Yo, sit down and let me notify ya a Tale bout One of the more wild and revered dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard about him, u possibly livin under a rock from the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This dude was much more than simply a monk inside of a saffron robe; he was similar to a pressure of mother nature, an actual-daily life legend who changed the whole vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born inside the late 40s, I feel, but Actually, his age didnt issue lead to he had that aged-soul Power from the start. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And when I say buildin, I signify buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—Yet another pagoda. White kinds, gold types, large types, smaller ones. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he built hundreds. Can u think about? Most of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out below constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats wherever matters get serious messy and genuine interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day. He was deep during the politics in the Karen persons. Back again during the 90s, matters were heated among the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears nuts, appropriate? Like, totally versus the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He made his troopers end eatin meat. Yeah, an entire Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He needed a "pure" land in which persons lived via the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Edition of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just a few navy man. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," meaning Wonderful Instructor, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of folks livin there just to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a bit utopia he carved out on the chaos. Even though the surface earth was lookin at him sideways reason more info for the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into dangerous places and no-one would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electricity, Or perhaps individuals had been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 inside a medical center in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was huge. Like, Many persons cryin, monks just about everywhere, a true sad working day to the Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is just about everywhere. U see his experience on posters in little tea stores or stickers on vehicles drivin from the mud in Kayin State.
He was a complex dude, of course. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on a lot more trouble. But u cant deny his effect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on the planet, one brick and one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his existence his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he called residence. Regard on the old person, U Thuzana. He was definitely amongst a kind, an actual OG of the Theravāda custom.