Yo, sit down and allow me to inform ya a Tale bout One of the more wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard of him, u in all probability livin less than a rock while in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This male was additional than simply a monk inside of a saffron robe; he was like a drive of character, a true-life legend who altered The complete vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born from the late 40s, I do think, but Actually, his age didnt make a difference result in he had that old-soul Strength from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant city daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin matters. And when I say buildin, I signify buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White ones, gold types, huge ones, small kinds. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he crafted hundreds. Can u visualize? The majority of us cant even end a LEGO set, and this monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats wherever points get true messy and serious intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day long. He was deep from the politics in the Karen people today. Again inside the 90s, items have been heated between the KNU and also the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems ridiculous, correct? Like, completely against The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his troopers stop eatin meat. Yeah, a complete army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He needed a "pure" land in which people lived with the Dhamma, or at least his Edition of it.
But hey, dont think he was just some armed forces dude. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They known as him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Instructor, and they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of people today livin there simply to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a little bit utopia he carved out of your chaos. Although the surface environment was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I recall hearin stories bout how he’d just stroll into hazardous locations and nobody would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) electricity, Or even men and women had been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was massive. Like, A huge number of people today cryin, monks all over the place, a true unfortunate day to the Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his confront on posters in minor tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin in the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a fancy dude, of course. A lot more info of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on extra problems. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on the planet, a single brick and just one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his existence his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he known as household. Regard to your old gentleman, U Thuzana. He was truly one of A sort, an actual OG of the Theravāda custom.