Yo, sit back and allow me to convey to ya a story bout The most wild and revered dudes during the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u in no way heard about him, u in all probability livin less than a rock within the Kayin State or sumthin. This person was a lot more than just a monk in a saffron robe; he was similar to a force of mother nature, an actual-lifetime legend who improved The entire vibe on the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul from the Myaing Gyi Ngu location. Born while in the late 40s, I do think, but honestly, his age didnt matter induce he had that aged-soul Power from the beginning. He wasnt about that extravagant town daily life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle guy. He liked the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And when I say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—A further pagoda. White ones, gold kinds, significant ones, compact types. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he constructed hundreds. Can u imagine? The majority of us cant even finish a LEGO established, which monk is out below constructin monuments in the midst of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats wherever matters get authentic messy and true exciting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day long. He was deep in the politics from the Karen persons. Again in the 90s, things were heated between the KNU as well as 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 Seems nuts, ideal? Like, absolutely from The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the religion. He built his troopers prevent eatin meat. Yeah, an get more info entire army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-control. He wished a "pure" land where people today lived via the Dhamma, or at least his Edition of it.
But hey, dont Feel he was just a few armed service guy. His followers, man, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They termed him "Sayadaw," meaning Great Teacher, and they meant it. He experienced this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Many people today livin there only to be around him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like a little utopia he carved out on the chaos. Regardless of whether the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways reason behind the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I keep in mind hearin stories bout how he’d just walk into risky areas and nobody would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) electric power, Or perhaps people have been just afraid of his spiritual mojo. He handed absent in 2018 inside a clinic in Bangkok, and gentleman, the funeral was large. Like, thousands of people cryin, monks everywhere you go, a real sad working day for your Burmese Buddhist community. Even now, his legacy is everywhere you go. U see his confront on posters in very little tea stores or stickers on vans drivin throughout the mud in Kayin Condition.
He was a fancy dude, of course. Some people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about far more difficulties. But u cant deny his impact. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to make it in the world, a single brick and one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his lifetime his way, raw and unfiltered, much like the jungle he referred to as residence. Regard to your old person, U Thuzana. He was certainly one of A sort, a true OG in the Theravāda custom.