Exhortation from Cakka (“Thakyar Min” သိကြားမင်း) to his soldiers preparing for the battle with the Asuras အသူရာ “If you have fear or trepidation, try to catch the sight of my banner (if that’s possible) or that of the other Deva-Kings: Pajapati, Varuna, and Isana. For when you have caught sight of the banners, whatever fear, or trepidation there is will disappear.”
Buddha ဗုဒ္ဓ said, “Because of the Lobha လောဘ Dosa ဒေါသ and Moha မောဟ in the Deva-Kings, fear or trepidation may not disappear. So, monks, if you feel fear and trepidation in the wilderness, … or an empty building, you should recollect the following: Nine qualities of the Buddha, Six qualities of the Dhamma, Nine qualities of the Sangha
Succeeded U Silanandavhivamsa as Rector of ITBMU (International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University).
Gave courses and sermons. Many are available as MP3.
Taught Abhidhamma in Myanmar and beyond.
Fundamental Abhidhamma Part I was first taught in 1997 at Maryland, USA. The book was edited by Dr. Khin Maung U (First in Burma in the Matric exam of 1963). The second edition was published by the Center of Buddhist Studies (CBS), Sagaing Hills in 2005.
Fundamental Abhidhamma Part II was published by the Center of Buddhist Studies (CBS), Sagaing Hills in 2007.
Fundamental Abhidhamma Part I
By Dr. Nandamalabhivamsa
First edition : June 1997
Editor : Dr. Khin Maung U
Myanmar-Buddhist Meditation Society, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Second, extended edition : January 2005
revised : November 2005
Center for Buddhist Studies (CBS), Sagaing Hills, Sagaing, Myanmar
Contents
The History of Abhidhamma
(1) Why is it called Abhidhamma? (2) Who is the author? … (8) The role of Abhidhammattha sangaha (9) The role of Vibhavani (10) Ledi Sayadaw (11) Paramatthadipani, the critic of Vibhavani
Dat Paung Zon Sayadaw ဓာတ်ပေါင်းစုံ ဆရာတော် from 1949
DPZ Pagoda
In 1948, my father, his siblings and dhamma friends (e.g U Kyaw Myint) built the Dat Paung Zon Pagoda and Monastery.
My parents
My elder brother was ordained as a novice. He volunteered as a Construction Helper.
DPZ Sayadaw
He served as the Chief Abbot of the Dat Paung p Aung Min Gaung monastery on Windermere Road, Rangoon, Burma from 1949.
Trip to USA
Pagoda in Allegheny
At the invitation of U Thant, Sayadaw traveled to the US (via the ocean liner – predating the days of air travel) and built a pagoda on the Allegheny Mountains.
Ananda Bodhi
In 1958, Leslie Dawson, Canadian of Irish and Scottish descent, asked Mon Sayadaw to be his mentor.
Dawson traveled to Bodh Gaya, India to rejoin the Sayadaw and received ordination as a samanera (novice monk).
He continued on to Burma where he was ordained as Anandabodhi bhikkhu at the Shwedagon temple, Rangoon (21 Dec 1958).
Ananda Bodhi had followers in Canada and New Zealand, most of whom have visited Sayadaw and the Dat Paung Zon pagoda. Two of them also ordained as Buddhist monks with Mon Sayadaw as preceptor.
Ananda Bodhi became a Tibetan Master with the name Namgyal Rinpoche in 1971, but continued to preach dhamma from Theravada, …
Pagodas around the world
Mon Sayadaw built pagodas in the several countries including USA, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
DPZ 1DPZ 2DPZ 3DPZ 4DPZ 5DPZ 6
Suggested Reading
Details of Sayadaw’s dhamma duta missions can be found in the official biography (in Burmese and English) and the web pages of his disciples (e.g Dr. Steven K H Aung).
It is a Pali term. It is commonly rendered as “Three Baskets” :
Vinaya (Monastic rules of conduct)
Sutta (Discourses)
Abhidhamma (Ultimate reality)
Buddhist Councils
According to the Theravada tradition, there are six Buddhist Councils.
The First, Second and Third Councils were held in India.
The Fourth Council (which recorded the teachings on palm leaves) was held in Ceylon.
The Fifth Council was held in Mandalay, Burma. U Khanti inscribed the Tipitaka on marble slabs. It was featured as the World’s Largest Book in Ripley’s “Believe it or not”.
The Sixth Council was held in Rangoon, Burma. Tipitaka was reconfirmed and published as printed texts. Selected Pali texts were also translated into Burmese.
