Category: Concept

Fire is a good servant but a bad master.

Fire is one of man’s five enemies.

There are several causes of fire. They include :

• failure of power and gas lines
• lightning
• negligence
• hate crimes
• arson

In 2018, three fires occurred in California almost at the same time and caused severe damage. It was a relief to learn that the Burmese in California are not affected by the fires.

Camp Fire devastated Paradise in Northern California and transformed it into Hell.

Smoke from the “worst fire in California” polluted air to cities near and fire. Several people wore masks. The term “worst” refers to the fact that the number of structures (buildings, garages, and barns) destroyed by Camp Fire is a new record.

Some were trapped inside the cars while trying to flee. Some had to leave their cars behind. A few managed to walk to safety.

Fire occurred in two places in Southern California.

• Thousand Oaks had a double tragedy : fire following a senseless mass murder.
• Malibu — home of selected actors and actresses — was also hit by fire.

Believe it or not

Ripley’s “Believe it or not” named U Khanti Kyauksar (inscriptions) of the Fifth Buddhist Council (Synod) held in Mandalay as the “Largest Book” in the world.

Guinness Book of World Records

The Guinness Book of World Records listed Tipitakadara Sayadaw Ashin Vicittathara as having a phenomenal — the best at that time [in 1954].

In the First Buddhist Council, Ashin Upali served as the Reciter of Vinaya (Rules of monastic conduct). Ashin Ananda served as the Reciter of Sutta (Buddha’s Discourses) and Abhidhamma (Ultimate Reality).

In the Sixth Buddhist Council held at KabaAye (World Peace) Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma from 1954 – 1956 Ashin Vicittathara served as the Reciter of Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma. He also recited the selected Commentaries.

Sayadaw could memorize, recall, and give exposition on 8027 pages of the Buddhist Scriptures known as Tipitaka [“Three Baskets”] : Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma at the second to fifth Tipitakadara examinations. He passed with distinction in both oral and written parts.

Sayadaw served as an examiner for the first Tipikadara examination. Sir U Thwin requested Sayadaw to take the examination. The rest is history.

Traffic accidents often result in injury and death.

Types of accidents

• Fender bender
• Multi-car crash
• Head-on collision
• Tumble & roll-over
• Car hitting pedestrians

Causes

Accidents can be caused by

• Roads which are not designed properly
• Roads which are not maintained
• Inclement weather
• Drivers not obeying traffic rules (e.g. texting while driving)
• Sleep deprived drivers
• DUI : Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Road rage
• Engine and mechanical failure
• Vehicles that are not land-worthy
• Unsafe tires
• Medical emergency to the driver (e.g. heart attack)
• Tail gating

Practice

• Many countries employ the “STOP” sign and the letters “STOP” printed on the road. The majority of drivers obey them. The minority are cautioned with citations.
• Automobile associations and the volunteers for Public Safety give refresher courses for “Safe Driving”.
• U Thein Tun Aung (Dennis) gave a seminar in Yangon on “Traffic control (e.g. how to design monitor and synchronize traffic lights).”

• Ripley was a correspondent.
• He created an illustrated column called “Ripley’s Believe it or not“.
• There are “Believe it or not” museums.
  
• U Khanti Kyauk Sar in Kuthodaw Phayar, Mandalay was mentioned as the “Largest Book in the World”.
• They are inscriptions of the Tipitaka (Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma) that were re-affirmed at the Fifth Buddhist Council (Synod).

Guideline

• There was a guide line for reforestation (e.g. for teak).
• Every year, only 1/40th of the teak trees can be cut down for local use and export.
• An equal number of re-planting must be made assuring that the resources will never be depleted.
• Moreover, the quality will not be degraded.

Ignoring the Guideline

• Many years ago, I attended a meeting at the State Timber Corporation.
• Surprised and sad to learn that the reforestation rule was not being followed.
• Due to budget shortage (at that time), more trees were being felled every year.

Loss of trees and Climate Change

• During Cyclone Nargis, many large trees fell.
• According to eye witnesses, large trucks came in to collect the fallen trees [for making furniture?] and left the debris for the locals to clean up.

