He was my classmate from I.Sc(A) at Leik Khone. Our Roll Numbers were B115 and B116.
He is Chair of the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) and Core Organizer of 69er activities.
He maintains the GBNF list for 69ers. The list has 124 members (about 40% of the class).
Major donors of the 69er HCF
They include Daw Myint Myint (C69), U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69, New Jersey, USA) and U Sein Myint (K K Wong, EP69, Singapore). Many 69ers also donated — large or small, one-time or recurring — to the 69er HCF. Several 69ers donated back part or full the financial support provided by 69er HCF.
U Zaw Min (Nawaday, EP70)
He is the primary author of “RIT Days (1964 – 70)”. U Ohn Khine (M70) added some details. I edited the long article and published it in my newsletter and website.
He hosted Saya U Ba Toke and son U Ye Myint (EP72) for SPZP-2000.
U Ohn Khine (M70)
He was volunteer / organizer for SPZP, SDYF, Alumni Association, HMEE and the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
During my visits to Yangon, he gave me rides to attend the meetings and gatherings.
He and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE book.
He translated Section 1 of the book and summarized Section 2.
Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC)
He was my mentor at RIT EE and UCC.
He helped Saya Dr. Chit Swe found UCC.
He wrote articles for RIT Alumni Newsletter.
He and his team compiled articles and photos (from the archives of RU Central Library). He wrote the draft for HMEE book. He also revised U Ohn Khine’s translation and summary.
I have published both versions in my Newsletter and website.
U Aye (M62)
He knows many alumni from the 1950s to 1964.
He represented RU and BIT in Volleyball.
He competed in Track & Field and Soccer.
He knows prominent non-alumni (mostly from St. Patrick’s HS, Mudon, Moulmein and Tenasserim Division, RU).
U Myint Than (M71)
He represented RIT in Rowing and Chinlon.
He posted several photos. He was cox of the RIT Female crew which won the Inter-Institute Coxed Fours.
Feedback
* U Aye (M62) wrote :
The last time I participated in Track and field was in 1958 Inter college and Universities competition held in Mawlamyine. I stood third in Triple Jump. I participated as a member of Mawlamyine College team then.
During 1953-56, our St Patrick’s HS volleyball teams (A&B) participated in Mawlamyine township championship tournaments. Others teams were Mawlamyine college team, Kyaimaraw & Police team, 3rd Burriff team among others.
The last time I played soccer was in 1959-60 Ramanya hall team. Our captain was Ko Than Aung(GBNF). Ko Shwe Kyaw(M63), GBNF, Ko Tun Nyunt(Forestry), GBNF, Ko Hla Myint(M62), GBNF.
During our younger days, three N’s : Nu (Burma), Nehru (India) and Nasser (Egypt) celebrated the Burmese New Year (Thingyan Festival). They helped found the Non-Aligned Movement.
Other leaders such as Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Daj Hammarskjold (UNSG) and David Ben Gurion (Israel) also visited Burma.
Nehru and Indira Gandhi
Photos : Compiled by Win Aung Gyi (Maung Aung Mon)
Chou En Lai
Chou
Ho Chi Minh
Received Honorary Degree from Rangoon University
Prime Minister U Nu was Chancellor or Rangoon University
During a Dhamma Duta mission in the late 1970s, Mahasi Sayadawgyi agreed to leave U Silananda and U Kelasa to carry on the Sasana work in the US.
U Silananda taught classes and conducted meditation retreats in California.
U Kelasa did the same in East Coast of USA.
Dhammananda Vihara
Several devotees including the Khoo siblings and cousins (Eddie, Stanley, Molly) and Dr. Tin Wa established the Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA).
TBSA helped set up the Dhammanada Vihara with U Silananda as the Chief Resident Monk and U Sobhana. U Jotalankara would later join the sayadaws.
The initial Vihara was a rented house in San Francisco. It later moved to Daly City. It is currently in Half Moon Bay.
Hlaf Moon Bay monastery
Resident Monks (over the years)
U Silanandabhivamsa (First Sayadaw, GBNF)
U Sobhana (GBNF)
U Jotalankara (Second Sayadaw)
U Nandisena (Moved to Dhamma Vihara in Mexico)
U Osadha
U Kondannadhaja (Uzin Chan Min)
…
U Silanandabhivamsa
Sayadaw life and accomplishments have been recorded in the Dhammananda Newsletters and the TBSA web site.
I was an Editor for the Newsletter and web site for several years.
Highlights
Sayadaw was born in Mandalay on December 16, 1927.
Father : Saya Saing (Famous Myanmar Pithuka)
Studied at Kelly (an American Baptist Mission School)
During the war, his family took refuge at the Sagaing Hills
Ordained as a samanera (novice)
Paid respect to Shwe Hintha Sayadaw, who gave the novice his robes and requested him not to leave the order
Became a Trailblazer when Mahasi Sayadaw left him to do dhamma duta in California and beyond.
