Yo, sit back and allow me to inform ya a story bout one of the most wild and revered dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard about him, u almost certainly livin below a rock while in the Kayin State or sumthin. This male was more than just a monk in a very saffron robe; he was similar to a pressure of character, a real-lifetime legend who altered the whole vibe in the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul with the Myaing Gyi Ngu spot. Born within the late 40s, I believe, but Actually, his age didnt issue trigger he had that outdated-soul Electrical power from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant town everyday living in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And when I say buildin, I mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—another pagoda. White types, gold types, large kinds, tiny kinds. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he designed hundreds. Can u consider? Many of us cant even finish a LEGO established, which monk is out right here constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats exactly where items get true messy and real fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin within a temple chanting all day long. He was deep while in the politics of the Karen persons. Again in the 90s, things have been heated amongst the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears mad, ideal? Like, fully towards here The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He built his troopers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He preferred a "pure" land in which individuals lived by the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just a few armed forces dude. His followers, person, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which implies Fantastic Trainer, they usually intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless persons livin there just to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a bit utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even when the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into risky areas and nobody would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electric power, Or even folks were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 inside of a medical center in Bangkok, and person, the funeral was big. Like, Countless individuals cryin, monks all over the place, an actual unhappy day for that Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his confront on posters in minor tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin in the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he induced a lot more hassle. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to build it in the world, a single brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his everyday living his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he known as residence. Regard on the old guy, U Thuzana. He was certainly one of A sort, an actual OG with the Theravāda tradition.