HlaMin

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  • Memories of SPZP-2000

    It took a lot of planning, time and energy to host the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000.

    The attachment shows the draft invitation with several items as TBD (To Be Decided).

    Main event

    The main event “RIT Reunion Dinner and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe” was held from 5 pm to midnight on October 28, 2000 at the Embassy Suites Hotel near San Francisco International airport.

    There was some inconvenience as the 300+ attendees had to be accommodated in two rooms instead of the single room (booked initially).

    Except for the sit-down dinner, the attendees from the “overflow” room joined the “main” room.

    A live band comprising of Ko Thet Win (drummer, son of U Shwe Kyaw (M63, BAF, GBNF) and Ko Thiha (keyboard, son of Dr. Daw Mya Mya (OG), son-in-law of Saya U Ba Nyunt (EE58) entertained.

    Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69), Ma Myint Myint Sein (Diana, M70) and several alumni sang and danced (e.g. to Mee Bone Pwe).

    The key note was given by Saya Dr. Aung Gyi.

    Saya U Aung Khin, Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Myo Myint Sein, Saya U Min Wun and Saya U Ba Toke gave speeches.

    Several attendees participated in the optional “Ga Daw Pwe”.

    Recognition awards were given to

    • the Golden Sponsors — U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70), Yu Beng (Benny Tan, M70), U Tin Myint (David Ko, M67), U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69) and U Maung Maung Than (M79)
    • U Hla Myint Thein (Maurice Chee, M75, core organizer of SPZP-2000)
    • U Hla Min (EC69, Chief Editor of RIT Alumni International Newsletter)
    • U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76, Designer and web master of http://ex-rit.org)

    Details can be found in the 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post-Reunion” posts.

    The 3-hour VHR Cassette had been converted to a 2-disk DVD.

    Secondary event

    Reunion picnic was scheduled for a park (with Coyote Point as a first preference), but due to weather reports predicting inclement weather, the picnic was held instead at a school.

    Family members of sayas and alumni demonstrated their culinary expertise.

  • Win Kyaing

    Win Kyaing

    by Ohn Khine & Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Ohn Khine (M70) wrote

    • After reading Saya U Myo Myint Sein’s lively article in Swel Daw Yeik magazine, my mind raced back to the good and happy RIT student days.
    • I still remember the tall and stout Saya with his famous mustache and boisterous voice. If I can rely on my memory, he taught us (70 batch) Industrial Management in the Fourth year.
    • He taught us from the Book titled “Parkinson’s Law” written by C. Northcote Parkinson.
    • Going back again to Saya U Myo Myin Sein’s article on the trip to USSR, I can imagine Saya U Win Kyaing in a very uncomfortable and awkward situation, but still can laugh out loud over the situation.
    • I would like to take this opportunity to ask belated forgiveness from Saya U Win Kyaing for lovingly calling him “Koung Kee” behind his back. Saya looked somewhat like Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (a Vietnamese leader) .
    • May his soul rest in peace.

    Editor’s Notes :

    • Saya is the younger brother of U Wah Kyu (Ko Maurice’s father)
    • He advised Ko Maurice to study Mechanical Engineering.
    • On behalf of Saya, his spouse Sayama Daw Muriel Tun Gyaw attended SPZP-2000.

  • SAYA PUZAW PWE (Poem)

    Publications

    • I wrote it for SPZP-2000.
    Newsletter
    • It was published in ex-rit-org website and the front page of the Commemorative Issue of RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000
    • It was reprinted on the back cover of the Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2002
    • It was also reprinted in the Golden Jubilee magazine for the combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65.

    SAYA PUZAW PWE (Poem)

    S eems like it was only yesterday
    A t our alma mater in a land far away
    Y ou taught us to work, play, laugh, even cry
    A nd coaxed us, forced us to aim for the sky

    P roblems in real life, lab, computation, survey
    U nderstand concepts, design, display, …
    Z eal, zest, ardor, grit, passion to make it “our day”
    A rchitects, engineers, we’ve come here to say
    W e honor your metta, your cetana — we fully can’t repay

    P resently we meet, alum from five decades we greet
    W ith memories true, fond, sweet
    E cstatic yet sad that the GBNF could not join this memorable fete

    Notes

    • Combine the first letter of each line to spell “SAYA PU ZAW PWE”.
    • The term “SAYA GADAW PWE ဆရာကန်တော့ပွဲ” has religious connotations. Since the organizers and attendees profess different religions, the term “SAYA PUZAW PWE ဆရာပူဇော်ပွဲ” meaning honoring the mentors and paying respect to them for their metta and cetana) was chosen.
    • GBNF means “Gone But Not Forgotten“.

