That is both joyous and also a bit melancholy. I'm Daniel Ehnbom, the Director of the Center for South Asian Studies, and I'm very happy that you're all here with us this afternoon.

This event today is joyous because so many former students of Jeffrey Hopkins and of Tibetan Studies here at UVa who've gone out into the world, have come back to honor us once again with their presences today and tomorrow.

And melancholy, at least for those of us here at UVa, because the occasion marks the retirement of their guru, Jeffrey Hopkins, and of the long-time backbone of this Center for South Asian Studies--Assistant Director Cindy Benton-Groner.

We honor them both here today and tomorrow, though we know that what we say and do can never be adequate to communicate our gratitude and affection for their many years of service to the University and to the Center for South Asian Studies.

I, for one, can hardly comprehend the University of Virginia without having Jeffrey and Cindy here on an everyday basis. It is taking some getting used to.

I need not tell you of Jeffrey's distinguished career in Buddhist Studies. Your presence here today is ample witness to that, as much as are his many books and articles.

Perhaps less well-known is his tireless work for human rights through the Institute for Asian Democracy, of which he was President for 1994 to 2000.

Many of us here participated in the Nobel Peace Laureates' conference at UVa in 1998, under the tireless directorahip of Jeffrey. It was a memorable and important occasion for the University, and for the world.

It was the first time ever that so many Peace, Nobel Peace Laureates gathered together in one place to speak and, most importantly, to consult with each other.

Jeffrey was also Director of the Center for South Asian Studies for twelve years. And Cindy was in the Center since its inception under Walter Hauser, having served a series of us.

And if I may paraphrase Jeffrey's recent remarks from our Fall newsletter, another reason we all have to be grateful to Cindy is that her exceptional talents meant that we did not have to do much work.

Cindy gracefully combined her Center work with her strong interest in music, coming to us with an M.A. in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan and having founded the Charlottesville Gamelan in 1984.

She has inspired a vigorous in South and Southeast Asian musical performance here at UVa. Both Jeffrey and Cindy, even in retirement, will, I hope, still be very much a part of our lives.

And for that we are collectively, and I am personally, grateful.

I hope you will all join us at the reception following this afternoon's talks, at which the Center will make a presentation to each that, we hope, will indicate in some small way the gratitude and esteem we feel for these colleagues and friends.

Many people have worked hard for this event. I can't name all of you, but I want to single out David Germano, Marina Williams, and Chanda Allen. We are grateful to you especially, David, for your vision and efforts to realize this auspicious occasion.

The Center for South Asian Studies received generous funding from the Office of the President, the Ellen Beyer Weidman Foundation--on which board Jeffrey served for many years--the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the University of Virginia Special Events Committee, and the Department of Religious Studies.

Without their support, this time of celebration would have been much subdued, and we thank them all.

And let me say again, welcome to you all and thank you for coming.

I know yield the floor to David Germano, Associate Direc--, Professor of Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, and the organizer of these events. Thank you.