Yo, sit down and let me tell ya a story bout Among the most wild and revered dudes during the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard about him, u most likely livin less than a rock inside the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This male was more than simply a monk in a saffron robe; he was like a power of nature, a real-life legend who improved the whole vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born from the late 40s, I do think, but honestly, his age didnt make any difference trigger he had that old-soul Strength from the start. He wasnt about that fancy town lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And Once i say buildin, I imply buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White ones, gold ones, significant types, smaller types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Individuals say he designed hundreds. Can u think about? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO set, and this monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where by points get genuine messy and authentic intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside a temple chanting all day. He was deep in the politics from the Karen people. Back again inside the 90s, matters have been heated amongst the KNU along with the gov. Thuzana, he decided to split and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears nuts, proper? Like, entirely from the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He made his soldiers quit eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He preferred a "pure" land the place men and women lived because of the Dhamma, or at the very least his version of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just some military services male. His followers, guy, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," which suggests Fantastic Instructor, and so they meant it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of individuals livin there in order to be in the vicinity of him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a little utopia he carved out from the chaos. Even when the outside entire world was lookin at him sideways cause of the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin stories bout how he’d just wander into unsafe spots and no-one would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, Or even individuals have been just terrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 within a hospital in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was enormous. Like, Many people cryin, monks everywhere, a true unfortunate working day for your Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his encounter on posters in minimal tea retailers or stickers on vans drivin in the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, obviously. Lots of people say he was a peacemaker, some say click here he brought about much more difficulty. But u cant deny his impact. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on the planet, one brick and a person vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifetime his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed dwelling. Regard for the outdated gentleman, U Thuzana. He was certainly among A sort, an actual OG of your Theravāda tradition.