Yo, sit down and let me convey to ya a Tale bout Just about the most wild and respected dudes while in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard of him, u possibly livin beneath a rock inside the Kayin State or sumthin. This person was more than just a monk in a very saffron robe; he was similar to a pressure of mother nature, a real-life legend who transformed The full vibe of your borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu region. Born while in the late 40s, I do think, but Truthfully, his age didnt issue result in he had that old-soul Electricity from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy city daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And After i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White ones, gold types, huge ones, tiny kinds. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he crafted hundreds. Can u envision? The majority of us cant even finish a LEGO established, and this monk is out listed here constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats wherever things get actual messy and authentic interesting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin within a temple chanting all day long. He was deep from the politics on the Karen men and women. Again while in the 90s, issues have been heated concerning the KNU as well as the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems nuts, appropriate? Like, completely from the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He built his soldiers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He needed a "pure" land where by people lived from the Dhamma, or at least his version of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few navy man. His followers, guy, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They identified as him "Sayadaw," which means Good Teacher, and so they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u more info would see A large number of people today livin there just to be around him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like slightly utopia he carved out in the chaos. Regardless of whether the outside globe was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just stroll into dangerous places and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) power, Or perhaps folks have been just fearful of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 in a very medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was big. Like, 1000s of men and women cryin, monks just about everywhere, a real sad day to the Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his encounter on posters in tiny tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin from the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a complex dude, of course. Many people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about extra problems. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on earth, 1 brick and just one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his daily life his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he named residence. Regard to your aged person, U Thuzana. He was definitely one of A form, a real OG with the Theravāda tradition.