Students interested in Buddhism can satisfy their curiosity tonight in Baker Center Ballroom where Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin, a Tibetan Buddhist Lama, will give a speech titled, “Anger & Compassion.”

Tenzin was previously the leader of a monastery in Tibet before being called to bring the message of Buddhism to the United States, said Tom Erlewine, the director of local Buddhist group Athens Karma Thegsum Choling, which began in 2004.

The lama is stopping in Athens as a part of his nationwide tour of speeches, Erlewine said.

Tenzin, who speaks little English and will be using a translator, will be illustrating one of the key elements of Buddhism, said Erlewine.

“In Buddhism we acknowledge that what everyone essentially wants is to be happy, and so when someone does something that might make us angry, we try to stop and think about that and then act compassionately,” he said.

Erlewine said Athens KTC wanted to bring Tenzin to Athens because it is the group’s job to expose people to Buddhist teaching.

The speech will begin at 7 p.m. and is free for the public. — Kent Clements