Alright, total Noob question- how do i attach a JPEG HDRI image to a sphere? I know exactly how to do it on Maya, but cannot figure it on Houdini. Need help, soon. Thanks.

In Maya you would simply apply a jpeg to the Color Value of the shader, I'm trying to figure out how to do that.

Help please?

Create a mantra suface shader from the material palette, and apply the HDRI to the color map slot.
Next at obj level, select the sphere, and move to the material tab, and use the file browser to point at the mantra surface node you just created.

If you are wanting to use it for illimination purposes, then you can add it to an environment light to get image based lighting.

Thanks ragu, unfortunately it renders pure white. Any ideas what I could be doing wrong? I am using the color map in the Diffused tab, is that correct? Thanks again for helping.

Nevermind ragu, I found my error. Many thanks again for the help!