San Lwin - Major Religions of the People

San Lwin's view

During Lent in 1994, I meditated at Kyaukway, about 12 miles from Taungoo.

I was a monk at school and practiced meditation. I don’t know how the news that I was a monk and practiced meditation spread in Taungoo, and my readers came. They were young readers who were tired of romantic novels and fantasy novels and were seriously studying religious and philosophical literature. When they had the opportunity to meet me as a monk, they would ask me many religious questions that they wanted to know and that they had not been able to answer in their hearts.

When the author asked, “Have you young people studied such profound literature?” they replied, “My disciples, young people, at first were travelers who wandered in the great forest of Maha Myaing, Buddha. Now, after reading the Buddha’s writings, they are like travelers whose eyes have found their way, Buddha.”

When I returned home to Yangon after practicing my dharma, one day my young wife

A couple came to me after asking for my address. They were Ko Myat Htun and his wife, Ma San Myint Aye. Not only were they wealthy jewelers, but Ko Myat Htun admitted that he had been searching for a religion after reading a lot.

I see that there are wonderful people in the world who, without knowing anything about the religion they practice, have followed it for generations and yet dare to say that their religion is the only true religion, even though they have no idea what it is.

But Ko Myat Htun is not like that at all. His attitude is clear. To tell you the truth, sir, my father was a communist, and he believed that when he died, the world would be over. I am not like that. I want to study all religions. For example, if I believe that Christianity is good and true, I will follow Christianity. After studying Islam, I decided that Islam is good and Hinduism is good. At that time, I was not sure what to do. When I read about a person who believed in and worshipped the Three Jewels that you wrote about, I felt very lucky. I immediately found what I was looking for. That is why I came to see you, so I couldn’t help but thank you, sir.”

I wonder if the thinking of young people has changed. It is a unique thing that young people who used to read love and romance novels and fantasize about it now want to find the meaning and essence of life. It is very encouraging to know that the seriousness of young people in developed countries is also emerging in my country.

Ko Myat Tun is intelligent, a great businessman, and has very good ideas.

“After reading your letter, I don’t need to worry anymore. Since Saya San Lwin studied various religions and then came to worship Buddhism, I don’t need to complain about anything anymore. I have decided to worship Buddhism,” he said.

Then I said, “I don’t blame Ko Myat Htun for making that decision, but just knowing that much and understanding that much is not a true Buddhist.”

"So what should I do, teacher?"

"You have acquired the knowledge of the mind, which is the belief in the benefits of karma, but it is not enough. At your age, you must acquire the knowledge of the truth , the wisdom of the truth, and the wisdom of the truth in this life, and then you will be a confident Buddhist."

“Yes, sir, then what should I do to gain the wisdom of truth and the universe?” I asked.

“Do this, Monle Tora Sayadaw Buddha will soon come to Yangon, and we will open a ten-day Vipassana camp. The camp is for training. If you attend it, your consciousness will change, you will gain the knowledge of truth and non-materialism, and whenever you encounter worldly things, you will learn to turn your mind away from the body and observe it,” I boldly promised.

Then Ko Myat Htun said, "By the way, I want to ask you something. I am a businessman. Time is money and value to me. So I want to know if the value I will gain by going to the retreat and practicing the Dhamma is comparable to the value I will lose in this world?" He asked bluntly.

I really like his honest and upright mind. With faith, health, and honesty, with great effort, he realizes the essence of the name and form, and this five-fold power, and truly achieves the path. According to the saying, "There is nothing in life that can be said for sure, not even in science. You must have heard of the uncertainty theory. Try it, you will know only by doing it." I encouraged him.

Ko Myat Htun did as he was told. He entered the camp for 10 days and worked hard. Then, shortly after, he said, “Thank you, teacher. Now I have the courage to face any worldly situation. Even if I die now, I will die without losing my smile. I will no longer remember any of my relationships. I have learned to turn my mind away from my body.”

I am satisfied.

However, there is one thing that I am not sure about. The book “About a Man Who Believed in the Three Jewels” is about my childhood. I did not know Buddhism in detail, and what I wrote about other religions was not written with a deep knowledge of them. I only wrote about what I had experienced and was appropriate for my age. Therefore, I felt that I should write a book that would fully and comprehensively cover “all the religions practiced by people around the world” so that young people could learn about them.

Only then will young people be able to choose the right path for themselves. I have written this book to answer that inner desire.

In fact, if I were to write such a great book, I would spend a lifetime studying and studying it. The original author of the book was Professor John B. Noss.

Only then will young people be able to choose the right path for themselves. I have written this book to answer that inner desire.

In fact, if I were to write such a great book, I would spend a lifetime studying and studying it. The original author of the book was Professor John B. Noss.

His book is called MAN'S RELIGIONS. This book contains religious ideas that young people today want to know and should know, as well as the history of how religions developed and spread. It is quite comprehensive.

In other words, the topics covered in this book are about Hinduism that not every Hindu knows, about Jainism that not every Jain knows, about Buddhism that not every Buddhist knows, and about Islam that not every Muslim knows.

If there is such a book in the Burmese literature that describes the history and many changes in philosophical views of various religions, I can say that I have achieved a small joy in my life, as I have laboriously translated and written this book. No matter which religion you follow, only if you know your own religion well will it be worth worshipping. This book is full of information about major religions. It is a book written with the impartial perspective of a scholar, and it can provide a perspective on the Dhamma.

San Lwin