    69ers

    • 30th Anniversary of Graduation (1999)
    • 40th Anniversary of Graduation (2009)
    • 50th Anniversary of Admission to RIT (2014) : Pseudo Golden Jubilee
    • 50th Anniversary of Graduation (2019) : True Golden Jubilee
    Old version of the GBNF list
    • The GBNF list for the Class of 69 is 128 (over 40%).
    • The GBNF list is maintained by U Aung Min (M69) & team.
    • About 20 succumbed to Covid.

    EE Sayas

    EE Sayas
    • Of the EE sayas of our RIT days, many are GBNF. They include U Kyaw Tun, U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe, U Sein Win, U Thein Lwin, U San Tint, U Soe Min, U Chin Way, U Nyi Nyi, U Tin Shwe.

  • The Dawn of Wisdom

    Subtitle : On the Practice of Vipassana Satipatthana

    by Sayadaw U Lakkhana (of Sagaing Hills)

    Translator : U Mya Thaung

    Editor : Gregory Pai, Ph.D.

    Publisher : Sukhavati

    Dhamma dana publication, 2002

    Contents

    Four Foundations of Mindfulness

    Basic Satipatthana Instructions

    The Hindrances (1)

    The Hindrances (2)

    The Hindrances (3)

    Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration

    Right Aim

    Right Effort

    Insight Knowledge

    The Home Object and Walking Meditation

    Walking Meditation and Insight Knowledge

    Walking Meditation

    Clear Comprehension (1)

    Clear Comprehension (2)

    The Three Characteristics

    Discerning Mind and Body

    Contemplation of Feelings

    Painful Bodily Feelings

    The Truth of Suffering

    Conclusion

  • The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

    • THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS
    • Author : Venerable U Silananda
    • Editor : Ruth-Inge Heinze, Ph.D.
    • Wisdom Publications
    • First Printing : 2002
    • Foreword by Larry Rosenberg, Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

    PART I : COMMENTARY

    Introduction

    1. Contemplation of the Body in the Body

    2. Contemplation of Feelings

    3. Contemplation of Consciousness

    4. Contemplation of the Dhammas

    5. Assurance of Attainment

    PART II : THE GREAT DISCOURSE ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS

    PART III : MEDITATION INSTRUCTIONS

    Notes

    Glossary

    Select Bibliography

    Index

  • Daw Than Than (Chem)

    Sayama taught at the Chemistry Department in RIT. She is the spouse of Saya U Kyaw Tun, who served at both RIT ChE and Chemistry departments. He is the saya of several ChE sayas and early alumni.

    After retirement, they relocated to Canada. Their son pursued graduate studies in Canada.

    Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66) wrote :

    In trying to get in touch with Saya a few days ago, I learned from their son who is in Canada that Saya Ma Daw Than Than passed away December 5th, 2004. Saya is in Yangon right now. Saya Ma was diagnosed to have Cancer a few years back and they went back recently to see if they could receive better medical care back home.

    Hope you can post it at our ex-RIT web site for friends, students and colleagues to know

  • RIT Athletes

    U Ohn Khine (M70) wrote

    The following are some friends who stood above par in RIT athletics events.

    Football (Soccer)

    • Sai Thein Maung (C 64 intake) RIT selection goal keeper
    • Kenneth @ Khin Mg Shwe (64 intake GBNF)
    • Myint Sein (M 64 intake GBNF)
    • Khin Maung Lay (Mutu, M64 intake)

    Track and Field

    • Sai Thein Maung (C 64 intake)
    • Maung Maung Thaw (EP 64 intake)
    • Soe Myint @ Min Khant (C 64 intake)
    • Ma Lei Lei Chit (Ch 64 intake)
    • Nang Khaming (A 64 intake)

