Yo, sit down and allow me to inform ya a story bout one of the most wild and revered dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard about him, u probably livin underneath a rock while in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This dude was a lot more than simply a monk within a saffron robe; he was just like a power of nature, a real-everyday living legend who modified The entire vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born inside the late 40s, I feel, but Actually, his age didnt matter trigger he experienced that outdated-soul energy from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant town daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle male. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin matters. And when I say buildin, I indicate buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere you go he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White types, gold kinds, significant ones, compact types. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he built hundreds. Can u envision? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO set, which monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats wherever factors get actual messy and authentic fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a very temple chanting all day long. He was deep inside the politics of the Karen persons. Back while in the 90s, points were being heated concerning the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems insane, suitable? Like, absolutely towards The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers cease eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He wished a "pure" land the place persons lived because of the Dhamma, or no less than his version of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just some navy male. His followers, man, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They referred to as him "Sayadaw," which implies Wonderful Trainer, they usually meant it. more info He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A large number of people livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like slightly utopia he carved out from the chaos. Even if the outside world was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into unsafe places and nobody would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, Or possibly men and women were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a medical center in Bangkok, and guy, the funeral was big. Like, A huge number of people cryin, monks everywhere, an actual sad day for that Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his facial area on posters in very little tea retailers or stickers on vans drivin with the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Many people say he was a peacemaker, some say he caused more problems. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to create it on the planet, 1 brick and a single vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his everyday living his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he referred to as property. Respect on the old person, U Thuzana. He was really considered one of A form, an actual OG in the Theravāda tradition.