Yo, sit back and let me inform ya a story bout One of the more wild and revered dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard of him, u in all probability livin under a rock within the Kayin State or sumthin. This dude was more than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was just like a drive of character, a real-everyday living legend who transformed The complete vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born while in the late 40s, i think, but Actually, his age didnt make a difference cause he had that outdated-soul Electricity from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And Once i say buildin, I indicate buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Everywhere you go he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White ones, gold kinds, major types, modest kinds. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Men and women say he built hundreds. Can u envision? Most of us cant even finish a LEGO established, and this monk is out below constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats in which items get real messy and genuine fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a very temple chanting all day long. He was deep from the politics of your Karen people today. Back in the 90s, issues were heated amongst the KNU and also the gov. Thuzana, he chose to break up and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Now, U Thuzana Sayadaw a monk leadin an army Seems mad, proper? Like, entirely towards The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He manufactured his troopers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He preferred a "pure" land where individuals lived by the Dhamma, or not less than his Model of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just some armed service guy. His followers, man, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They named him "Sayadaw," which suggests Fantastic Trainer, plus they meant it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless folks livin there simply to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like just a little utopia he carved out on the chaos. Regardless of whether the outside entire world was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, for the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin stories bout how he’d just wander into unsafe areas and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) energy, or maybe persons ended up just terrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 within a medical center in Bangkok, and male, the funeral was huge. Like, Countless people cryin, monks everywhere, an actual unfortunate day for that Burmese Buddhist Neighborhood. Even now, his legacy is everywhere you go. U see his deal with on posters in tiny tea outlets or stickers on vans drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Some people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about more trouble. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it in the world, 1 brick and a person vegetarian soldier at any given time. He lived his life his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he termed household. Regard for the aged man, U Thuzana. He was genuinely certainly one of A sort, an actual OG with the Theravāda custom.