Mantras from Rig-Veda read at University of Nevada-Reno “Inner-Faith Night” celebrations

Phalgun Krushna Panchami, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

From Our Correspondent

“First Annual Inner-Faith Night” of University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) on March 3 saw various religious groups coming together in prayer and dialogue.

This unity celebration included prayers, music, and dialogue in Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew, Native American, Daoism, Confucianism, Unitarian Universalist, Children of Temple Earth, Sacred Circle Clan, and Atheist traditions. Some educational leaders and representatives of area political leaders also participated, besides students, clergy and others. UNR Unity Commission and Inner-Faith Council were co-sponsors.

Coordinators of the event, UNR Unity Commissioner Maggie Overmoen and area interfaith leader Rajan Zed, plan to make it an annual tradition where students, area clergy belonging to various religions and denominations, and civic and educational leaders can come together and seek unity that celebrates diversity.

Besides Zed and Overmoen, presenters included Dr. Ole Thienhaus, Dean of UNR School of Medicine; Pedro Martinez, Deputy Superintendent of Washoe County School District; Bobby Grossi (Christian); Ahmad Saad (Islam); Rabbi Elizabeth W. Beyer & Jon Leo (Judaism); Gary Goodsell (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); Irwin Sharp Fish (Native American spirituality); Neal Anderson (Unitarian Universalism); Jason Molt (Atheism); Katherine Robinson (Daoism and Confucianism); Laura Fitzpatrick (Children of Temple Earth); Kim Pennington (Sacred Circle Clan); Scott & Corinn Gayer & Seth Dines (Christian music); Jim Eagle Smith (Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu chants); Susan Lisagor (representing Senator Harry Reid); Katie Pace (representing Congressman Dean Heller); and Batyr Odeyev (Dutar).

Rajan Zed, who read prayer out of Rig-Veda, oldest existing scripture dating to around 1,500 BCE, said that dialogue brought us mutual enrichment and helped us overcome prejudices passed on to us by previous generations.

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