HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Talk — Karuna, Mudita, Uppekha

    Talk — Karuna, Mudita, Uppekha

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Video Broadcast on January 11, 2021

    Four Byamaso Taya

    • Metta
      Unbounded Love / Loving Kindness
    • Karuna
      Compassion
    • Mudita
      Altruistic Joy or Sympathetic Joy
    • Uppekkha
      Equanimity

    Karuna

    • Pali term
    • Rendered as Compassion
    • One of the four Bhamaso Taya
    • Buddha is called “The Compassionate One”
    • Mahayana Buddhists emphasize the importance of Compassion
    • Sayadaw U Sobhana (GBNF) had four Indonesian siblings as his students.
      Named one of them Karuna.
      She was present at Sayadaw’s Last Journey.
    • U Moe Myint (M76) and several alumni are members of the “Karuna Ah Thinn” in Singapore.
      One activitiy is to help the needy for the Last Journey of their loved one.
    • We saw an outpouring of Karuna in the relief efforts for Disaster Recovery (e.g. Cyclone Nargis)

    Practicing Karuna

    • May suffering ones be suffering-free
    • And the fear-struck fearless be
    • May the grieving shed all grief
    • And all beings find relief

    Mudita

    • Pali term.
    • Rendered as Altruistic Joy or Sympathetic Joy
    • One of the four Bhamaso Taya
    • One should feel joyful when one hears good news about others.

    Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung

    • Saya U Nyunt Htay (Met73) is Chief Editor
    • Contributor : Tekkatho Moe War (U Moe Aung)
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    Upekkha

    • Pali term
    • Rendered as Neutral [Feeling]
    • Also translated as Equanimity
    • One of the four Bhamaso Taya

    In a loose usage in Burmese, “Upekkha Shu” means “ignore”. It is not representative of the importance of Upekkha, which provides a balance of life and avoids the two extremes stated in the Dhammacakka Sutta

    It is non-trivial to sense Upekkha while practicing Vipassana (Insight) Meditation.

    Feelings may be be categorized as

    • Pleasant Feeling
    • Unpleasant Feeling
    • Non-Pleasant and Non-Unpleasant Feeling

    Upekkha is synonymous with “Non-Pleasant and Non-Unpleasant Feeling”.

    Buddhist Dictionary
  • Hack

    Hack

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    U Hla Min

    In the early days of Computing, a Hack is defined to be a “useful and/or beautiful piece of code.”

    Hacker

    • Some students, who worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computing Laboratories, preferred working on code rather than attending courses.
    • They feel proud of their Hacks and are addressed as Hackers.
    • Over time, Unethical Hackers emerged.
    • Ethical Hackers also rose to defend against the Unethical Hackers.
    • Most people do no know or care about the difference between Ethical and Unethical Hackers.

    Ethical Hackers

    • They try to break the security of computer systems and applications.
    • They propose solutions to defend the possible attacks of Unethical Hackers.
    • They are known as White Hats.

    Unethical Hackers

    • They inflict damage to hardware, software and data systems.
    • They may steal and sell sensitive information.
    • One study says that it is safer and lucrative to be a Criminal Hacker (also referred to as Cracker) than selling drugs (which can lead to imprisonment and death in some countries).
    • The underground business for malware (viruses, Trojan horses, …) is valued at multi-billion dollars.


  • Talk — English Study 2

    Talk — English Study 2

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Video Broadcast on January 23, 2021

    U Hla Min

    Courses and/or Tests

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    • English as a Second Language (ESL)
    • English as a Specialty Language (ESL)

    My English Teachers

    • I.Sc.(A)
      Daw Khin Kyi Kyi
      Daw Tinsa Maw Naing
    • RIT
      Saya Des Rodgers
      Saya U Khin
      Saya U Win Mra

    Some Reference Books

    • Idioms
    • Proverbs
    • How to improve your diction
    • Rhyming Dictionary
  • Talk — Three

    Talk — Three

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Video Broadcast on January 15, 2021

    U Hla Min

    Numerals

    • Hindu-Arablic numeral : 3
    • Roman numeral : III

    Triple Gems

    • Buddha (the Enlightened One)
    • Dhamma (His Teachings)
    • Sangha (Monastic Order)

    Tipitaka (Three Baskets)

    • Vinaya (Monastic Rules of Conduct)
    • Sutta (Discourses)
    • Abhidhamma (Ultimate Reality)

