Collection of Pali verses (that refer to Buddha’s teachings).
Translated by several Pal Scholars.
Some Dhammapada books also cover short stories related to the verses.
Narada Thera
The Dhammapada
Subtitle: Pali text & translation with stories & notes
Author : Narada Thera
Preface
Chapters
The Twin Verses
Heedfulness
Mind
Flowers
Fools
The Wise
The Worthy
Thousands
Evil
The Rod or Punishment
Old Age
The Self
The World
The Buddha
Happiness
Affection
Anger
Impurities or Taints
The Just or Righteous
The Way or the Path
Miscellaneous
Woeful State
The Elephant
Craving
The Bhikkhu or the Mendicant
The Brahmana
Venerable Buddharakhitta
The following verses are from the book by Venerable Buddharakkhita.
Verse 182
Hard it is to be born a man; hard is the life of mortals. Hard is it to gain the opportunity of hearing the Sublime Truth, and hard to encounter is the arising of the Buddhas.
Verse 183
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one’s mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Verse 184
Enduring patience is the highest austerity. “Nibbana is supreme,” says the Buddhas. He is not a true monk who harms another, nor a true renunciate who oppresses others.
Myanmar & English
U Thittila’s Translation (in Burmese)
Venerable Buddharakkhita’s Translation (in English)
Frequently Quoted Verse
The following Dhammapada verse is frequently quoted by Sayadaws and writers.
“Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, – this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.”
It seems simple (at the basic level), but it also has a deeper meaning (at the metaphysical level).
The explanations may refer to Abhidhamma to expound what “kusala” (wholesome deeds) and “akusula” (unwholesome deeds) are.
References may also be made to the three “Seikhas” : sila (morality), sammadhi (concentration), and panna (wisdom).
Bhavana practices such as samatha (tranquility meditation) and vipassana (insight meditation) are needed to calm and purify the mind.
U Lokanatha – Italian Buddhist Monk (1897-1966)
U Lokanatha
Chemical Analyst in the US
Received a book from his supervisor as Christmas present. The book had a chapter on Dhammapada. After reading the verses, a deep impulse (which resonated with his scientific inquiring mind) led him to pursue Buddhism & become a Buddhist monk.
He was from a devout Catholic family. His elder brother was a Priest.
Sayadaw spent considerable time at the Bawdigone monastery (donated by my paternal grandmother) on Windermere Road, Rangoon, Burma.
He practiced Dhutanga.
He also preached. Sunlun U Vinaya was interpreter for some of the talks.
Dhamma Dhuta missions to India and Ceylon
His booklet, “Why I became a Buddhist”, had considerable influence on the leader of the “Untouchables” in India.
His dhamma duta work can be found in the articles in Wikipedia and some Buddhist web sites.
Do not darken without pouring, oh! overcast skies. You loom and lour to constrict the home-dweller. Even as though about to pour, you should not thunder from above Myedu Town in the north.
Rapid, incessant heartbeat racing towards the Bagan area Deeply rooted in the bottom of my heart the cultural, religious, historical and architectural heritage of Bagan.
Fascinating, full of wonder and memories, heart-rendering sublime Bagan finally, rightfully inscribed as World Heritage Site O… ancient Temple City where I left my heart.
Every time one looks yonder touched by the whirling, swirling, vibrant Ayeyarwaddy (Lord of the rivers) Misty, dreamy panoramic view O…. my dear Ayeyarwaddy.
Finest culture Treasure of sculpture Architecture galore Countless shrines and pagodas of Bagan Will last for eternity as World Heritage Site to be revered, cherished and appreciated O…. glorious Bagan. ရေးသူ– တက္ကသိုလ် မိုးဝါ
Saya George (U Maung Maung, ChE66) was the first President
Gordon (U Kaung Kaung Oo, M83) : Past President
U Aung Myint Oo (EC84) : Past President
U Tin Maung Win (C86) : current President
BOD Chair
U Stanlislau (Stan, M67) was first BOD Chair
Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) : current BOD Chair
Contacts
Web site : U Tin Maung Win (C86) & team
FaceBook page : U San Lin (M87) & team
Evite : Myint Swe (EP74) & team
MailChimp : Edward Saw (EC85) & team
Finance
Extremely low overhead / expenses (due to hosts, sponsors and donors)
Awards (plaques, certificates)
NorCal RITAA pens donated by Edward Saw (EC85) & U Myint Swe (EP74)
Activities
Face to face Meetings
Meeting
Summer Picnic and/or Annual Dinner
Picnic
NorCal RITAA Scholarships
YTU Library Modernization
YTU Library Modernization
Ad hoc committee to address sharing of knowledge & expertise with alumni in USA & Myanmar
AGM
There have been several AGMs.
Some meetings have Election.
U Tun Shwe (ChE72) recorded a video at one AGM.
2018
Soon offered to the monks at Mudita Shwe Kyaung
Mohinga, desserts … for all attendees
Meeting headed by Saya U Nyo Win (M65) & Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)
U Nyunt Than (M84) acted as Master of Ceremonies.
Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, BOD Chair, Board) gave an Opening Speech. He later handed out awards to Sponsors & Donors.
Gordon (M83) and Lillian (EC83) survived the raging fires in Napa, but they had to wait three weeks before returning to their “Home Sweet Home”. They donated to the Scholarship Fund and also encouraged their Classmates (U Kyaw Myint, Daw Ni Ni Sein …) to pledge or donate.
Saya U Nyo Win accepted the award for Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60).
List of donors/sponsors is maintained by U Ko Ko Zin (M84) & U Myint Swe (EP74).
