Yo, sit down and let me convey to ya a story bout one of the most wild and revered dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard about him, u likely livin underneath a rock inside the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This dude was additional than just a monk inside of a saffron robe; he was similar to a force of mother nature, a true-everyday living legend who altered The full vibe of the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the center and soul with the Myaing Gyi Ngu place. Born within the late 40s, I do think, but honestly, his age didnt make any difference bring about he had that aged-soul Vitality from the start. He wasnt about that extravagant town existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle person. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin factors. And After i say buildin, I imply buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—another pagoda. White kinds, gold kinds, big types, tiny types. It was like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Folks say he constructed hundreds. Can u consider? Most of us cant even end a LEGO set, and this monk is out below constructin monuments in the course of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats exactly where items get serious messy and actual appealing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a temple chanting all day long. He was deep in the politics with the Karen persons. Again within the 90s, things were being heated between the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military sounds nuts, suitable? Like, thoroughly from The foundations. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He created his soldiers end eatin meat. Yeah, a complete Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore self-discipline. He preferred a "pure" land exactly where folks lived through the Dhamma, or not less than his Edition of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few army male. His followers, person, they worshipped the ground he walked on. They called him "Sayadaw," which means Great Teacher, and so they intended it. He experienced this aura. If u went to get more info Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Countless folks livin there only to be around him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It had been like just a little utopia he carved out of your chaos. Even when the surface entire world was lookin at him sideways cause of the conflict, to the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin tales bout how he’d just wander into dangerous areas and no-one would touch him. He experienced that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, Or even people today have been just terrified of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in a very healthcare facility in Bangkok, and person, the funeral was massive. Like, Many folks cryin, monks all over the place, a real unfortunate working day with the Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is in all places. U see his deal with on posters in little tea retailers or stickers on trucks drivin throughout the mud in Kayin State.
He was a fancy dude, needless to say. Some individuals say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about extra issues. But u cant deny his affect. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to develop it in the world, a single brick and just one vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he termed dwelling. Regard towards the old male, U Thuzana. He was certainly considered one of A sort, a real OG from the Theravāda tradition.