Christmas Dinner, Saturday 6th December 2014

The Oxford and Cambridge Society of New England cordially invites you to its

Annual Christmas Dinner

Saturday 6th December 2014

6:00-10:00pm

Algonquin Club, Boston

Our speaker, David Eckel (Christ Church, Oxford), is Professor of Religion and Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Religion at Boston University. He received a B.A. from Harvard, a B.A. and M.A. from Oxford, and a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard. His scholarly interests include the history of Buddhist philosophy in India and Tibet, the relationship between Buddhism and other Indian religions, the expansion and adaptation of Buddhism in Asia and the West, Buddhist narrative traditions and their relationship to Buddhist ethics, and the connection between philosophical theory and religious practice. His teaching at Boston University has been recognized by the Metcalf Award for Teaching Excellence (1998), and he has served as the Distinguished Teaching Professor of the Humanities (2002-5). He also has served as Assistant Dean and Director of the Core Curriculum (2007-13), an integrated program in the liberal arts for first- and second-year students in the College of Arts and Sciences. His publications include Bhaviveka and His Buddhist Opponents (Harvard); Buddhism: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places (Oxford); To See the Buddha: A Philosopher’s Quest for the Meaning of Emptiness (Princeton); Jnanagarbha’s Commentary on the Distinction Between the Two Truths: An Eighth-Century Handbook of Madhyamaka Philosophy (State University of New York); and “Is There a Buddhist Philosophy of Nature?” in Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Buddhism and Ecology (Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions). Before joining the faculty at Boston University, he served as Associate Professor at Harvard Divinity School and as Administrative Director of the Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions.

His presentation, entitled "The Boston Buddhists" , will be about Ernest Fenollosa and William Sturgis Bigelow, two Bostonians who converted to Buddhism, and were the founders of the Asian collection at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Attire for gentlemen will be black tie, college blazer or business suit.

The event is open to OCSNE members and their guests, new members please include $20 for membership or join via our website.

Ticket options:

* full event, including dinner: $125 per person ($95 for student members) - includes wine and port with dinner

* reception and talk only: $45 ($35 for student members) - includes first drink and reception food

A cash bar will be available throughout the evening.

Reservations Deadline: Booking is now closed. We give a commitment to our caterers and are unable to refund any payment after this date.

Parking: The Algonquin Club provides valet parking for $24, no advance reservation is required. The nearest parking lot is Niketown garage on Exeter and Newbury which is significantly cheaper but a short walk away.

You may also be able to find on-street parking at 6pm on a Saturday.

This mailing also serves as the notice for the Annual Meeting of Members (AGM) and the Regular Meeting of Directors, which will take place at the dinner.

Sincerely, Reception: 6:00 pm, AGM: 6:45 pm

Talk: 7:00 pm, Dinner: 8:00 pm

Belinda Wilkes Location: Algonquin Club, Boston

Belinda Wilkes (Jesus, Cantab.),

President of the Society