Yo, sit down and let me notify ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never heard about him, u in all probability livin beneath a rock during the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This person was extra than just a monk in a very saffron robe; he was similar to a force of nature, an actual-lifestyle legend who modified The full vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born inside the late 40s, I do think, but Truthfully, his age didnt make a difference cause he had that aged-soul Electricity from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin issues. And Once i say buildin, I suggest buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—another pagoda. White types, gold ones, significant ones, smaller ones. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he crafted hundreds. Can u consider? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats the place matters get authentic messy and actual interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day long. He was deep within the politics on the Karen people. Again within the 90s, matters had been heated concerning the KNU along with the gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears crazy, ideal? Like, entirely from The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his troopers quit eatin meat. Yeah, an entire Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore willpower. He needed a "pure" land in which individuals lived from the Dhamma, or no less than his version of it.
But hey, dont Assume he was just some military services person. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They identified as him "Sayadaw," meaning Fantastic Teacher, and so they meant it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of people livin there just to be around him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like just a little utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even when the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, on the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just walk into perilous sites and no-one would touch him. He experienced read more that "metta" (loving-kindness) electrical power, Or even people today were just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in the medical center in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was enormous. Like, Many individuals cryin, monks in all places, a true unfortunate day for that Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his deal with on posters in small tea outlets or stickers on vehicles drivin with the mud in Kayin State.
He was a posh dude, for sure. Many people say he was a peacemaker, some say he triggered extra difficulty. But u cant deny his affect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on the planet, a person brick and just one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed house. Respect to the outdated male, U Thuzana. He was actually one of A form, a true OG from the Theravāda custom.