by
Tun Min
Before I was transferred to
Yangon University of Education, as an assistant lecturer serving at Sagaing
University of Education, I had to live and work within the campus. Our
university is situated in Padamyar Quarter which is at the foot of Minwun
Mountain Ranges and is about a half hour drive from downtown Sagaing. During
the regular semesters, I have to teach several subjects to student teachers of
different year levels everyday. I am also responsible for carrying out other
duties including invigilating exam halls, checking exam papers, supervising
M.Phil students and doing some clerical work at my department.
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| Dama-Ku Pond |
During the first half of the
previous October, I was busy teaching B.Ed correspondence students.
Fortunately, there was a public holiday on 5th October to
commemorate the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut. Therefore, one of the senior B.Ed
students who had not gone back home after his exam, and I enquired about going
to the famous Taung-Fi-Lar Hermitage and Dama Ku Pond. Surprisingly, although
the place is a historic one, there were only a handful of people who have been
to that place. What is worse, some people I have happened to talk with have
never heard of Taung-Fi-Lar Sayadaw, a monk well-known for his integrity and
wisdom during Nyaungyan Period of Myanmar history! From my point of view, lacking
knowledge of this famous name is considerably understandable to those living miles
away from Sagaing. However, it should be a known fact for the local people and
for those who have lived in this town for a couple of years.