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.
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 1Dr. & 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.
PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School) was opened at 109 Boundary Road by Daw Tin Tin Aye. She was succeeded by her younger sister Daw Khin Khin Aye (Teacher Ah Mar) as Principal. Daw Yi Yi (second sister) taught Infant (A) / Higher KG. They are all GBNF.
The school was renamed PBRS (Private Boundary Road School) after it opened classes for Middle School and High School.
Daw Khin Khin Aye
U Kyaw Zaw & Daw Khin Khin AyeObituary
Siblings : Daw Tin Tin Aye (Founder of PPBRS), Daw Yi Yi, U Thin Tu
Spouse : U Kyaw Zaw Studied Motion Pictures Industry as a States Scholar in the US
Children : Thane Myint, Kyaw Thein, Mo Mo
Taught at PPBRS. Became Principal
Extended the school to teach Middle School and High School. School was renamed PBRS.
After nationalization, she worked as Township Education Officer for Bahan.
Students
Most students were from nearby places : Windermere, Inya, Golden Valley / Lowis, Myenigone, San Chaung
Among the alumni are
Tin Maung Thant (son of UNSG U Thant)
Francis Ohn Maung (son of Arzani U Ohn Maung)
Dr. Flora Aye & Shirley Aye
Bonzo, Bonnie, Ruby & Pearl Kun alone
Elizabeth Kyaw Tun (Ph.D. in English, daughter of Saya U Kyaw Tun)
Kenneth San & Margaret San (moved from Taung Gyi)
Ma Pyone Khin (daughter of U Ba Yoke)
My siblings and cousins
A1 Family Members
A1 Family Members
The movie pioneers in Burma include four brothers : A1 U Tin Nwe, U Nyi Pu, U Maung Maung Soe, and A1 U Tin Maung.
A1 was earlier known as “Myanmar Ah Swe“.
U Tin Nwe
U Hla Bu (son-in-law) Children : Margie (Ma Aung Si), Stanley (A1 Than Htut), Freddie (A1 Thein Htut, Sat Su), Bobby (Aung Myint, Thamankyar Ko Myint), Sai Wunna (GBNF)
U Thein Zaw (actor)
U Hla Myo (directed several movies with Nyunt Win)
U Nyi Pu
Founded Ma Weik Za Do Films (produced “Thamankyar”)
Daughter attended PPBRS.
Sayamagyi Daw Khin Khin Aye (Teacher Ah Mar) supported her former students to direct and produce “Thamankyar“. Twin brothers Than Htut and Thein Htut were Director and Cinematigrapher. Toe Nyunt, Aung Myint and Wunna were Actors. Than Win was the author.
U Maung Maung Soe
Real name : U Tin Pe
Actor, Director and Producer
Son-in-law : U Maung Maung has his own Studio.
Children : Rosalind (Ma Pyi Aye), Richard, Glory (Khin Than Nu)
U Tin Maung
Was Actor before he turned Director and Producer.
Children : Phylis, Eileen
Daw Khin Myint
Sister of U Tin Nwe, U Nyi Pu, U Maung Maung Soe and U Tin Maung
Spouse : J Maung Sein
Son : U Tin Yu (Director); Grand Children : Zelma Yu, Zaw Min Yu, Zin Thi Yu
Daughter : Daw Marlar (spouse of U Mya Maung); Grand Children : Peggy, Winnie (Win Mar), Ted (Toe Nyunt). Rosebelle (Sandar, Sar Oo), Mya Zaw (Fuji)
Some members
Since A1 extended family is huge, I do not know all members.
Ma Pyi Aye graduated in 1966 with Architecture.
Aung Myint (Thamankyar Ko Myint) graduated in 1970 with Mining Engineering.
Thamankyar Movie Poster Thamankyar Ko Myint 1Thamankyar Ko Myint 2
Than Win graduated in 1970 with Textile Engineering. He married Zelma Yu.
Win Mar won the Academy Award for her role in “Pho Pyone Cho”. She became a doctor, and did not pursue a career in movies.
Sar Oo won the Academy Award for her role in “Hne Hmar Ah The”.
Toe Nyunt became known as “Shwe Gaung Byaung”.
Thein Htut became known as “Sat Su”.
Aung Chein, nephew of U Hla Bu, was selected Luyechun. He graduated in 1972 with Mechanical Engineering.
Other PPBRS Alumni
Patail Clan
Arif Clan
Myat Hla Sein (GBNF) & Chit Mya Sein (children of U Chin Sein)
Myo Set (GBNF, son of Thar Gaung Gyi)
Han Tun (SPHS63, DSA), Nyunt Shwe, Hlaing Mi Mi, Sein Hlaing (GBNF), Myo Hlaing & Htoo Hlaing
Named after Augustus Caesar Added an extra day to the month to match that of July (named after Julius Caesar)
Celebrations in August
Birthdays
On behalf of RIT Alumni International, Maurice Chee organized a Soon Kway in 2016 at Dhammanda Vihara, Half Moon Bay, to celebrate my birthday and to give me an Appreciation Award.