First Buddhist Council
Source : U Silananda
Date : 3 months and 5 days (Sasana Era)
Place : Rajagaha (India)
King : Ajasattha
Leader : Mahakassapa Thera
Number of Monks : 500
Duration : 7 months
Accomplishment : Collected, examined, classified, and recorded orally the Buddha’s Teachings
In the dining hall, there is an album about Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa’s early years in the US (e.g. meditation retreat at a church, dhamma classes at a Zen Buddhism Temple).
There are also photos about the Summer Camp for children and young adults.
There are two cabinets of books: one for dhamma dana distribution, and another for sale.
Newsletter
The “Dhamma Bell Newsletter” was edited by volunteers (U Theikdi & Maureen O’Brien).
It was published quarterly.
It featured dhamma talks given at TMC and also recipes (e.g. vegetarian spring rolls).
He passed away on 4 April 1989 in Rangoon, Myanmar.
He and his mentor Karlis Tennisons (Buddhist Archbishop of Latvia and Sangharja for Estonia and Lithuania) lived for many years in a monastery on “A Le Pyit Sa Yan” အလယ် ပစ္စယံ of Shwe Dagon Pagoda.
He went for alms round every day, and was fondly known as “Mote Seik Phone Gyi” (named after his beard).
After his mentor’s demise, he inherited his master’s titles. He shaved his beard and became ordained as a Theravada monk with the name “Ashin Ananda”.
He was a Poet Laureate. He wrote poems in English. He also translated Burmese poems (including Anandathuriya’s kabyar) into English.
It is a Pali word meaning “Sense of urgency”. We’ve heard it many times especially when we attended the last journey of our loved ones.
We feel the pain even when the dearly departed are in their 80s. The pain grows when we learn that someone young (not so old) had passed away.
We feel shocked and upset when we hear about the untimely demise. My cousin nephew Dr. Peter Tun warned about lack of PPE, but he succumbed to Covid.
Gone But Not Forgotten (GBNF)
The list of GBNF for RIT 69ers is now 128. About 40% of our classmates are no longer with us. Covid claimed about 20.
U Sein Win (Win Kyaw, C69) was an expert in Palmistry. His spouse is a professional Palmist. Not sure whether he knew his life span, but he is GBNF.
U Myint Sein was a former classmate at PPBRS. He was Principal of BARB. He later founded Idea Astrology. Not sure whether he informed his spouse and son about his life span or his sudden demise, but he is also GBNF.
My uncle was sent as a state scholar to Japan during the Second World War. He was in Hiroshima & Nagasaki before both cities were ravaged by the Atomic Bombs. He was lucky. His luck ran out when he was sentenced to seven years by a kangaroo court during the Adhamma Era. The UN Human Rights Rapporteur pleaded with the government to release him. Sadly, he passed away early (because of the harsh environment & treatment). His siblings all lived to be 80+ years. The eldest sister lived to be 94.
Dr. Khin Tun (Peter)
Dr. Peter Tun
He is the elder son of my cousin U Tin U. He became one of the early doctors in UK to fall victim to COVID-19. He is an MRCP and a former Associate Dean of Oxford University. He at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. His ward needed PPE, but he was told that they would be supplied when there is a case. He replied, “It would be too late”. Sad to say, he passed away on April 12, 2020. Could his life been saved?
The news shocked not just his immediately family, but many around the world. BBC and the newspapers in UK have reported several heroes who died in the battle fighting COVID-19.
It amazes us that books (and even a book chapter) can change a person’s life.
Salvatore Cioffi was working as a Chemist in the USA.
He was from a devout Catholic family, and his elder brother was a Priest.
He received a book present from his supervisor for Christmas.
One of the chapters was “Dhammapada“. After reading the chapter, Samvegha crept in. He quit his job and then went on pilgrimage to the places sacred to Buddhism.
In 1925, he was ordained in Burma as a Buddhist monk named “U Lokanatha“.
He published a booklet, “Why I became a Buddhist.” He wrote, “I became a Buddhist. My supervisor remained a Christian.”
My maternal grand mother offered a monastery for U Lokanatha in Bawdigone (Windermere, Rangoon).
U Lokanatha practiced Dhutanga.
He also preached and had Dhamma Dhuta missions to India and Ceylon.
Sayadaw gave dhamma talks in Mandalay and Maymyo. Dr. Soni was a principal supporter.
He paid respect to Myingyan Sun Lun Gu Kyaung Sayadaw. The event is described in “Sun Lun Sayadaw’s Biography“.
He corresponded with B. R. Ambedkar, the Indian Dalit (“untouchables”) leader.
HlaMin 