Served as the Abbot of the Dhammananda Vihara, the Spiritual Advisor of the Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA) and the Dhammachakka Meditation Center in California, and several other monasteries in Myanmar and Mexico.
First Rector of IMBTU.
Sayadaw passed away on August 13, 2005.
IMBTU sent Sayadaw U Nandamalabhivamsa and Dr. Myint Kyi to attend the Funeral Services for Sayadaw U Silananda.
I served as Master of Ceremonies at the Funeral Services for Sayadaw.
I was a Contributing Editor and Committee Member for the publication of the book paying Homage to Sayadaw.
TBSA consecrated a Dhamma Hall in memory of U Silananda.
Ceremonies to honor Sayadaw are done in August and December.
Additional materials can be found in the commemorative book (“Maw Gun Win Sar Saung”) and the DVDs about Sayadaw’s “Last Journey” and his lifelong achievements (including the first Rector of IMBTU).
Ceremony in memory of SayadawDevoteesVolunteers
Books
The Biography & First Sermon
Sayadaw wrote the book as a young monk
The book was reprinted as Dhamma Dana for Sayadaw’s 75th Birthday
Paritta Pali and Protective Verses
Ms. Srinuch Pongavas, a disciple of Sayadaw, published the book “Paritta Pali and Protective Verses” for Sayadaw’s birthday in 1995. The book displays Paritta Pali on the even-numbered pages and the Paritta Text (in English) on the odd-numbered pages. Sayadaw recorded the Pali and the English Text. CD was also provided as Dhamma Dana.
It can also be listened on You Tube
U Silanandabhivamsa’s Dhamma Duta Missions
by Nyaung Kan Aye Sayadaw
Nyaung Kan Aye Sayadaw is from the Dhamma Lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw.
Dhamma Lecturer
Dedicated the book to his mentor U Silanandabhivamsa
Aye Thet Scholarship
Dr. Swe Aye and Dr. Khin Nyo Thet provided the seed money for the “Aye Thet Scholarship”.
The number of young adults and children attending the TBSA Summer Dhamma Camp has grown close to 200.
The classes cover
Recitation (for very young children)
Levels 1 to 6
Some who passed Level 6 would volunteer to be Teaching Assistants.
Several donors augment the “Aye Thet Scholarship” to give prizes to the attendees of the TBSA Summer Dhamma Camp.
My Contributions
EC member (VP and/or Director)
Editor of the Dhammananda Newsletter.
Per Sayadaw U Silananda’s request, I simplified the book “A Manual of Buddhism” for use at the Summer Dhamma Camp.
I also edited the book based on the transcripts — by U Osadha — of Sayadaw’s dhamma talks (mostly at the meditation retreats).
Master of Ceremonies at Sayadaw’s Memorial Service
Accompanied Saya U Myat Htoo (then President of TBSA) for scattering Sayadaw’s ashes into the water near Golden Gate Bridge.
Committee member and Contributing Editor for the book “Homage to Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa“.
It was a decision I made 50 years ago that resulted in an association with an institution that has developed from its incipient stage to a full-fledged Institute of Higher Learning. Of course the decision was not mine alone since youths in those days were required to follow the tradition of seeking the guidance and advice of parents, teachers and relatives. I was fortunate enough to have an uncle who was the Professor of Chemistry and gave me valuable advice. Besides, motivation was needed to go for a career, which required two more years of study beyond the B.A. or B.Sc. courses. At that time Burma was independent for just two years and we, the youth of the country, were imbued with a spirit of challenge and sacrifice. Being masters of our own destiny, we had a vision of a united country of fertile fields, humming factories and busy highways. So I chose to apply for admission to B.O.C. College. Actually the name of the college was B.O.C. College of Engineering and Mining with a Principal as its head. The last principal was Mr. Pendril Davies. At this stage I would like to beg the reader’s forgiveness if my recollections are in error and please feel free to correct me. 50 years is a long time. University of Rangoon subsequently took over the College and it became the Faculty of Engineering with a Dean as its head. Sayagyi U Tan Ba Hli was the dean in 1950.
The requirement for admission was that an applicant must have taken the combination — Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry — in the Intermediate of Science (I.Sc.) class and pass with an aggregate of 50%. There were just over 100 students in my First Year Engineering class, including those who signed up for the fast-track New Course in 1949 and absorbed into regular class when it was discontinued. All First and Second Year students have to take common courses, irrespective of whether one wants to go for Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. Those are the only disciplines in the Faculty. Only after passing the Second Year did we have a choice. Thus, I found myself in 1950 joining an institution which nurtured me intellectually as well as socially and helped me establish a common bond of friendship and loyalty with my fellow engineers and students, when I morphed from student to teacher.
HlaMin 