Yo, sit back and let me explain to ya a story bout Probably the most wild and respected dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard of him, u almost certainly livin beneath a rock while in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This guy was additional than simply a monk in the saffron robe; he was just like a force of nature, a real-life legend who changed The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu spot. Born during the late 40s, i think, but honestly, his age didnt make any difference induce he had that old-soul Vitality from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant city lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And After i say buildin, I indicate buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White kinds, gold kinds, major ones, tiny ones. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he constructed hundreds. Can u picture? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out right here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where matters get serious messy and true interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin within a temple chanting all day. He was deep from the politics on the Karen folks. Again in the 90s, matters had been heated involving the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army sounds outrageous, right? Like, entirely from The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He designed his soldiers cease eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He desired a "pure" land wherever people today lived from the Dhamma, or at least his Model of it.
But hey, dont Believe he was just a few military man. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," which suggests Great Instructor, plus they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of folks livin there just to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a little bit utopia he carved out on the chaos. Even though the skin entire world was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just stroll into risky areas and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electrical here power, or maybe people have been just terrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 inside a healthcare facility in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was big. Like, A huge number of men and women cryin, monks everywhere you go, a true sad day with the Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his face on posters in tiny tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin through the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, obviously. Many people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about additional difficulty. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on this planet, one particular brick and a single vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he called house. Regard towards the previous gentleman, U Thuzana. He was certainly certainly one of A form, a real OG from the Theravāda custom.