Yo, sit back and allow me to explain to ya a Tale bout The most wild and respected dudes during the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u never ever heard of him, u possibly livin below a rock within the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This dude was additional than simply a monk in a saffron robe; he was just like a force of mother nature, an actual-lifetime legend who improved The entire vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul in the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. Born in the late 40s, I feel, but Truthfully, his age didnt subject trigger he had that old-soul Electricity from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant town lifetime in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle person. He cherished the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And After i say buildin, I mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White types, gold kinds, massive kinds, smaller ones. It absolutely was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he designed hundreds. Can u think about? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO set, which monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats exactly where matters get genuine messy and authentic intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside a temple chanting all day. He was deep within the politics of the Karen individuals. Back during the 90s, issues had been heated among the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Seems mad, right? Like, thoroughly from the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He made his soldiers cease eatin meat. Yeah, a complete army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He desired a "pure" land in which persons lived through the Dhamma, or at least his Model of it.
But hey, dont think he was just a few army person. His followers, guy, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They known as him "Sayadaw," meaning Fantastic Trainer, and they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see A huge number of people today livin there simply to be close to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like a little bit utopia he carved out with the chaos. Although the skin earth 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 walk into dangerous sites and no-one would contact him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) electric power, Or even men and women were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a very medical center in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was substantial. Like, A large number of folks cryin, monks everywhere you go, an actual unfortunate day to the Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is everywhere you go. U see his encounter on posters in minimal tea shops or stickers on trucks drivin from the mud in Kayin State.
He was a posh dude, for sure. A lot of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought on additional hassle. But u cant deny his check here effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it in the world, a person brick and one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifetime his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, much like the jungle he known as home. Respect to the outdated guy, U Thuzana. He was actually certainly one of a kind, a true OG with the Theravāda custom.