In a remarkable interfaith gesture, regional leaders of various religions and denominations, including non-believers, participated in the Multi-Faith Panel Discussion on Forgiveness at University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) on September 13
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed opened the panel with invocation from oldest scripture of the world still in common use Rig-Veda; besides Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita, both ancient Hindu scriptures.
Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said, “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which he then translated as “Lead me from the unreal to the Real, Lead me from darkness to Light, and Lead me from death to Immortality.”
Organized by University of Nevada-Reno Interfaith Students Club (ISC) and Joe Crowley Student Union; other participants included Reno First Congregational Church Pastor Rich Smith, Roman Catholic Deacon David Norman, R. Craig Eyre of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nadia Beekun of Northern Nevada Muslim Community, Reno Buddhist Center Assistant Priest Matthew Fisher, Temple Beth Or Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Reno Freethinkers (atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, etc., promoting secular values) President Matthew Greene, UNR Philosophy Associate Professor Deborah Achtenberg and UNR ISC President Daniel R. Sanchez.
