Yo, sit back and let me inform ya a story bout one of the most wild and respected dudes during the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard of him, u in all probability livin beneath a rock from the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This man was far more than simply a monk in the saffron robe; he was just like a force of character, an actual-life legend who improved The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born while in the late 40s, I feel, but Truthfully, his age didnt subject bring about he experienced that previous-soul Electrical power from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant metropolis lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle male. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin things. And After i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White kinds, gold types, major ones, smaller ones. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he designed hundreds. Can u imagine? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO set, which monk is out right here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats the place factors get serious messy and true appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day long. He was deep in the politics in the Karen people. Again while in the 90s, items have been heated involving the KNU as well as the gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army sounds insane, proper? Like, totally from The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his soldiers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, an entire Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He required a "pure" land where by folks lived because of the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Edition of it.
But hey, dont Believe he was just some army dude. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They known as him "Sayadaw," which implies Great Instructor, and they intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of persons livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like somewhat utopia he carved out in the chaos. Although the skin entire world was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, towards the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just stroll into unsafe areas and nobody would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or possibly men and women were being just frightened of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 in a very medical center in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was huge. Like, A large number of people cryin, monks everywhere, a true sad working day to the Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his facial area on posters in tiny tea shops or stickers on vehicles drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a posh dude, of course. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he prompted far more difficulty. But u cant deny his affect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to create it on the planet, a person brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his existence his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed residence. Respect to the aged guy, U Thuzana. He was certainly among here A form, a true OG with the Theravāda custom.