Yo, sit down and allow me to inform ya a Tale bout Among the most wild and revered dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard about him, u in all probability livin under a rock during the Kayin State or sumthin. This male was a lot more than simply a monk in a saffron robe; he was just like a drive of character, a real-lifetime legend who adjusted The full vibe in the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu place. Born from the late 40s, I believe, but Actually, his age didnt matter cause he experienced that previous-soul Power from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant town lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And when I say buildin, I indicate buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—A different pagoda. White kinds, gold kinds, massive ones, compact ones. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he crafted hundreds. Can u envision? Many of us cant even finish a LEGO set, which monk is out right here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where things get real messy and real appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep during the politics with the Karen men and women. Again within the 90s, factors were heated among the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears insane, right? Like, entirely towards the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his troopers halt eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He needed a "pure" land wherever persons lived by the Dhamma, or at the very least his version of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just some navy person. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," which means Terrific Teacher, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of persons livin there only to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like read more a bit utopia he carved out of the chaos. Even though the skin world was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, towards the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I recall hearin tales bout how he’d just stroll into perilous destinations and no-one would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, or maybe people today have been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 in a very healthcare facility in Bangkok, and person, the funeral was big. Like, A large number of persons cryin, monks almost everywhere, a real unfortunate day for your Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his experience on posters in tiny tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin from the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, needless to say. Lots of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on additional hassle. But u cant deny his effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on the planet, a person brick and a single vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he named property. Regard to your aged guy, U Thuzana. He was genuinely considered one of A form, an actual OG on the Theravāda tradition.