Source: The New York Times

On October 30, 2001 The New York Times reported on a Buddhist memorial service for World Trade Center victims. "It was an unusual show of unity. The city's Buddhist population is not a large one, but it is widely diverse, organized along ethnic and traditional lines. Only rarely does the full panoply of branches gather � usually in the spring, on Vesak, the day commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. But yesterday the Buddhist Council of New York, with help from the Interfaith Center of New York, brought together about 50 monks, nuns and clergy members in a memorial service for the Sept. 11 victims." The ceremony was held on the 49th day after the attack: "Day 49 is important to many Buddhists because they believe it is the last day before a dead person is reborn, though others believe rebirth happens sometime within 49 days."