Yo, sit back and allow me to explain to ya a Tale bout Just about the most wild and revered dudes from the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard about him, u almost certainly livin below a rock in the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This person was extra than simply a monk in a very saffron robe; he was like a pressure of nature, a true-life legend who improved The entire vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born within the late 40s, I feel, but Actually, his age didnt make any difference trigger he experienced that previous-soul Electrical power from the start. He wasnt about that fancy town everyday living in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle gentleman. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And After i say buildin, I imply buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere you go he went, BAM—another pagoda. White kinds, gold ones, significant types, small ones. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he created hundreds. Can u envision? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats where by points get true messy and real appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day long. He was deep during the politics on the Karen men and women. Back inside the 90s, issues have been heated amongst the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems crazy, suitable? Like, thoroughly versus The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He manufactured his soldiers halt eatin meat. Yeah, an entire Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He desired a "pure" land in which people today lived from the Dhamma, or no less than his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Consider he was just some website army guy. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which implies Excellent Instructor, they usually meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of men and women livin there in order to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It absolutely was like just a little utopia he carved out on the chaos. Even though the skin globe was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, into the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I bear in mind hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into hazardous destinations and no-one would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or perhaps men and women were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a very clinic in Bangkok, and guy, the funeral was massive. Like, Countless people today cryin, monks almost everywhere, a true unhappy working day for that Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is everywhere. U see his confront on posters in small tea shops or stickers on vans drivin in the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a fancy dude, of course. Some people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about more trouble. But u cant deny his impact. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to develop it on the planet, a person brick and just one vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he called house. Regard into the aged male, U Thuzana. He was actually amongst A form, a real OG with the Theravāda tradition.