    Trinity

    • Father
    • Son
    • Holy Spirit

    Most well-known Hindu Gods

    • Brahma, the Creator
    • Vishnu, the Preserver
    • Shiva, the Destroyer

    Early NASA Projects

    • Mercury : carried only one astronaut
    • Gemini : carried two astronauts
    • Apollo : carried three astronauts

    Apollo Crew

    • Mission Commander (e.g. Neil Armstrong for Apollo11)
    • Command Module Pilot (e.g. Michael Collins for Apollo11)
    • Lunar Module Pilot (e.g. Buzz Aldrin for Apollo11)

    Apollo Modules

    • Service Module
    • Command Module
    • Lunar Module

    Musical Envelope

    • Rise (or attack)
    • Sustain
    • Fall (or decay)

    Prime constituents of an atom

    • Electron
    • Proton
    • Neutron

    Persuasion Techniques

    • Ethos
    • Pathos
    • Logos

    Typical Toastmasters Meeting

    • Prepared Speeches
    • Table Topics (Impromptu Speeches)
    • Evaluation

    Three-valued Logic

    • Yes
    • No
    • Do not care

    Essay (and most writings)

    • Introduction (or Beginning)
    • Body
    • Conclusion (or Ending)

    Medals

    • Gold (for first prize)
    • Silver (for second prize)
    • Bronze (for third prize)

    Measurement of Time

    • Hour
    • Minute
    • Second

    Angular Measure

    • Degree
    • Minute
    • Second

    Academic Degrees

    • Bachelor
    • Master
    • Doctorate

    Some School Types

    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Numbers

    Numbers

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    U Hla Min

    Value of a number

    Value of a number in positional notation depends upon the Base or Radix.

    In the Decimal system (Base Ten), 1001 has a value of a thousand and one.

    In the Binary system (Base Two), 1001 has a value of 9.

    Folklore

    • “One Thousand and One Nights” (also known as Arabian Nights) is from the Arabic Folklore.
    • Scheherazade told 1001 stories to defer her death.

    Numerical Palindrome

    • A palindrome reads the same forward and backward.
    • 101, 1001 and 123454321 are numerical Palindromes.

    Ramanujan and the Beauty of numbers

    Ramanujan was highly interested in Mathematics and ignored other subjects in College.

    Ended up as an employee in a post office.
    Bold enough to send his handwritten notes to Professor Hardy (Cambridge University), who sponsored him.

    Ramanujan later fell gravely ill.
    Professor Hardy went to see him in a hospital. He supposedly told Ramanujan that he rode a taxi cab with 1729 on its license.

    Ramanujan replied, “That is an interesting number. It is the smallest number that can be represented as the sum of two cubes in two ways.”

    1729 = 729 + 1000 = 9*9*9 + 10*10*10

    1729 = 1 + 1728 = 1*1*1 + 12*12*12

    Ramanujan’s works are still being studied and refined by Mathematicians.

  • RUESU Magazine

    RUESU Magazine

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Tekkatho Moe War

    From Saya U Moe Aung

    Dear Ko Hla Min,

    Thanks to Saya U Soe Paing for his great endeavour in visiting the UCL (Universities’ Central Library) numerous times [in January 2012] to gather and record invaluable information relating to RIT (and BOC college of Engineering as well). And thanks to you for archiving all through your emails and keeping all RITians gelled together.

    Only when did Saya U Soe Paing mention Engineering Students’ Magazines, that I happen to recall one Engineering Students’ Magazine in which I was part of it. That was in Academic Year 1960-1961. I was still an Electrical Engineering Student at that time (2nd year, or, by the present calling, 4th year). At Rangoon University (Main University) they had a University Students’ Union (in Burmese, Thud Meg-ga is translated as Union), and we had correspondingly an Engineering Students’ Union as well at our Faculty of Engineering at Leik-Khone (Dome), Prome Road.

    At that time I met one Ko Hla Tin (Civil) who was my senior and several years older than me, staying at Prome Hall which was adjacent to Leik Khone, only separated by a fence. He was an avid poet (pen name Kay-tu Win Tint, from Taunggoo) and I used to visit his room at Prome Hall to talk about poems and literature during lunch or break times. I also met one senior (can’t recall his name, I think Ko Sein Hlaing) who was the Secretary of the Students’ Union. After some lively discussions, we decided to issue an Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine and they made me the Chief Editor. The Magazine consisted of two sections, Burmese and English, of which Saya U Aung Khin (Mech) was the English Editor.

