Category: Concept

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

In our younger days

Our grand parents & parents had workers who were non-Buddhists. They gave us sweets (for Diwali), dan bauk (for Id) and presents (for Christmas).

During our younger days, we had classmates who professed different religions. We lived in perfect harmony.

Christians

Saya U Pe Maung Tin

• He was a Christian, but he helped with the translation of Buddhist texts.
• Translated the two sermons (Dhammacakka and Anatta Lekkhana Sutta) into English at the request of U Tha Win (who published the two sermons in Pali, Burmese and English).

Teacher Kywe (PPBRS)

• Karen Christian teacher who transformed me into a “life long learner”
• My mother asked me to pay respect to her every year.

Rev. Bernard Taylor

• SPHS classmate
• Missionary to the Philippines
• After retirement, came back to Myanmar

Rev. Edwin David

• SPHS classmate
• GBNF
• Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral

Steeve Kay (EC70)

• Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs
• Donated $200000+ to RIT-related activities
• GBNF

Benny Tan

• Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs
• Co-chair, SPZP-2000

SPZP

• Several RIT alumni are Christians, who embrace SPZPs.
• The term Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was chosen over Saya Ga Daw Pwe (which had religious connotation) so that all students can pay back the metta and cetana of their mentors.

Sikhs

D. S. Saluja

• Classmate at SPHS, I.Sc(A) & 2nd BE
• Left RIT to form “Rama Enterprise” in Bangkok with his elder brother
• Had a mini-reunion twice : the last time in April 2024

A. S. Soni

• SPHS classmate

RIT alumni

• Surinder Singh (EE69er) — Australia
• Uttam Singh (M71) — NASA
• Meenu Singh (ChE72) — CS Prof
• Jagjit Singh (EE73) — UIUC

Muslims

Arzani U Razak

• Early Graduate of National College
• Principal of National School in Mandalay
• Was nominated by several Sayadaws to be Education Minister in Bogyoke Aung San’s Cabinet
• Sons : U Tin Myint (RUBC, MOC), U Hla Kyi (helped solve the foundation problem at Shwe Dagon)

U Raschid

• Student Leader for RUSU and Ba Ka Tha
• Minister

U Khin Maung Latt

• Minister
• Sons : Khin Maung Gyi (RIT English), Khin Maung Lay (Principal, ILO Training School)

U Pe Khin

• Diplomat
• Negotiator at Pin Lon Conference

Bohmu Ba Shin

• Burma Historical Commission

Paulians

• Edward Hla Shwe I and II

RIT Alumni

• Saya Allen Htay (C58) : President of RIT Alumni International; SPZP-2000 Organizer

• U Khin Maung Lay (T68) : Past President of BASES; Organizer & emcee for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

• U Thein Ngwe (Ko Thein Tokyo, ChE76) : Co-founder of RITAJsent
• RIT Muslim students in 1971

Men on the Moon

For the last stanza of my poem “Men on the Moon”, I wrote

“Are we not brothers here on earth?
So let us all unite.
There will be heaven here on earth
If we all cease to fight”.

Updates

• Several conflicts in the world due to extremists
• Discrimination in some places

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Academic Year

• Usually spans two calendar years e.g. 1968 – 69

• We will say Class of 69 (or just 69) instead of Class of 1968 – 69
  e.g. M69 stands for Mechanical 1968 – 69

Alumni

• Student
• Need not be a graduate
• In the old days, there were four Latin terms — alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae — to distinguish the Gender (male, female) and Number (singular, plural).
• Nowadays, alumni is a generic term to cover all four cases.
• Universities usually have Alumni Association, Alumni Building, Alumni Office / Department for Alumni Affairs

BIT

• BIT stands for Burma Institute of Technology
• The engineering school moved to the Gyogone Campus in 1961.
• BIT was still under the aegis of Rangoon University.
• U Yone Mo was Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University. He became Rector of RIT.

Class

• Class refers to the expected year of graduation.
• The Class of 69 refers to the alumni from the academic year 1968 – 69. Most graduated in 1969.
• The Class of 69 includes those who took sabbatical and graduated later.

Faculty

• Rangoon University had Faculties and Deans
• U Ba Hla was the first native Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University.
• Other Faculties include Arts, Science, Social Science, Law & Medicine.