Annual Dinners
2016
NorCal RITAAU Myat HtooEntertainment
2023
Resumed Annual Dinner Gathering (after the pandemic)
Annual Dinner
2024
Celebrated three Anniversaries
Centennial of Engineering Education in Burma / Myanmar
Some 69ers hosted a breakfast gathering at “Crystal Jade” to welcome Ko Sein Myint (EP69, Singapore) and me.
Farewell
They bade farewell to Ko Tint Lwin (M69), who had to go back to Singapore to take care of his elder brother Saya U Thein Lwin (EE) and Sayama Daw May Than Nwe (Joyce).
Transportation
Ko Ohn Khine (M70 took me to the breakfast gathering.
During my visits, he also took me to meetings for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016 & “History of Myanmar Engineering Education (HMEE)” Project.
Attendees
Ko Shwe
Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel)
Ko Sein Tun
Ko Ohn Khine
Ko Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet)
Ko Aung Min
Ko Myint Thein (Kabar)
Ko Sein Myint
Ko Win Maung (“Lake”)
Ko Aung Min — Chair of the 69er HCF and a core organizer for 69er gatherings.
Breakfast at Taw Win Hnin Si
69ers hold a monthly breakfast gathering at “Royal Rose Restaurant (Taw Win Hnin Si တော်ဝင်နှင်းဆီ)”.
Ko Aung Min (M69) & team gave me two mementos: a sports jacket and a Tee shirt with the 69er Logo.
Major donors to the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) and the 69er Annual Dinner were also given commemorative Tee shirts.
Orders for the sports jacket and Tee shirt were taken from interested 69ers.
The group photo shows
At Taw Win Hnin Si
L to R : Ko Tin Aung Win (Oscar), Ko Ngwe Soe (Walter), Ko Myint Thein (Kabar), Ko Hla Min, Ko Tin Maung Aye, Ko Win Lwin, Ko Tin Tun
EE69er breakfast gathering
EE69er Gathering
The group photo shows :
Standing : Ko Maung Maung, Ko Thein Swe, Ko Shwe
Seated : Ko Hla Min, Ko Than Hla (Cyril)
Ko Shwe is Treasurer for the 69er HCF and the EE 69er HCF.
Ko Maung Maung played volleyball at RIT. He is Joint Treasurer of the EE 69er HCF.
At Winner Inn
Winner Inn
The photo was taken at Winner Inn.
Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) came to pay respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than.
Sayagyi U Ba Toke
U Ba Toke
The photo was taken at Sayagyi U Ba Toke’s house.
Daw Thynn Thynn (Pansy, ChE74, daughter of Sayagyi) sent a car to Winner Inn to pick up Saya U Ba Than, Saya U Tin Htut (M60) and me.
U Ba Than pays respect to Sayagyi U Ba Toke at least once every year.
Sayagyi U Ba Toke is a “Phwa Bet” of Rangoon University and the First RU Students’ Strike in December 1920.
Sayagyi has eight children (of which two passed away), many grandchildren and some great grand children.
At Dhammananda Vihara
Half Moon Bay
Ko Sein Myint’s daughter and son-in-law offered soon to the resident monks of the Dhammanda Vihara, Half Moon Bay (in Northern California, USA) for the first birthday of their daughter.
Ko Sein Myint has five children and four grand children.
Attendees include Ko Tin Myint (John Lee, M69) and Ma Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel Lee, T69).
Updates
U Ba Toke, U Ba Than, U Thein Lwin, Daw May Than Nwe, Kabar, Ko Thein Swe & Ko Tin Myint are now GBNF.
One may study Uniform Distribution in Probability & Statistics.
Some schools may mandate their students to wear uniform on specified days (and may be every day).
Bogyoke Aung San and U Thant had a debate on Uniform during their University days.
SPHS
SPHS Uniform
During our younger days, we had to perform drill at the School Sports and at the Aung San Stadium for specified events (e.g. Education Day Celebration). We had to dress up in uniform.
The full uniform consisted of
Kakki pants
Long sleeved white shirt
Necktie
Badge
Coat
SPHS Blazer & Badge
Burmese Dress for Males
Pasoe ပုဆိုး (or Longyi လုံခြည်)
Taik Pon တိုက်ပုံ
Gaung Baung ခေါင်းပေါင်း
The formal dress may be worn at functions (e.g. Award Presentation Ceremony).
U Nu
PPBRS Concert
Sailor
Aung Myint (later Thamankyar Ko Myint) & Toe Nyunt were wearing Sailor uniform
Engineering College
C58
Sayagyi U Ba Hli is seen in photos wearing a uniform.
U Ba Hli
UTC
Those joining UTC (Universities’ Training Corps) were two sets of old uniforms. Most prefer to buy or order their own.
UTC
RUBC
Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) awards Half Green, Full Green and Gold. RUBC specifies Dress Code for the award winners.
RUBC 1RUBC 2
Graduation
The Admin, Staff and graduates dress up in specified uniforms (e.g gown & cap)
USA Sports
In the USA, sports team have at least two sets of uniforms: one for playing at Home, and another for playing away.
Among the newspapers in Myanmar, Yangon Times proudly covered SPZP-2012 reminding the readers that it was the first time in four decades or so that the higher authorities permitted the RIT SPZP to be held at the Gyogone Campus.
Pictures speak louder than words.
Thanks to Sayagyi U Ba Than and U Ohn Khine (M70) for providing me copies of the Yangon Times.
Capacity crowd at SPZP-2012 Sayas (including Speakers)Aging sayas with indomitable spiritH.E. U Aye Myint never forgot his alma materH.E. U Aye Myint was transferred to another Ministry before he could pay back fully to the Alma Mater and the Engineering Community
Updates
SPZP-2016 was held at the Gyogone Campus. Free breakfast, lunch & dinner.
HlaMin 