Yo, sit down and allow me to notify ya a Tale bout Just about the most wild and revered dudes within the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u under no circumstances heard of him, u possibly livin beneath a rock from the Kayin Point out or sumthin. This guy was extra than just a monk within a saffron robe; he was like a force of character, a true-existence legend who transformed the whole vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul of the Myaing Gyi Ngu spot. Born while in the late 40s, I feel, but Actually, his age didnt make any difference bring about he had that previous-soul Power from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy town lifestyle in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And when I say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. Just about everywhere he went, BAM—A different pagoda. White types, gold types, big ones, tiny kinds. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People say he crafted hundreds. Can u imagine? The majority of us cant even complete a LEGO established, and this monk is out below constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Talking of war, thats wherever factors get true messy and actual fascinating. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside a temple chanting all day. He was deep in the politics from the Karen people. Again in the 90s, matters were heated between the KNU along with the gov. Thuzana, he decided to split and formed the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin an army Appears insane, suitable? Like, fully towards the rules. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He produced his soldiers quit eatin meat. Yeah, an entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He preferred a "pure" land exactly where people today lived from the Dhamma, or at the very least his version of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few military services person. His followers, gentleman, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," which implies Excellent Instructor, and they intended it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see thousands of people livin there simply to be here in close proximity to him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like a little utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even though the outside environment 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 walk into perilous areas and no-one would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) power, Or perhaps persons ended up just fearful of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 inside of a healthcare facility in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was huge. Like, Countless folks cryin, monks just about everywhere, a true sad working day with the Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his deal with on posters in minor tea stores or stickers on vehicles drivin from the mud in Kayin Point out.
He was a fancy dude, of course. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he induced much more problems. But u cant deny his impression. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on this planet, just one brick and a person vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his existence his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he called dwelling. Respect for the old gentleman, U Thuzana. He was actually one among A sort, a real OG of your Theravāda tradition.