Yo, sit down and let me explain to ya a Tale bout Just about the most wild and respected dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard of him, u possibly livin less than a rock while in the Kayin State or sumthin. This man was extra than simply a monk in a saffron robe; he was similar to a drive of character, a real-daily life legend who changed The complete vibe with the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born in the late 40s, I believe, but honestly, his age didnt matter result in he had that outdated-soul Strength from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy town life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And when I say buildin, I indicate buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—One more pagoda. White types, gold types, significant kinds, compact types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Men and women say he crafted hundreds. Can u consider? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO established, which monk is out below constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where things get true messy and authentic attention-grabbing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin within a temple chanting all day long. He was deep during the politics of the Karen men and women. Again while in the 90s, factors had been heated amongst the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems crazy, correct? Like, entirely from The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He built his soldiers quit eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He preferred a "pure" land where by people today lived via the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Model of it.
But hey, dont Consider he was just some armed service guy. His followers, male, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They referred to as him "Sayadaw," which implies Fantastic Instructor, they usually get more info intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of men and women livin there simply to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like a little utopia he carved out with the chaos. Even when the outside world was lookin at him sideways explanation for the conflict, on the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into perilous sites and nobody would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, Or possibly people were just fearful of his spiritual mojo. He passed absent in 2018 within a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was large. Like, 1000s of folks cryin, monks just about everywhere, an actual unfortunate day for that Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is all over the place. U see his encounter on posters in tiny tea shops or stickers on vehicles drivin throughout the mud in Kayin State.
He was a posh dude, needless to say. A lot of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he prompted additional trouble. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on this planet, one brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he referred to as residence. Regard towards the aged man, U Thuzana. He was really one among A sort, a true OG of your Theravāda custom.