GBNF

• Gone But Not Forgotten

• GBNF for 69ers is maintained by U Aung Min & team

HCF (Health Care Fund)

There are several Health Care Funds. They include :

• Steeve and Helen Kay Heath Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas

• U Khin Maung Tun’s Family’s Eye-care for RIT Sayas and Sayamas

• Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF)
  which now also handles the two funds described above

• Class-wide HCFs
  Example :
  Class of 69 (69er HCF, EE69er HCF)
  Class of 70 & 71
  Class of 72
  Class of 75
  Intake of 83

There may be changes to the Health Care of Sayas and Sayamas.

• Hospitalization has the highest priority.
• Case-by-case consideration for sayas & sayamas who have to visit clinics many times
• Eligible sayas and sayamas (age 60+) can have medical check ups
• If funds are available, spouses of eligible sayas and sayamas can also have medical check ups.

Intake

• Intake refers to the year when the group was admitted to RIT, YIT, or YTU.
• Intake usually means “1st BE Intake“.
• Most from the 1st BE Intake of 64 graduated in 1970.
  Most from the 1st BE Intake of 65 graduated in 1971.
  The Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65 has held Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe for nearly two decades.
• There were three Intakes in November 2964.
  460+ students were admitted to 1st BE
  320+ students were admitted to 2nd BE
  Aout 200 students were admitted to 3rd BE
• Some Intakes unfortunately lost three years of their schooling, since the institute was closed for three years (from 1988 – 1990).
  Example : Intake of 1983 graduated in 1992 (instead of 1989).

RIT

• BIT was renamed as Rangoon Institute of Technology in 1964.
• Under the then New Education System, RIT became an independent Institute with its own Rector and Registrar.
  U Yone Moe was the first Rector.
  U Soe Thein was the first Registrar.
• Not sure why it was not named as BIT (Rangoon Campus)

RITAA

• Alumni Association of RIT/YIT/YTU
• Helped host SPZP-2016
• Provides “Saya’s Corner“
  Tea and coffee are served
  Wheel chairs are stored for use by needy sayas
• Coordinated the “Library Modernization Project”

SPZP

• Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
• Preferred to “Saya Gadawt Pwe” which has religious connotation
• Allows alumni with different religious beliefs to pay back the Metta and Cetana of their mentors

Swel Daw / Swel Daw Yeik

• Synonym for RIT and the engineering schools preceding and succeeding it.
• The term became established at the RU Golden Jubilee
  Celebrations in 1970, when the RIT Ah Nu Pyinnyar Shins of performed as “Swel Daw Yeik Troupe”.
  “Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint“, “Htee Yein” and “Ta Bin Daing Ah Ka” were hits.
• During the Adhamma Era, Swel Daw Bins were razed from the compound.
• With the dawning of the Pwint Linn Era, 50 Swel Daw Bins were planted to commemorate the Shwe YaDu (in 2014).
• There are many artifacts with “Swel Daw Yeik” in their name. They include :
  Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint
  Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF)
  Swel Daw Yeik Magazine
  Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung

Thabon Kyaung

• Disparaging term used by authorities in the Adhamma Era

Thamudaya Kyaung

• Poem by Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)
• Music Video by Khin Maung Toe (Vocalist) and Myizzima Hlaing

TU

• Technological University
• Opened indiscriminately during the Adhamma Era

YIT

• RIT was renamed as Yangon Institute of Technology
• Name change per the Naming Policy (to refrain from using names from the Colonial Era).
• Note: The Naming Policy did not have a grandfather clause. Some classic books could not be re-published without the name change. For example, “Trials in Burma” by Maurice Collis was forced to be re-titled “Trials in Myanmar”.

YTU

• Yangon Technological University
• Name change to sound similar to NTU (in Singapore, which was earlier called NTI)

Posts

• Associations
• Calendar
• Names
• RIT Spirit

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Ivan Lee (M69)

• Youngest in the family
• His father passed away when he was a few years old.
• His mother raised the family, and also lived long to have great grand children.
• He e-mailed us when his mother turned 100. It showed the birthday card sent to his mother from the 43rd US President George W. Bush.
• He e-mailed again when his mother turned 101. It showed the birthday card sent to his mother from the 44th US President Barack Obama.
• His mother passed away at the tender age of 102. She was alert until the final days. It could be because she played two hours of Mah Jong daily.
• On a bright note, he has two loving daughters and six grandchildren.

