HlaMin

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  • 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

  • Kyaw Min (T69)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Sad news in 2019

    Ko Aung Min (M69) wrote :

    Dear friends of RIT69ers,

    I am quite saddened to inform you that Ko Kyaw Min (Tex69) passed away at 3 / 30 pm today (3 August 2019) at Mandalay. He had been paralyzed for about 10 years. Daw Linn Linn Aung of Singapore recently supported him in some ways while she was here .
    May his soul Rest In Peace
    GBNF is now 89
    TAKE CARE ALL

    Aung Min (M69)

    Ko Tin Aung Win (M69) wrote :

    We will follow you one day, my dear friend Ar boung Ni.

    Ma Nyunt Nyunt Wai (Millie, T69) wrote :

    So sad to hear about Ko Kyaw Min. He was my thesis partner in final year. Never heard or met him after our convocation. One of us has gone. May his soul rest in peace!

    RIT 69ers FB Page

    The page has 20+ comments for Ko Aung Min’s post.

  • RIT69ers

    RIT69ers

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Sai Kham Pan

    Kham Pan
    • Burma Selected for Badminton.
    • National ranks: No. (1) in Doubles. No. (2) in Singles.
    RIT Badminton 1
    RIT Badminton 2
    • RIT Badminton won Inter-Institute Trophy. Myint Sein and Bishnu Shahi are now GBNF.

    Burma Selected Couple

    Than Than & Htay Aung
    • Htay Aung represented Burma in Water Polo at the 5th SEAP Games in 1969.
    • Than Than won Gold Medals at SEAP Games and Asian Games.

    Hla Min

    • Received Alumni Appeciaton Award three times
    • First time : Oct 2000 at SPZP-2000
    SPZP-2000
    • Second time : Aug 2016 at Soon Kwyay Gathering at Half Moon Bay
    Award 2
    • Third time : Sep 2016 at Annual Dinner of NorCal RIT AA
    Award 3

    U Han Sein (A Pho Gyi)

    • RIT Selected for Swimming, Water Polo, Diving and Basketball
    Han Sein
    • Became a Tone Kyaw when he was inadvertently listed as GBNF in the 69er Contact List (in 1999).
    • He was sentenced to 20 years by a kangaroo court (along with Dr. Aung Khin Sint and Ma Thidar – Sanchaung).
      He was released after 17 years.
    • He was a Thet Kyee of Latha Township.
    • He took photos at the 69er gatherings and distributed them to selected attendees.
    • He succumbed to Covid

    U Ngwe Tun (Tun Tun)

    Ngwe Tun
    • Every month, he offers Garawa money to Ashin Ukkamsa (Victor Aung Chaw) and Ashin Pannagavesaka (Bobby Myo Tun) in memory of his beloved spouse.
    • He offered to host the 69er breakfast gathering for September 2022, but the gathering did not take place.
      Apology was offered by U Aung Min and team.

    U Khin Maung Win (Roland)

    Roland (Center), Cyril (Right)
    • He was known for his debating skills.
    • He also competed in Scrabble tournaments.

    U Sein Myint (K K Wong)

    Sein Myint (Right)
    • He represented RIT in Swimming, Water Polo and Rowing.
    • He is a major Donor for 69er HCF and EE69er HCF.
    • He spends time in Singapore, California and Myanmar.

    U Than Hla (Cyril)

    • Left before graduation to study overseas

    U Tin Aung Win (Oscar)

    Oscar
    • He is a Moderator of RIT Updates FB group.

      He uses Zoom to keep in touch with selected 69ers and HIC Colleagues.
    • He gave me rides to attend 69er gatherings.