    I still have the 1960-61 issue neatly tucked in a cupboard in Yangon.

    Now I remember that Ko Sein Hlaing (EE?) is still in Yangon, helping to look after his grand children, but not in good health. Ko Sein Hlaing’s daughter was my daughter’s very close friend since their childhood days. We met once in Singapore about 12 years back.

    Dear Ko Hla Min, this is the time to reminisce and be happy about the good old days and try to fly back with whatever time machine we could get hold of. Time really flies and we should realize that our days are numbered.

    Publications

    • Saya published “Collection of Poems” :
      some books by himself (e.g. Pearl in My Heart) and some with collaborators (e.g. Swel Daw Poems).
    • He also published a collection of articles (e.g. Sea of Men & selected articles)
    • During one of my visits to Rangoon, he gave me an autographed copy of his book.
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    Autographed copy
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    Cover
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    Musings by Tekkatho Moe War and Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)
  • Mining Engineering

    Mining Engineering

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Win Thein Zaw (Min69)

    Win Thein Zaw
    • Pen name : Wai Lu
    • Took Optional Burmese in High School
    • Wrote several articles for the 69er Golden Jubilee Magazine
      RIT Thaing Exhibition
      RIT Nicknames
    • Spouse (Mu Aye) is a cousin of Ko Win Boh (Robert, EC69, Australia)
    • Retired Member of Parliament of Pyitthu Hluttaw
      Oversaw Committees related to Mining and Natural Resources.
    • Surprised us at an ad hoc breakfast gathering with Uzin Aung Chaw, Ko Sein Myint, Ko Myint Maung, Ko Win Maung, Ko Shwe, Ko Maung Maung, Ko Myat Soe Lwin …
    69ers

    Kyaw Tint (Min69)

    Kyaw Tint
    • Youngest, smartest and most stubborn among the 14 students in Min69.
    • Joined the Faculty
    • Received Masters from Australia.
    • Prisoner of Conscience.
    • Wrote an article in the 69er Golden Jubilee magazine.
    • GBNF #110
      Passed away in September 2021

    Khin Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)

    Khin Kyaw Nyein
    • RIT Volleyball Selected
    • Taught/coached female Volleyball players (e.g. Ma Tin Aye, C73)
    • Also good at Soccer, Dobat & Dancing.
    • He is GBNF #117
      Passed away in January 2022

    Khin Maung Gyi (Min69)

    • One of two Khin Maung Gyi in the Class of 69.
    • Room mate of Ko Chit Pe (M69, GBNF)
    • Still have dark hair (hopefully original)
    • Mech KMG (GBNF) passed away in 2021.

    Tin Win (Min69)

    • Hosted some 69er gatherings.
    • He was Honorary Consul for Switzerland.

    Min69 (GBNF)

    • Aung Naing (Bahadhur) : Aug 14, 2011, #055, GTI Principal (Taunggyi), Yangon
    Chit Htun
    • Chit Htun : Dec 11, 2011, #058, YIT Lecturer, Yangon
    • Chit Swe : early GBNF
    • Khin Kyaw Nyein : 2022, #117
    • Kyaw Soe : #065
    • Kyaw Than : Organizer
    • Kyaw Tint : Sep 8, 2021, #110, Saya, Prisoner of Conscience
    • Myint Kyi : #047
    • Myint Swe : early GBNF

    Min70

    Zaw Winn (Zinyawgyi)

    • Heis an organizer of the Combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65.
      He is a bilingual writer, poet and translator.

    Aung Myint (Thamankyar Ko Myint)

    Thamankyar
    • He is a member of the A1 Family. He is an actor, composer, vocalist, guitarist and production manager. Sad to note that his younger brother Sai Wunna passed away.
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    Ko Zaw Winn and friends

    Mining Engineering

    • The first course was given at the BOC College in 1954.

    U Soe Khaw (GBNF)

    U Soe Khaw
    • Received BS from UC Berkeley and MS from Minnesota School of Mines.
    • Served as Part-time lecturer and Head of the newly established Mining Department at BOC College.
    • Wrote an article for HMEE project.
    • After working for the Ministry of Mines and UN projects, he moved to USA.
    • Attended SPZP-2000.
    • Saya Allen Htay (GBNF) and Dr. San Lin asked me to join a micro-gathering with Saya U Soe Khaw.
      It started before lunch and ended after dinner.