Timothy Hla’s Post on June 21, 2020

Tribute to his parents Dr. PR Mohan and Dr. Daw Hnin Yee

Today is a special day for me and my family. First and foremost, we celebrate my Mom’s birthday. Even though we cannot be with her physically in Seattle, she enjoys the company and excellent care by my sister Mona T. Han and is showered by love from all family members and her friends and former students in the Institute of Medicine 1, University of Rangoon. In addition to raising four children, taking care of her husband and running a busy household, she was a career woman who was able to balance a successful career (she became the Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine) and a busy life with grace and charm.

Second, today is father’s day. I am enjoying my family (wife Jeanne Wadsworth-Hla, and grown children Hilary May, Jon Matthew and Audrey Hla who will be here to have dinner. Very grateful for them to be here to celebrate my fatherhood. It is one of the happiest aspects of my life and I am most grateful. I also remember and honor the memory of my Dad (PR Mohan) who passed away over 15 years ago. He was an orphan who grew up in poverty with 9 siblings in Burma, overcame lots of obstacles to get an MBBS degree in 1939, worked as a military doctor during the WW2 with the allied forces for which received many medals and citations, used his pension from the army to get trained as a Cardiologist in London (Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart Institute) with the famous Cardiologist Paul Wood, returned to Burma to give back to his native land despite various lucrative job offers in the UK, and served honorably by establishing the first Cardiac Department at the Rangoon General Hospital, established the first coronary care unit and brought cutting edge cardiology care to Burma. He also trained a cadre of younger physicians. I even came across an article he wrote about congenital heart diseases in the local medical journal in 1955 in PubMed. Many of his colleagues and students remember him as a no-nonsense Physician with a rough exterior but with a kind heart. My fondest memories of him were his love and dedication to his family and friends. He also introduced me to his love of various music genres of the world, and appreciation of fine food and libations.

Me

• I am fortunate to have parents who lived beyond 80.
• I am not fortunate enough to have them around to see my Hmees, who are excellent in their studies and in their hobbies.
• They would have smiled to hear my grand daughter say, “Are you at home? Who’s your doctor? What happened?” after I returned from the colonoscopy screening. She added, “I’ll take care of you. I love you.” She must have inherited the loving kindness of her great grand parents.
• They would be delighted to see her awards including “Super Reader” and a top student of her class.
• They would be impressed to see my grand son dribbling a standard basketball for 30+ seconds, scoring goals in a competitive tournament and learn that he is also a top student of his class.

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

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 8000+ 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 him to take the examination. The rest is history.

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Redundacy

• There are two kidneys, but some people can live with one kidney.

U Khin Maung Maung

• U Aung Zaw Maung (Pet78, ex-UCC) mentioned that his father lived for 40 years with one good kidney.

Daw Kyawt

• Daw Tint Tint Wai (Daw Kyawt) donated a kidney to her spouse U Aung Zaw. She is doing fine. After a decade, U Aung Zaw passed away. The kidney that she donated was still doing fine.

Dialysis

U Tin Hlaing

Saya U Tin Hlaing (M59, GBNF) was Head of the Agricultural Engineering (sub-department of Mechanical Engineering). Had kidney problem, but he did not have access to the two dialysis machines that were for VIP in Burma. Applied for passport and visa to have medical treatment abroad, but he did not receive them in time.

Cases

Based on the severity, the frequency and number of dialysis sessions.

Most patients have to visit a hospital or clinic.

A few had to perform dialysis at home.

Transplant

U Aung Zaw

Saya U Aung Zaw (ex-UCC) is indebted to his spouse Daw Kyawt, who donated her kidney. The love story can be read in Saya Zaw’s first book “Dhamma and Bawa ဓမ္မနဲ့ ဘဝ”. I wrote the Foreword.

He published a second book “Cetana Thi Thar Kan စေတနာ သည်သာ ကံ” which has a section written by me based on his ideas.

Henry Lim

U Aung Myint (Henry Lim) served as Chief Editor of the BAPS Newsletter and an Associate Editor of the commemorative issue of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” for SPZP-2000. He founded the “Golden Padauk” and “Durian” magazines in the San Francisco Bay Area, but at his doctors’ advice, he stopped publishing the magazines to preserve his health. Luckily, he found a match for his kidney transplant. He had a renewed life full of oversea travels.

