A MESSAGE
FROM THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL ARIS
TO ALL BURMESE AND BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES
31 March 1999
The family of Michael Aris are overwhelmed
by the response from the Burmese
and Buddhist communities world-wide to the
news of Michael's death. The
cremation service was interfaith, including
representatives from various
religions.
The cremation service was held at the
Oxford Crematorium on Wednesday 31
March 1999 at 4 pm. It commenced with a
prayer by Benedictine monks to whom
Michael was a personal friend. A
Theravada Buddhist monk performed the
standard Theravada Buddhist funeral rites
and distributed metta. The
service concluded with Tibetan Buddhist
cremation rites. Short speeches
were also given by Michael's brother,
Anthony Aris, by Michael's sons,
Alexander and Kim, and by Michael's
colleague and friend Peter Carey. Karma
Phuntsho, Michael's and Anthony's Bhutanese
colleague and friend, gave the
last address and chants. A reception was
subsequently held at St. Antony's
College where Michael was Senior Research
Fellow.
The family of Michael Aris are aware that
it was not possible for all who
would have liked to pay their last respects
to Michael to attend the
service. The family invites all Buddhists
and monasteries to distribute
merit and to commemorate Michael Aris in
their own traditional Buddhist
manner. The family invites all members of
other faiths and persuasion to
also commemorate Michael Aris in their own
traditional ways.
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Cards or letters of condolence can be sent
to the Aris family, care of
St. Antony's College, Oxford OX2 6JF
The United Kingdom
If and when information on where flowers or
contributions can be sent becomes available, it will be posted here. |
