Yo, sit down and allow me to tell ya a Tale bout Probably the most wild and respected dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard of him, u probably livin under a rock inside the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This guy was far more than simply a monk in a very saffron robe; he was like a drive of nature, an actual-lifestyle legend who adjusted the whole vibe in the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born from the late 40s, I believe, but Actually, his age didnt issue induce he had that previous-soul Electricity from the start. He wasnt about that fancy city lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And Once i say buildin, I mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White kinds, gold types, big ones, compact types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he built hundreds. Can u consider? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO established, which monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where factors get real messy and serious attention-grabbing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside a temple chanting all day long. He was deep while in the politics with the Karen men and women. Again in the 90s, items were heated between the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military sounds outrageous, ideal? Like, thoroughly versus the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He built his soldiers end eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He wanted a "pure" land wherever people lived because of the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Model of it.
But hey, dont think he was just some army male. His followers, male, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They identified as him "Sayadaw," which means Wonderful Teacher, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Many folks livin there only to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like slightly utopia he carved out in the chaos. Whether or not the outside environment was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, towards the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into perilous locations and nobody would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) electric power, Or even people were just frightened of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 inside of a medical center in Bangkok, and guy, the funeral was enormous. Like, Countless individuals cryin, monks in all places, a true unhappy working day with the Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his face on posters in minimal tea retailers or stickers on vans drivin in the mud in Kayin State.
He was a complex dude, needless to say. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about additional issues. But u cant deny his effect. He wasnt just website talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to build it on the planet, one brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his lifetime his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he referred to as household. Respect to your outdated gentleman, U Thuzana. He was certainly amongst A form, a true OG of the Theravāda tradition.