    U Tin Htut (Harry)

    U Tin Htut ( Harry)
    • Senior 69er
    • Retired author
    • Tai Chi, Music

    Albert Kyaw Min

    Albert Kyaw Min
    • President (AGPPI)
    • Guitarist & Vocalist along with Daniel Tint Lwin (Singapore) and Robert Win Boh (Australia)

    Gathering in Singapore

    • Nay Win (GBNF)
    • Win Boh / Robert– Australia
    • Yi Yi Khaing / Vilma
    • Minn Aung / Hla Thaung
    • Win Naing / Dicky (GBNF)
    • Tint Lwin / Danny — retired Associate Professor from NTU
    • Aung Myint — retired from Singapore Polytechnic
    • Kyaw Minn / Ei Kun

    Mini-gathering

    • Tint Lwin / Danny
    • Sein Myint / K K Wong
    • Aung Myint & spouse
    • Myint Maung

    Update

    • Many 69ers have less or no time for their hobbies. e.g U Tin Maung Aye (Accordion)
    • About 40% of the 69ers are GBNF. 20+ passed away (within the past two years; mostly due to Covid)
    • Some have medical problems.
  • Inlay

    Inlay

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2035

    Visits

    • Visited Inlay Lake in the Shan States four times.
    • My first visit was as RIT Luyechun (Outstanding Student) to the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the summer of 1965.
    Inlay 1
    Inlay 2
    • My second visit was as a guest of Peter Pe (SPHS63), whose cousins (including a medical doctor) live in Inn Paw Khone in Inlay Lake. Ko Maung Maung Aye (SPHS63, GBNF) also joined the trip.We also saw the Phaungdaw-u Festival.
      I later wrote a poem “Phaungdaw-u Festival”.
    Poem
    • My third trip was via a Tour Company which arranged a Tour Guide, a private boat and a night stay at a hotel in the Lake. The photo shows a rainbow in the background.
      Sad to note that there were water & drainage issues in the Inlay Lake area.
    Third trip to Inlay
    • My fourth trip was with PSA (Professional Speakers Association). One hotel in the area provided accommodation for the group. A PSA Lecturer conducted a training session for the Hotel manager and selected employees.
  • Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo

    Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo

    • Son of Col. Khin Nyo.
    • Brothers : Myint Lwin Nyo, Kyaw Lwin Nyo and Aung Lwin Nyo.
    Htay Lwin Nyo (Standing)
    • He matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1968
    • He was admitted to 1st BE as Roll Number 1.
    • He was selected as RIT Luyechun.
    • Graduated among the top of the EP74 class.
    • Studied M.Sc. (Computer Science) at UCC (Universities’ Computer Center)
    • Received Ph.D. in EE from Syracuse University, New York, USA.
    • Last Job: Part-time Professor at SJSU (San Jose State University), California, USA.

    Last Journey

    • I was honored to push the incinerator, and later to scatter the ashes in the ocean near Santa Cruz
    • I wrote about his Sea Burial for Burmese American Professional Society (BAPS) Newsletter.
    Newsletter
    BAPS Newsletter
    • U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) set up special web page for HLN. My poem HTAY LWIN NYO was also posted there.
    • There was no next-of-kin of HLN in the USA. KMZ remembered that Kyaw Zwa Than (Jaws, UCC) was HLN’s cousin. The missing link was supplied by some alumni (including Ko Ko Kyi).

    Ko Ko Kyi (EC72) wrote :

    Ko Hla Min, sad to read about Htay Lwin Nyo’s sea burial. I played a small part in notifying his first cousin Myo San Than in Toronto, when my brother called me from Birmingham, UK and informed me about HLN’s demise. Apparently, someone from California had contacted a friend of my brother’s and asked him to inform me, as he knew that HLN had a cousin living in Toronto. I informed HLN’s cousin Myo San Than, who called his elder brother living in Winnipeg, Canada. Subsequently, this cousin went to the US for HLN’s funeral. HLN was a good friend of mine, although he was two years my junior at RIT.

  • Longing [for]

    Longing [for]

    by U Moe Aung & Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Poem by Tekkatho Moe War
    Saya Moe & me
    • Translated by Hla Min

    Longing [for]

    A Tar Ye (water for Burmese New Year) is cool.