Award
Ko Patrick Thein Naing, Ko Myint Swe and several others would host Lunch Gatherings for August-born (Including Daw Mu Mu Kin, spouse of Saya Allen Htay).
August born
Celebrated my Myee (Chit Sa Noe) ‘s birthday at selected places (including Pismo Beach).
Myee
Several relatives (including two sisters) are August-born.
Spiritual Director of several monasteries and associations in USA, Myanmar, Canada, Mexico …
Chief Compiler of the Tipitaka Pali-Burmese Dictionary for the Sixth Buddhist Council
Authored books in Burmese and English
Meditation teacher
Rector, IMBTU
See related posts for details
Sayadaw passed away on August 13, 2005.
We paid homage to his bronze statue on the morning of August 14, 2016. Sayadaw U Jotalankara read Sayadaw’s biography. Shwe Bo Sayadaw and Mr. Luyen (from Tathagata Meditation Center) recounted the good qualities and achievements of Sayadaw.
My Services
Over the years. I have served in the following capacities at Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA)
Member of the Board of Directors
Executive Committee member
Editor of “Dhammanda Newsletter” and TBSA web site
Simplifier of “A Manual of Buddhism” for use at the summer dhamma classes
Editor of transcribed dhamma talks given by Sayadaw at the weekend retreats
Master of Ceremonies at the services for Sayadaw
Accompanied Saya U Myat Htoo to carry the ashes to be scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Member of Book Committee and Editor for paying “Homage to Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa”
Three of my cousins — Dr. Daw Win Hlaing, U Mya Thein and U Tin U — celebrated their 87th, 88th and 90th birthdays.
U Tin U
We had a family vacation at Pismo Beach, California to celebrate two birthdays : 5th birthday of my grand daughter and my birthday.
My two sisters also celebrated their birthdays.
Daw Myint Myint hosted the 69er Monthly Breakfast gathering with U Than Oo in August 2019. Daw Myint Myint hosted with U Soe Thein (Peter) in August 2018. Daw Myint Myint is a major donor to the 69er Health Care Fund.
There was fund raising for “Flood Relief”.
September 2019
[Per U Wynn Htain Oo (M72)] : Dr. Myint Thein (M73, Rector, YTU) and team invited Saydaws to recite suttas at the new YTU Library. Students will be provided access to the library ASAP.
Ashin Pannagavesaka (Myo Tun, Bobby, A69, Mawlamyine Pa Auk) visited Ashin Okkantha (Aung Chaw, Victor, C69) in the latter’s monastery in Sagaing Hills.
Dr. U Win (Geography) had a successful operation to replace the pacemaker. His friend said, “Your death sentence has been delayed.”
Kenny Wong (MEHS63, M69, USA) met with some old friends such as Win Maung (Lake) and Cyril Ba Than (Than Hla). He stood 6th in Burma in the Matriculation with four distinctions. He was the lone MEHS in the Top Seven. The other six were from SPHS.
U Ngwe Tun (Tun Tun) will host the 69er Monthly gathering in September 2019.
MASTAA (based in the East Coast of USA) has collected donations — from the members and well-wishers — for the “Flood Relief” operations in Myanmar.
B. Andreescu (19 year old) became the first Canadian woman to be crowned US Open Champion. She held Serena Williams (38 year young), who was trying to tie Margaret Court / Smith’s record of the most Tennis Grand Slams.
It was the 6th month in the old Roman Calendar, and it had 30 days.
The month was given an extra day and renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar.
It is the 8th month in the Gregorian Calendar, and has 31 days.
Events
Birthdays
Two sisters, my grand daughter, several cousins and I are August born.
August 2016
In August 2016, Ko Maurice Chee (M75) organized a birthday soon kwyay for me at the Dhammananda Vihara in Half Moon Bay, California. The sayas and alumni presented me an Appreciation award.
Birthday Celebration at Half Moon BayAlumni Appreciation AwardAttendeesWith spouse, DIL and Granddaughter
Deaths
My Father-in-law, Mother-in-law and Brother-in-law passed away in August.
U Silanandabhivamsa passed away in August. I served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Memorial Service. I was member of the Magazine Committee and contributing editor of “Homage to Sayadaw U Silananda”.
1988
8-8-88 (August 8, 1988) and the following days mark the hope and then despair of the people longing for the end of the Adhamma Era.
The event was inspired in part by numerologists who remembered the historic event about Mingyi Yan Naung in 888 Burmese Era. They extrapolated the magic of No. 8 from three 8’s to four 8’s.
The organizers and Ko Nay Min fed news to a BBC correspondent.
2008
Most Chinese think that the number 8 is lucky.
Beijing Olympics was opened on 8-8-08 (August 8, 2008).
HlaMin 