Yo, sit down and let me explain to ya a story bout one of the most wild and respected dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard about him, u likely livin beneath a rock during the Kayin State or sumthin. This man was far more than just a monk inside a saffron robe; he was just like a power of mother nature, a true-lifetime legend who altered The complete vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul in the Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born from the late 40s, I believe, but Truthfully, his age didnt make a difference bring about he experienced that outdated-soul Electrical power from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant town lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And After i say buildin, I mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White types, gold kinds, major ones, smaller types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he constructed hundreds. Can u consider? Most of us cant even complete a LEGO set, which monk is out here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where by things get real messy and actual exciting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a very temple chanting all day. He was deep in the politics on the Karen individuals. Back while in the 90s, issues ended up heated between the KNU as well get more info as the gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems outrageous, correct? Like, absolutely versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He built his troopers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He wished a "pure" land where by people today lived via the Dhamma, or at the least his Variation of it.
But hey, dont think he was just some armed service guy. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which means Wonderful Trainer, and they intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of folks livin there only to be around him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like a bit utopia he carved out on the chaos. Even when the skin globe was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I recall hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into hazardous locations and no-one would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, or maybe people today were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a medical center in Bangkok, and person, the funeral was substantial. Like, A large number of individuals cryin, monks all over the place, an actual unhappy working day for that Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is everywhere you go. U see his facial area on posters in little tea retailers or stickers on vehicles drivin through the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a complex dude, needless to say. Lots of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he triggered extra problems. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to develop it on earth, one particular brick and one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his everyday living his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he referred to as dwelling. Respect towards the old person, U Thuzana. He was really one among a kind, a true OG in the Theravāda custom.