U Thuzana Sayadaw, Reputation, and Responsibility in Burmese Theravāda Life

Yo, sit back and allow me to convey to ya a story bout Just about the most wild and respected dudes inside the Burmese Theravāda scene. We talkin bout U Thuzana Sayadaw. If u by no means heard about him, u likely livin under a rock while in the Kayin State or sumthin. This dude was a lot more than simply a monk in the saffron robe; he was just like a pressure of nature, a true-daily life legend who improved The complete vibe of your borderlands.

U Thuzana, he was the heart and soul of your Myaing Gyi Ngu place. Born within the late 40s, I believe, but Actually, his age didnt matter trigger he experienced that old-soul energy from the beginning. He wasnt about that fancy metropolis existence in Yangon. Nah, he was a jungle man. He loved the mountains, the trees, and buildin points. And Once i say buildin, I necessarily mean buildin. He experienced this obsession with pagodas. All over the place he went, BAM—An additional pagoda. White types, gold types, massive types, small kinds. It had been like he was tryin to pin the earth down with holiness. Persons say he designed hundreds. Can u imagine? Many of us cant even complete a LEGO set, and this monk is out in this article constructin monuments in the middle of a war zone.

Talking of war, thats in which matters get authentic messy and genuine exciting. U Thuzana wasnt just sittin in a very temple chanting all day. He was deep within the politics of your Karen individuals. Back during the 90s, points were being heated among the KNU as well as gov. Thuzana, he decided to break up and fashioned the DKBA—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Military. Now, a monk leadin a military Seems crazy, right? Like, entirely against the rules. But for check here his followers, he was protectin the faith. He made his soldiers cease eatin meat. Yeah, a whole army of vegetarians! That’s legit some hardcore discipline. He wished a "pure" land where by folks lived via the Dhamma, or not less than his Model of it.

But hey, dont Feel he was just some military guy. His followers, guy, they worshipped the bottom he walked on. They referred to as him "Sayadaw," which suggests Excellent Teacher, they usually meant it. He had this aura. If u went to Myaing Gyi Ngu, u would see 1000s of people livin there just to be near him. No booze, no meat, just pure devotion. It was like a bit utopia he carved out on the chaos. Although the skin entire world was lookin at him sideways reason for the conflict, into the locals, he was there daddy, there protector, there saint.

I recall hearin stories bout how he’d just walk into risky areas and nobody would contact him. He had that "metta" (loving-kindness) ability, or maybe persons have been just frightened of his spiritual mojo. He passed away in 2018 in a very healthcare facility in Bangkok, and guy, the funeral was large. Like, 1000s of folks cryin, monks all over the place, an actual unhappy working day for your Burmese Buddhist Local community. Even now, his legacy is almost everywhere. U see his experience on posters in minor tea stores or stickers on vehicles drivin with the mud in Kayin Condition.

He was a complex dude, of course. A number of people say he was a peacemaker, some say he triggered extra issues. But u cant deny his influence. He wasnt just talkin bout Nirvana; he was tryin to construct it on the planet, a single brick and a single vegetarian soldier at a time. He lived his everyday living his way, raw and unfiltered, just like the jungle he named house. Respect for the outdated man, U Thuzana. He was genuinely considered one of A form, a true OG of your Theravāda tradition.