Yo, sit down and allow me to convey to ya a Tale bout One of the more wild and respected dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard about him, u possibly livin underneath a rock within the Kayin State or sumthin. This guy was extra than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was just like a force of nature, a true-daily life legend who transformed The complete vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul in the Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born inside the late 40s, I feel, but honestly, his age didnt make a difference induce he had that old-soul Strength from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant metropolis daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And After i say buildin, I imply buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Just about everywhere he went, BAM—Yet another pagoda. White kinds, gold types, big ones, modest types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he developed hundreds. Can u think about? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO set, and this monk is out right here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats exactly where issues get actual messy and real fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day. He was deep during the politics with the Karen persons. Back again in the 90s, factors ended up heated concerning the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears insane, ideal? Like, totally in opposition to the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He manufactured his troopers cease eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He needed a "pure" land wherever persons lived because of the Dhamma, or at the very least his version of it.
But hey, dont Consider he was just some armed forces male. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," meaning Excellent Trainer, and so they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of individuals livin there just to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like just a little utopia he carved out from the chaos. Even though the surface entire world 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 locations and no-one would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or perhaps folks have been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 inside a hospital in Bangkok, and person, the funeral was huge. Like, Countless people today cryin, monks all over the place, a real unfortunate day website to the Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his deal with on posters in minor tea outlets or stickers on vans drivin with the mud in Kayin State.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Some people say he was a peacemaker, some say he prompted a lot more difficulties. But u cant deny his effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to build it on the planet, 1 brick and just one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his life his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed home. Regard into the outdated gentleman, U Thuzana. He was certainly one of a kind, a real OG with the Theravāda custom.