Yo, sit back and let me convey to ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard of him, u most likely livin beneath a rock in the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This dude was a lot more than simply a monk inside of a saffron robe; he was like a power of mother nature, a true-daily life legend who adjusted The entire vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born inside the late 40s, I feel, but Actually, his age didnt matter result in he had that aged-soul energy from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy city daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And Once i say buildin, I indicate buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—Yet another pagoda. White types, gold kinds, significant ones, smaller ones. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he constructed hundreds. Can u think about? The majority of us cant even end a LEGO established, and this monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats the place issues get authentic messy and genuine fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin within a temple chanting all day. He was deep during the politics in the Karen people. Again within the 90s, items ended up heated in between the KNU and also the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to split and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems insane, appropriate? Like, fully versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a complete army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He required a "pure" land wherever individuals lived by the Dhamma, or not less than his version of it.
But hey, dont Believe he was just a few armed service dude. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They identified as him "Sayadaw," which suggests Terrific Instructor, plus they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless folks livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like just a little utopia he carved out in the here chaos. Even if the outside environment was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, into the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin stories bout how he’d just wander into hazardous sites and nobody would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electricity, or maybe individuals had been just frightened of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 in a very hospital in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was enormous. Like, Many individuals cryin, monks all over the place, an actual unfortunate day for that Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his deal with on posters in minimal tea outlets or stickers on vans drivin through the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, of course. Lots of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on more issues. But u cant deny his impact. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it in the world, one particular brick and one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he referred to as residence. Respect to the old man, U Thuzana. He was really considered one of a kind, a true OG on the Theravāda tradition.