    U Soon Sein (GBNF)

    • Received MS from Colorado School of Mines.
    • Mawgunwin Third Grade.
    • Succeeded U Soe Khaw as Head of Department.
    • Retired as Professor.
    • Spoke to him before SPZP-2000.
      Per advice from his doctors, he declined the invitation to attend SPZP-2000.
  • Talk — Audio Book

    Talk — Audio Book

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Video Broadcast on January 27, 2021

    Books

    • Regular Print
    • Large Print
    • Braille
    • e-Book
    • Audio Book
    • Special hardware and software to “scan and read” books

    Audio Books

    • Some may be available from Public Libraries
      Early : CDs
    • Some may require “Subscription”
      For downloading
    • Some may be offered at Discount in a Bundle
      Podcasts
      Book summaries
      Books
      e.g. Premium Subscription to Blinkist

    Listeners’ Heaven

    https://www.facebook.com/listenersheaven

    • Established in November 2020
    • Facebook Group
    • Provides “Subscription”
    • Offerings
      Win Pe
      Minthuwun
      Zat Kyee Hse Bwe
      Selected Novels
      Overview of selected “hot” topics
  • TOKM

    TOKM

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Book published for his 70th birthday

    Memories

    Book Presents

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60) receives books from his former students and from his god-children.

    He received a book from Professor Dr. Nyunt Thein.

    Dr. Nyunt Thein proposed to have some (if not all) of the examinations for MRCP to be held in Burma.

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    Due to Nyunt Thein’s efforts, all parts of the exam are being conducted in Rangoon and Mandalay.

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    I am so fortunate that books written by my former students are either given to me by the authors or bought for me by my niece Hnin Wit Yee or Min Thet Aung.

    I got a signed copy of “The Female Voice of Myanmar” by Nilanjana Sengupta, translated into Burmese, by Myae Hmone Lwin. It was given to me by Ma Thida.

    The book consist of articles about and by four eminent lady Burmese writers and activists: Ludu Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit, Daw Aung San Su Kyi and my “daughter writer” Ma Thida (San Gyaung).

    Please do not say that I am biased towards my daughter but I read the articles on Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit and Daw Sung Dan Su Kyi once only but read and reread the articles by and on Ma Thida about three times or more.

    Coming from a family whose members were at different times and at different lengths of incarceration by the military government, each article about Ma Thida in prison brought back sad memories of my own family. I had to pause even in the middle of each article as such memories flooded my mind.

    From a very young age Ma Thida stand out among her contemporaries . A multifaceted person with deep attitudes and understanding of right and wrong, justice and injustice, tears welled up in my eyes reading what she went through in prison, and had to stop reading after going through some incidents described by her in the book.

    I am happy and very proud that she can be what she is now, an activist, feminist, author and running PEN Myanmar and many more.

    This book must be read in Burmese as in any other language, much would be lost in translation.

  • UCC — CS Doctorates

    UCC — CS Doctorates

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    U Tun Aung Gyaw

    U Tun Aung Gyaw
    • Member of Generation Zero at UCC.
    • Ph.D from he University of Illinois at Urbana Champaigne
    • Worked for several high tech companies before retiring
    • Gave a talk on AI at North America Burmese Engineers Association

    U Soe Than

    U Soe Than (Left)
    • Masters from University of Lancaster in the UK
    • Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in the United States.
    • Worked at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and in the Washington, D.C, (District of Columbia).

    U Maung Maung Htay

    U Mg Mg Htay (4th from Left)
    • Masters from Queen Mary College, UK
    • Ph.D from LSU (Louisiana State University), Baton Rouge in the United States.
    • Worked at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and Radford University in Virginia.
    • Served as Chair of the Regional ACM Programming Contest.
    • Offered his expertise (for curriculum development …) at UCSY (University of Computer Science Yangon)

    Rafiul Ahad

    Rafiul Ahad
    • Masters from UCC and AIT (Asian Institute of Technology) in Thailand
    • Ph.D from USC (University of Southern California) in the United States.
    • Worked at University of Maryland, Hewlett Packard and Oracle USA.
    • Managed Oracle Cloud Computing Project.
    • Gave Key Note speech at an AIT Commencement Ceremony