HlaMin

Category: Buddhism

Sayadaws, Suttas, Terms

  • TMC

    Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa gave a talk “The ten meanings of Tatagatha” at the Tathagata Meditation Center (TMC) at 1215, Lucretia Street, San Jose.

    U Silananda

    History and Activities

    For the history and activities of the meditation center, please visit

    http://www.tathagata.org/

    TMC Dining Hall

    • 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).
  • Neikban

    Neikban

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Neikban Zaw

    Neikban

    • It is the Burmese term for Nibanna (in Pali) and Nirvana (in Sanscrit).
    • It is translated as “Liberation” or “Enlightenment”.
    • Some associations for Dhamma activities are known as “Neikban Zaw Ah Phwe”.
      The volunteers for Dhamma activities often call themselves “Neikban Zaw”.

    Neikban Zaw

    It is the pen name of my beloved spouse. She wrote articles for Dhammananda Newsletter.

    • A Question and an Answer
    • Ko Seik Kyan Mar Yay
    • Wut Hmar Ah Myair Nga Yair Ah Pa
    • Doctor turned patient
    Article by Neikban Zaw
    Article by Neikban Zaw
  • Mote Seik Phone Gyi

    Mote Seik Phone Gyi

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Reverend Friedrich Lustig
    Estonian Buddhist monk

    • He was born on 26 April 1912 in Narva, Estonia.
    • 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.
    • He would review my poems.
    Mote Seik 1
    Mote Seik 2
  • Samvega

    Samvega

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Urgency

    • 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.
    • Should Samvega sink in?
  • A Book Changed His Life

    A Book Changed His Life

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Lokanatha
    • 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.
    • Sayadaw passed away in Maymyo on May 25, 1966.

  • Sixth Buddhist Council

    by U Silananda

    Updated : May 2025

    • Date : May 1954 – 56
    • Place : Rangoon (Burma)
    • Prime Minister : U Nu
    • Leader : Revata Thera
    • Number of Monks : 2500
    • Duration : Two years for the Pali Texts
    • Accomplishment :
      Reaffirmed the Texts accepted at the previous Councils.
      Editions of Pali Texts, Commentaries and Sub-commentaries

    References :

    • Sangayana Album

    Editor’s Notes

    • Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana acted as the Chief Questioner.
    Mahasi & Mingun Sayadaws
    • Migun Tipitaka Sayadaw U Vicittacarabhivamsa acted as the Chief Reciter.
    Mingun Sayadaw
    • The Guinness Book of World Records honored Mingun Sayadaw’s Memory.
  • Neikban & Neikban Zaw

    Neikban & Neikban Zaw

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Neikban

    • Neikban is the Burmese term for Nibanna (in Pali) and Nirvana (in Sanscrit).
    • It is rendered as “Liberation” or “Enlightenment”.

    Neikban Zaw

    Neikban Zaw
    • It is the pen name of my beloved spouse. She wrote articles for the Dhammananda Newsletter. I have re-posted some of them.
    • Some volunteers for Dhamma activities also call themselves “Neikban Zaw”.
    • Some associations for Dhamma activities may be called “Neikban Zaw Ah Phwe”.
  • U Lokanatha

    U Lokanatha

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Lokanatha
    • 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
    • He 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.
    • He passed away in Maymyo on May 25, 1966.

  • Vipassana Q & A

    Excerpts from
    “Introduction to Vipassana Meditation”
    by Venerable U Silananda


    Where does the practice of Vipassana come from?

    Vipassana meditation chiefly comes from the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. There are two major divisions of Buddhism in the world today – Mahayana and Theravada. Mahayana tradition developed as Buddhism spread to the Northern Asian countries of Tibet, China, Japan, etc. Theravada tradition stay in Southern Asia and spread to Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

    What does Vipassana mean?

    The word Vipassana is composed of two parts — vi which means “in various ways” and passana which means “seeing”. So, Vipassana means seeing in various ways.

    What can Vipassana meditation do for me?

    The ultimate purpose of Vipassana is to eradicate mental impurities from your mind altogether. Before that stage, there are the benefits of tranquility, peace of mind and the ability to accept things as they come. Vipassana helps you to see things as they truly are, not as they appear to be. Things appear to be permanent, desirable and substantial, but actually they are not. When you practice Vipassana meditation, you will see for yourself the arising and disappearing of mental and physical phenomena. And you will have clearer comprehension of what is going on in your mind and body. You will be able to accept things as they come to you with less agitation and deal with situations in a more positive way.

    Can Vipassana be applied to daily life?

    You can have awareness of whatever you do whether you are working, walking, doing, etc. It will not be as intense as in a meditation or during a retreat, but a more general awareness. And when you apply mindfulness to problems in your life, you will be able to deal with them more effectively.

    Why should I go to a meditation retreat?

    The intensive practice of a retreat is very beneficial for developing good concentration and quieting the mind. Since concentration is essential for penetrative wisdom to arise, a meditation retreat gives you the best possible opportunity to be able to experience for yourself the true nature of reality.

  • Perfect

    Perfect

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Parami ပါရမီ

    • Pali word
    • Usually rendered as “Perfection“.

    There are Thirty Paramis:

    • Ten Paramis
    • Ten Upapa Paramis
      Higher grade Paramis
    • Ten Paramattha Paramis
      Highest grade Paramis

    Marks

    In our younger days, a score of 100 marks in an examination is considered perfect.

    Our High School Mathematics teacher Brother Clementian (former Brother Director who continued teaching till his final days) trained us to take an hourly weekly test comprising of three questions. So, most students were on track to complete the three hour Matriculation examination in two hours or less and gain Distinction in Mathematics.

    A score of 100 could not single out Mathematical geniuses like Dr. Min Oo (SPHS63, Second in Burma, Two doctorates in Mathematics from Germany) and gifted scholars and researchers like Dr. Khin Maung U (SPHS63, First in Burma, MD).

    Gymnastics

    1972 Munich Olympics saw all judges gave a young woman gymnast Olga Korbut (Soviet Belarusian) perfect Tens.

    1976 Montreal Olympics saw more perfect Tens for Nadia Comanche (Romanian).

    Some critics wonder how to judge superior performances in the future gymnastic competitions.

    Perfect shapes

    The ancient sages appreciate perfect shapes such as equilateral triangles, squares, regular polygons and the circle.

    Some astronomers felt that the planets should orbit in perfect cycles. To calculate the path of the planets, they hard to resort to the use of epicycles in their models.

    Kepler found out that the planets conserve their energy by following an elliptical path. The planets will need far more effort and energy to maintain the supposedly perfect circular paths.

    An ellipse has two foci, a major axis and a minor axis. It is a supposedly imperfect shape, but the limiting case approaches a circle with a center (for a single focus) and the lengths of the major axis and minor axis being equal.

    High cost for Perfection

    The search for perfection may have some negative effects in research.

    The 90/90 rule says that in the search for the perfect completion of a project, the last 10 percent could take up resources equal to that of the first 90 percent.

    Charles Babbage had excellent ideas for the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine, but his search for perfection in the design and implementation left both projects incomplete.

    Imperfectly Perfect

    • I am imperfectly perfect.
    • Usually type straight for most of my posts without reference to notes and references.
    • Several readers pointed out the discrepancies and errors.
    • Glad to share my memories, experience and knowledge.
    • Some inquiring minds might transform my writings into high quality texts for posterity.