    My heart is not; it’s still (some what) hot.

    Thingyan Ye (water) is clear.

    My vision is still (some what) fuzzy.

    Thingyan Tay (music) is lively.

    It can no longer penetrate/capture my heart.

    Thingyan Nya (night) is beautiful.

    My life is still (some what) ugly.

    Mont lone ye baw (delicacy) is dancing merrily.

    My feet and hands are (seemingly) slow and laggard.

    Well … This year’s Thingyan
    this (auspicious) season
    makes me long for youth again.

    (To [my] birthday on April 1 & to Jaya [old age])

    Tekkatho Moe War
    Translated by Hla Min

  • May (Notes)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Background

    • 3rd month of the old Roman Calendar
    • 5th month of the Gregorian Calendar.
    • Has 31 days

    Events

    May 1

    • May Day in some countries

    May 5

    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Holiday in Mexico
    • Celebrated by Mexican Americans

    Second Sunday in May

    • Mother’s Day (in the USA)

    Miscellaneous

    • April flowers bring May flowers (Saying)

    SPHS (May 1963)

    • The Matriculation Only examination was held in May 1963
    • In the previous years, the examination was for High School Final and Matriculation (combined). Those who matriculated are eligible to study at the university.
    • SPHS students were outstanding in the Matriculation of 1963.
      There were five in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten and ten in the Top Twenty. The following were awarded Collegiate Scholarship.
      Khin Maung U (First)
      Min Oo (Second)
      Myo San (Freddie, Third, GBNF)
      Nyunt Wai (Victor, Fourth)
      Thein Wai (Fifth)
      Hla Min (Seventh)
      Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny, Ninth)
      Maung Maung Kyi (Eleventh, GBNF),
      Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, Thirteenth, GBNF)
      Khin Maung Zaw (Frank, Seventeenth)
    Top Matriculates from SPHS63
  • 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?
  • PBRS Alumni

    PBRS Alumni

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Myat Hla Sein (GBNF)

    Myat Hla Sein
    • Former Head of Movie Production Development at Regional College 2
    • Father : Director U Chin Sein / Shwe Nyar Maung
    • He passed away in a traffic accident

    Dr. Mya Than

    Dr. Mya Than 1
    Dr. & Mrs. Mya Than, U & Mrs. Thane Myint
    • Taught at PBRS before going abroad for his doctorate
    • Taught at the Institute of Economics
    • Worked in Singapore and Thailand
    • Spouse : Daw Yee May Kaung

    U Thane Myint

    • Elder son of U Kyaw Zaw (GBNF) and Sayama Daw Khin Khin Aye (GBNF)
    • Retired from Air Force & MOFA; former member of Myanmar Delegation to UN
    • Led Myanmar Olympic Team to Seoul Olympics
    • Spouse : Daw Khin Than Nu (EC70)

    Daw Kyi Kyi Tin

    • Taught Chemistry at Workers’ College and Assumption University
    • On behalf of PBRS Alumni, she offered Garawa money to Saya Dr. Mya Than
    • Siblings : U Saw Oo, Daw Tin Tin Aye
    Dr. Mya Than and Kyi Kyi Tin

    A1 Siblings

    • Daw Aung Si
    • A1 Than Htut
    • A1 Thein Htut
    • Thamankyar Ko Myint (U Aung Myint)
    • Sai Wunna (GBNF)
    • The four brothers were involved in the production of Thamankyar movie. A1 Than Htut was Director. A1 Thein Htut was Cinematographer. Ko Myint and Sai Wunna were Actors. The movie was funded by Sayama Daw Khin Khin Aye.
    A1 Thein Htut & Thamankyar Ko Myint

    PBRS Class Photos

    Credit : PBRS Group

    PPBRS 1
    PPBRS 2