Yo, sit down and let me notify ya a story bout Just about the most wild and respected dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard of him, u likely livin below a rock during the Kayin State or sumthin. This man was more than just a monk in a saffron robe; he was like a power of character, a real-daily life legend who altered The complete vibe of your borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul with the Myaing Gyi Ngu spot. Born from the late 40s, I feel, but Truthfully, his age didnt make any difference lead to he experienced that aged-soul Strength from the start. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And After i say buildin, I signify buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. In all places he went, BAM—another pagoda. White ones, gold types, huge types, compact ones. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Individuals say he created hundreds. Can u imagine? The majority of us cant even end a LEGO set, and this monk is out here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats the place points get true messy and serious intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day. He was deep inside the politics in the Karen folks. Back again from the 90s, points have been heated between the KNU and the gov. Thuzana, he made a decision to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, a monk leadin an army sounds nuts, appropriate? Like, entirely against The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He produced his troopers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He preferred a "pure" land in which people today lived with the Dhamma, or at least his Model of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few armed service guy. His followers, man, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which suggests Wonderful Instructor, and they meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of people livin there only to be in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a little bit utopia he carved out in the chaos. Even when the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways cause of the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I don't forget hearin stories bout how he’d just stroll into harmful locations and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or even people were just petrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 within a hospital in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was enormous. Like, A huge number of people today cryin, monks everywhere, a real unhappy working day with the Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is just about everywhere. U see his experience on posters in tiny tea shops or read more stickers on vehicles drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a posh dude, needless to say. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about far more difficulty. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it on the planet, a person brick and one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifestyle his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he named property. Regard to the old guy, U Thuzana. He was actually considered one of A form, an actual OG with the Theravāda tradition.