Yo, sit back and let me tell ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard of him, u possibly livin beneath a rock inside the Kayin State or sumthin. This man was additional than simply a monk within a saffron robe; he was like a drive of character, an actual-everyday living legend who adjusted The complete vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born inside the late 40s, i think, but Actually, his age didnt issue induce he experienced that aged-soul Electrical power from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant metropolis lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And After i say buildin, I mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—A different pagoda. White kinds, gold types, significant kinds, little types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Men and women say he developed hundreds. Can u picture? Many of us cant even end a LEGO established, which monk is out below constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats in which points get authentic messy and genuine attention-grabbing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in the temple chanting all day long. He was deep within the politics with the Karen people. Back again in the 90s, issues have been heated involving the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military Appears ridiculous, right? Like, thoroughly versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He wished a "pure" land in which people today lived via the Dhamma, or not less than his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just some army male. His followers, person, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," which means Fantastic Teacher, they usually intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of men and women livin there in order to be in the vicinity of him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like slightly utopia he carved out in the chaos. Even though the outside entire world was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, to your locals, he was there click here daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just walk into hazardous areas and nobody would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or even persons ended up just fearful of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 within a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was enormous. Like, A huge number of persons cryin, monks everywhere you go, an actual unhappy day for the Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his face on posters in very little tea retailers or stickers on vehicles drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a posh dude, needless to say. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he triggered additional hassle. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to build it in the world, one brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his everyday living his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he termed home. Respect into the old guy, U Thuzana. He was truly certainly one of A sort, an actual OG of your Theravāda tradition.