    Editor’s notes

    • U Tha Din played volleyball for Burma.
    • U Kyaw Htin (C67), U Soe Myint Lwin (EP68, GBNF) and U Khin Maung Myint (John Tint, M72, GBNF) played soccer for Burma.
    • U Htay Aung (M 69) won RIT and Inter-Institute swimming events for 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and Inya cross-lake (2000m). He represented Burma in water polo at the 1969 SEAP Games.
    • Sai Kham Pan (EP69) was Burma Selected in badminton.
      Ranked No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles (with Kyi Nyunt).
      For RIT, U Myint Sein (M69, GBNF) was his doubles partner and “Sargalay” U Khin Maung Win (EP69, GBNF) was his “training” partner.
    • U Soe Tha (EC67), U Kyi (M67, GBNF), U Kyaw Nyunt (M69, GBNF) and James Than played Tennis for RIT.
    • U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) and U Thura Thant Zin (M76) played hockey for the All-Universities team and also rowed for RIT. In hockey, KMZ was the “coach” of Ko TTZ (goal-keeper). In rowing, Ko TTZ (RUBC Gold) was the “coach” of KMZ.
    • U Win Khaing (M75, GBNF), Dat Pon” Sann Aung (M74, GBNF), Phyo (M76), and U Thura Thant Zin (M76) rowed for RUBC Fours. They had a mini-reunion in SPZP 2007.
    • U Htaik San (Henry Kao, M81) and U Phyu Lin represented RUBC in coxless pairs, coxed fours, … [at the FEARA regatta].
      Than Tun Aung (Gavin, A81) is RUBC Golden Cox.
  • SPZP-2007 Appreciation

    SPZP-2007 Appreciation

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    The Fourth RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was held in Singapore on April 7, 2007.

    SPZP-2007

    SPZP-2007 Appreciation Dinner

    The Appreciation Dinner for the organizers and volunteers for SPZP-2007 was successfully held on 19th May, 2007 (6 pm to 10 pm)

    at LOTUS GARDEN RESTAURANT, International Road, Singapore.

    Attendees :

    Guest of honor : Dr Tin Hlaing
    Chairman : U Nyan Win Shwe
    Secretary : Ko Aunt, Ko Zaw Tun Naing
    Funds collection : Saya U Tin Lin & Group
    Logistics : U Moe Myint & Group
    Information : Ko Zaw Win Htut & Group
    Entertainment : Ma Shwe Zin Ma & Group
    BBT & OCC Section : Ko Moe Aung Lwin & Group

    Total Attendance : 70 from Archi, Chemical, Civil, EE, Mechanical, etc.

  • V (Symbol)

    V (Symbol)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • 23rd letter of the English Alphabet
    • Roman Numeral with the value of 5
    • Victory
    • Volt
    • UV — Ultra Violet
    • VG — Very Good
    • VIBGYOR — Violet Indigo Blue Green Yellow Orange Red
    • VLDB — Very Large Data Base
    • VLSI — Very Large Scale Integration
    • VW — Volkswagen or Folk’s Wagon

    Dr. Nyunt Wai wrote :

    VLDL Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol is produced in the liver and released into the bloodstream to supply body tissues with a type of fat (triglycerides). It is one of the bad cholesterols as it can contribute to narrowing of arteries which may result in heart attack (due to death of part of blood-starved heart muscle).

    U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) wrote :

    This SciFi TV series, V
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(2009_TV_series)
    have had a cult following though it lasted only 2 years.

  • Daw Myint Thwe (GBNF)

    Daw Myint Thwe (Seated 3rd from Right)
    Daw Myint Thwe (Center)
    Daw Myint Thwe (2nd row; 3rd from Left)
    Daw Myint Thwe (Seated Center)
    Daw Myint Thwe (Seated 2nd from Right)

    She passed away peacefully in Sydney, Australia.

    Spouse : Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (GBNF)

    Fourth of nine siblings : Saya U Tin U (C), Saya U Ba Than (M, GBNF), Dr. Daw Win Hlaing (Ruby), Dr. Myo Tint (GBNF), U Tin Htoon (A60), Saya U Myo Min (UCC), U Thaung Lwin (EC66), Daw Cho Cho Hlaing

    Children : Ma Tin Tin Hlaing (UCC) & Ko Htay Aung (EC80, UCC), Ko Tha Hlaing (EC83, UCC), Min Thet Tun (GBNF)