Yo, sit back and allow me to explain to ya a Tale bout Among the most wild and respected dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard of him, u in all probability livin less than a rock within the Kayin State or sumthin. This guy was a lot more than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was like a power of nature, an actual-lifestyle legend who transformed the whole vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born while in the late 40s, I do think, but Truthfully, his age didnt make a difference induce he experienced that aged-soul Strength from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin matters. And when I say buildin, I mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White kinds, gold types, massive ones, compact types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Individuals say he created 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 course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats the place things get serious messy and serious appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day. He was deep in the politics in the Karen people. Again within the 90s, issues were heated concerning the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears ridiculous, correct? Like, entirely against the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He designed his troopers cease eatin meat. Yeah, an entire Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He required a "pure" land the place men and women lived because of the Dhamma, or at the very least his Model of it.
But hey, dont Consider he was just some military services guy. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They referred to as him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Instructor, they usually meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless folks livin there simply to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like slightly utopia he carved out of the chaos. Even when the skin world was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I recall hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into hazardous sites and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, Or perhaps men and women ended up just frightened of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in a very hospital in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was substantial. Like, thousands of men and women cryin, monks all over the place, a real unhappy day read more for your Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is just about everywhere. U see his facial area on posters in small tea shops or stickers on vans drivin in the mud in Kayin State.
He was a fancy dude, obviously. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about extra issues. But u cant deny his effect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on earth, a single brick and a single vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he named household. Regard into the outdated man, U Thuzana. He was definitely certainly one of A form, a real OG on the Theravāda tradition.