READING is one of the best ways for citizens to improve their capabilities in a developing country like Myanmar. The knowledge and perspectives gained from reading enhance people’s ability to think and make decisions, helping them improve their capabilities and ensuring that their actions become more effective and beneficial for relevant societies.

Encouraging the habit of reading is a responsibility not only for relevant officials but also for every individual. However, the knowledge and methods learned from reading should not be copied directly into one’s life or relevant communities. Such knowledge may be applied when circumstances are appropriate, but it should not be forced or used rigidly in situations where it does not fit.

Based on the knowledge gained through reading, indi­viduals should work to further develop their own abilities. Without reading, a person may lack capability, but with reading, one can become more confident and useful to society. In addition to reading, one must also learn to think independently. Reading can help a person grow and im­prove in many aspects of life.

When reading different genres of literature, the mind of somebody transcends the boundaries of places. It allows one to learn not only about their own homeland but also about people, cultures, ideas, and values from around the world. Reading also enables the mind to go beyond the lim­its of time, opening the doors to the accumulated knowl­edge of past eras as well as the present.

As a person’s knowledge and thinking skills develop, they become more capable of making decisions and taking actions that positively impact those around them. While scholars may earn recognition for their learning and virtue, the deepest reward of reading is the growth it brings to the individual. Except for reading, perspectives and insights cannot be obtained from personal experience.

Through literature, history, the arts, philosophy, and religious writings, readers can explore the breadth of human experience, understanding the struggles, achievements, and wisdom of gen­erations past. Each text opens doors to new ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking, allowing the mind to stretch beyond its imme­diate environment. As a result, one cultivates empathy, critical thinking, and creativity, enriching both personal development and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society.

If, over a lifetime, one begins to recognize not only fleeting desires and superficial concerns but also gains insight into knowledge, its limits, and what cannot be known, and realizes that this understanding benefits one’s life, then reading can be truly valuable and rewarding.