Yo, sit back and let me tell ya a Tale bout Among the most wild and respected dudes in the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u hardly ever heard of him, u in all probability livin below a rock while in the Kayin Condition or sumthin. This dude was more than just a monk in the saffron robe; he was like a pressure of character, an actual-daily life legend who modified The full vibe from the borderlands.
U Thuzana, he was the guts and soul on the Myaing Gyi Ngu space. Born during the late 40s, I believe, but Actually, his age didnt make a difference cause he experienced that aged-soul Vitality from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy town life in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He beloved the mountains, the trees, and buildin items. And After i say buildin, I suggest buildin. He had this obsession with pagodas. Almost everywhere he went, BAM—A different pagoda. White types, gold types, massive types, tiny types. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. People today say he created hundreds. Can u visualize? Most of us cant even finish a LEGO established, and this monk is out here constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.
Speaking of war, thats where points get authentic messy and true intriguing. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin inside of a temple chanting all day. He was deep while in the politics of the Karen persons. Again during the 90s, issues were heated concerning the KNU plus the gov. Thuzana, he chose to split and shaped the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military sounds ridiculous, appropriate? Like, thoroughly towards The principles. But for his followers, he was protectin the faith. He designed his troopers halt eatin meat. Yeah, a whole Military of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He needed a "pure" land where by people lived because of the Dhamma, or a minimum of his Variation of it.
But hey, dont Imagine he was just a few military services man. His followers, man, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They identified as him "Sayadaw," which suggests Great Teacher, they usually meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see Many men and women livin there in order to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It here had been like a little utopia he carved out from the chaos. Whether or not the skin globe was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, to your locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.
I remember hearin tales bout how he’d just walk into unsafe spots and no-one would touch him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) power, Or even persons ended up just scared of his spiritual mojo. He handed away in 2018 in a very hospital in Bangkok, and man, the funeral was massive. Like, thousands of folks cryin, monks everywhere, a true unhappy day for your Burmese Buddhist Group. Even now, his legacy is just about everywhere. U see his experience on posters in little tea stores or stickers on trucks drivin in the mud in Kayin State.
He was a complex dude, for sure. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he brought about much more hassle. But u cant deny his effects. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to develop it on this planet, a person brick and 1 vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his daily life his way, Uncooked and unfiltered, just like the jungle he named dwelling. Respect on the previous male, U Thuzana. He was truly considered one of a kind, an actual OG on the Theravāda custom.