• Is it possible that the loss of trees (by nature and due to greedy persons) contributed to the climate change (e.g. flooding)?

Paraphrase an old song

“Where have all the teak wood gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the teak wood gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the teak wood gone?
Gone to far away land
When will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Dr. Nyan Taw (SPHS63) wrote :

Now gone !

Dr. Nyunt Wai (SPHS63) wrote :

What is forestry department doing now? Could there be a public participation in reforestation?

Most were my classmates at SPHS. Hope they are alive and well.

• Alfred Lunn Maung
• Anthony Lourdes
• Aung Kyee Myint
• A S Soni
• Bernard Taylor
• Bo Kyi
• Bo Ni
• Caesar Yang
• Chu Pu Thein
• Dicky Chan
• Dicky Kywe
• Edmund Ba Thin
• Edward Chow
• Edward Hla Shwe (1)
• Edward Hla Shwe (2)
• Freddie Tun Lwin
• Gallant Leong
• George Leong
• George Stevens
• Han Kan Paw
• Han Nyunt
• Han Thein
• Henry Wong (Than Win)
• Herbert KCL
• Hla Myint
• Hla Saing (Tommy Saing)
• Htyan Lye
• Jerry Hin Hwa
• Jonathan Swamy
• Khin Maung Htay
• Khin Maung Khine
• Khin Maung Kywe
• Khin Maung Lin (Saw Lin)
• Krishnan Lal
• Leslie Tun Yin
• Malcolm Maung Maung
• Maung Maung Thaung
• Maung Maung Thaik
• Michael Oo
• Michael Su
• Nay Lin
• Orlando Thein
• Patrick Das
• Patrick Ni
• Peter Myo
• Peter Pe (Aung Kyaw)
• Richard Lim
• Richard Pe
• Robert Chan
• Robert Kyi (San Maung)
• Robert Myint Win
• Ronnie Hla Maung
• Sammy Bi
• Sean Young
• Sein Nyunt
• Sebastain Law Kee
• Stanley Shwe Gyi (Thein Lwin)
• Sydney Khant
• Teddy Thaung
• Than Htay
• Tin Ni
• Tin Win (1)
• Tin Win (2)
• Tommy Aung
• Tommy Chit Maung
• Tun Tun Aung
• William Mya
• William Win Kywe
• Win Maung

Offering

• Transcends religion
  
• Cash & Kind
  
• Services
  
• Garawa to Sayas & Thet Kyees
  
• Helping the needy

Double Dana

• Several Sayas donated the Garawa money to selected Charities & needy people
  
• Saya U Ba Than donated to social, medical and religious organizations
  See “Double Dana by U Ba Than“
  
• Saya Dr. Aung Gyi
  See “Double Dana by Dr. Aung Gyi“
  
• Saya Dr. San Hla Aung
  See “Double Dana by Dr. San Hla Aung“

• Kan So means “Unlucky“.
• Kan Kaung means “Lucky“.
• One can be unlucky at times, but Good Luck might come your way unexpectedly.
  
• A cousin brother was riding a bus back to Rangoon.
  He sat in the seat nearest the driver.
  One person demanded him to give up the seat.
  My cousin felt Kan So.
• Sometime later, there was an accident.
  The truck in front was carrying logs (or similar).
  A log crashed the glass of the bus, and hit the “arrogant” passenger, who died.
  My cousin felt Kan Kaung.

• U Than Lwin lost his beloved spouse due to a “hit-and-run” driver.
  She went out to buy some food.
  U Than Lwin felt Kan So.
• Later, he studied Japanese at IFL (Institute of Foreign Languages) and received his Diploma.
  He was requested to help the “Ah Yoe Kauk Ah Phwe” from Japan.
  He helped several teams led by a Veteran Officer who was in Burma.
  One day, the leader asked how he and his team can repay his service as a kind and diligent translator.
  U Than Lwin asked, “Can you help some of my children study in Japan?”
  The answer was affirmative.
  The children returned from Japan and became successful entrepreneurs.
  U Than Lwin felt Kan Kaung.