Aung Khin

U Aung Khin (SPHS 63, GBNF) is the second son of Dr. Ko Gyi (MS of EENT hospital). He had two kidney transplants and succumbed while he was trying to have a third transplant.

Related Posts

• Advice from Sayas & Friends
• Medical Reports by Dr. Khin Maung U
• Medical Advice by Dr. Kyaw Nyunt (Robert)

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2025

CPR can help save lives

• M72 batch is a closely knit group. They are known for their gentlemen acts as well as seemingly childish behavior.
  They tease each other often testing the limits of patience.
  To outsides, they appear to be quarreling.
• Ko Tha Tun (M72) is from the class of 71, but he feels at home as a senior with the M72 group. At one M72 gathering, a medical condition struck Ko Tha Tun, but he survived due to the CPR skills of Ko Wynn Htain Oo (M72). The members also took him quickly to a clinic without waiting fo the ambulance.

Casualties

• Some casualties occur early in the morning. Most family members may be sleeping, sleepy or not alert to respond to emergency problems.

• Ko Soe Myint (M72, retired Pro-Rector of ICST) had a busy day visiting the Sun Lun Gu Kyaung twice and also taking rounds to see his nephew and niece with medical problems. He passed away at 3 AM. Ko Wynn Htain Oo thought out aloud if CPR could have saved Ko Soe Myint.

• Ko Soe Myint Lwin (EP68, Burma Soccer Selected) passed away around 3 AM.

• Saya U Kyaw Sein (M65) passed away around 6 AM.

• U Myint Kyaw (EC67) passed away around 2 AM.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2025

CPR can help save lives

• M72 batch is a closely knit group. They are known for their gentlemen acts as well as seemingly childish behavior.
  They tease each other often testing the limits of patience.
  To outsiders, they appear to be quarreling.
• Ko Tha Tun (M72) is from the class of 71, but he feels at home as a senior with the M72 group. At one M72 gathering, a medical condition struck Ko Tha Tun, but he survived due to the CPR skills of Ko Wynn Htain Oo (M72). The members also took him quickly to a clinic without waiting fo the ambulance.

Casualties

• Some casualties occur early in the morning. Most family members may be sleeping, sleepy or not alert to respond to emergency problems.

• Ko Soe Myint (M72, retired Pro-Rector of ICST) had a busy day visiting the Sun Lun Gu Kyaung twice and also taking rounds to see his nephew and niece with medical problems. He passed away at 3 AM. Ko Wynn Htain Oo thought out aloud if CPR could have saved Ko Soe Myint.

• Ko Soe Myint Lwin (EP68, Burma Soccer Selected) passed away around 3 AM.

• Saya U Kyaw Sein (M65) passed away around 6 AM.

• U Myint Kyaw (EC67) passed away around 2 AM.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2025

Qualities of the Buddha

He is
1. Accomplished
2. Perfectly Enlightened
3. Endowed with Knowledge and Conduct (or Practice)
4. Well-gone or well-spoken
5. the Knower of worlds
6. the Guide Unsurpassed of men to be tamed
7. the Teacher of gods and men
8. Enlightened
9. Blessed

Qualities of the Dhamma

1. Universal Law found through enlightenment and is preached precisely. It is Excellent in the beginning (Sila /Morality), Excellent in the middle (Samadhi / Concentration) and Excellent in the end (Panna / Wisdom)

2. Testable by practice and known by direct experience

3. Can bestow timeless and immediate results here and now

4. “Come and see”
Welcomes all beings to put it to the test and experience it for themselves

5. Worthy to be followed as a part of one’s life

6. Can be perfectly realized only by the noble disciples who have matured and enlightened enough in supreme wisdom.

Qualities of the Sangha

The community of the disciples of the Buddha has practiced
1. the good (right) way
2. the straight way
3. the way to Nibbanna
4. the proper way

This community of the disciples of the Blessed One that has the Four Pairs of persons, the Eight Kinds of individuals
5. is worthy of gifts
6. is worthy of hospitality
7. is worthy of offerings
8. is worthy of reverential salutation
9. is an unsurpassed field of merit for the world

Quality of Life

• Some metrics
• Good health
• Some people do not want to live long without a good Quality of Life
• Good relationships at home and work
• Air Pollution (with bad Quality) may be correlated to Lung Diseases

Quality in Computing & Service

• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Quality Engineering (QE)
• Software Quality of Assurance (SQA)
• Quality of Service (QoS)