Lots click here of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about extra difficulty. But u cant deny his effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it in the world, a person brick and a person vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his existence his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he referred to as dwelling. Respect into the aged man, U Thuzana. He was certainly considered one of A form, a real OG with the Theravāda custom.