From...THE RICE THREASHER NEWS,  friday, April 24, 1998, p6.

Rice To Host Traiditional Buddhist Celebration! 

The Dept of Religious Studies and the Asian Studies Program are co-sponsoring
a Vesak ceremony- a celebration of Buddha's birth and enlightenment-May 2 in
the Grand Hall of the Rice Memorial Center at 2 p.m.  the Texas Buddhist
Council and The Asia Society Texas are alos sponsoring the event.

Anne Klien, the chair of the Department of the Religious Studies will speak at
the ceremony.  Her talk, entitled,"Buddhist Practice in the Modern World,"
will discuss how "Asian Buddhist traditions (are) transposed into modern
Western culture, klein said.

Sriwan Chan (Jones' 74), the director of the Texas Buddhist Council and
chairperson of the ceremony, said the event is both to celebrate the occasion
and to educate people about Buddhism.    "We are hoping to educate the public
about what Buddhism is-  is it a religion? or is it a philosophy?" Sriwan
said.

The ceremony will open with a chant led by 20 monks from 12 local Buddhsit
temples of various ethnic origins, including Chinese, Thai, Tibetan and
Vietnamese.

In addition to Klien, two Buddhist speakers will give the Dhamma- which means
teachings of Buddha- talk.  Dhamma talks are a traditional part of Buddhist
ceremony. Havanpola Ratanasara, the president of the American Buddhist
Congress, will address the future of Buddhism in America, and Geshe Phelghy,
the abbot of the Thuben Rinchen Ling Temple, will discuss Buddhist compassion.

Sid Richardson College senior Aarati Agrawal, an Asian Studies major, said
Buddhist teachings are valuable, no matter what your religious background.  "I
was brought up a Hindu and find it extremely interesting to study Buddhism
cominig from this background."  Agarwal said.  "There are amazing
opportunities at Rice and in Houston to learn about this religion- especially
Tibetan Buddhism and its culture."

CALENDER

Saturday               May 2
The Department of Religious Studies and Asian Studies co-sponsors
VESAK CEREMONY
which commmemorate Buddha's birht, enlightenment, and Maha Parinibbana (the
2542nd Buddhist year.)   The event begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Grand Hall in
the Student Center.  Anne Klien will lead a talk on Buddhist Practice in the
modern world.  for more information call Houston Buddhist Vihara, 713-944-1334