Hindu Prayer Spurs Strong Responses

[Guest guest]

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Jul 31, USA (RGJ) — My experience on July 12, delivering the first Hindu

prayer at the United States Senate in Washington, D.C., can be summed up in

one word: " overwhelming. " Protesters tried to disrupt the prayer. That a

roughly 90-second opening prayer, which usually goes unnoticed, would spark

so much debate is unprecedented.

The C-Span video clip of the event was one of the most viewed (229,744

views), top favorite, top rated, most discussed, most linked, most responded

one of the Top 5 Viral Videos selected by a British marketing firm; Google

search brought 120,000 results; 1571 blogs; hundreds of protest messages

received in Senate Chaplain and Senate Majority Leader offices; lots of

encouraging e-mails/letters to me, including many from strangers; coverage

in the major and minor media of the U.S. And many foreign countries;

front-page displays in many publications of India; lots of phone calls from

friends/relatives/others.

Here are some samples from the Internet about this prayer: " Hindu prayer

(reflects) American values ... At their very best " ; " insult to God " ; " a move

which may draw God's anger " ; " a slap in God's face " ; " Intolerance from A to

Zed " ; " One Nation, Under God(s) " ; " With this prayer, USA has officially

turned back on God " ; " It is a sign of America's religious health " ; " Only 1

God Allowed In The Senate " ; " Congratulations to the Senate for opening our

collective mind " ; " Why Didn't God Stop It? " ; " Guest minister prays to the

wrong' god(s). "

But the e-mails/letters I received about the prayer/protest were all

inspiring. Here are some examples: " I would like to apologize on behalf of

the American people " ; " Please forgive them " ; " I am a Christian and I had

small tears of happiness in my eyes as I watched you giving the historic

prayer " ; " Neighbors are very proud " ; " I am a 15-year-old Catholic and will

pray for you and your works " ; " I am a member of the Lutheran Church. Please

accept my apologies. They know not what they do " ; " I wasn't able to watch

the entire clip due to the discomfort at the disrespect you received " ; " As

an American, I am proud of the inclusiveness of our society. As an

Episcopalian, I am embarrassed by the demonstration. "

Although many of us won't accept it, religion is a complex component of our

lives and it encompasses much more than our own particular tradition or

personal experience. We all must take religion very seriously as it is the

most powerful force. The challenge today is to seek unity that celebrates

diversity. Bhagavad-Gita, ancient Hindu scripture, says: " Whatever form (of

the Divine) any devotee with faith wishes to worship, I make that faith of

his steady. "

All of us are looking for the truth. Dialogue brings us mutual enrichment.

We may learn from each other as we are headed in the same direction. We

should at least cooperate in the common causes of peace, human development,

love and respect for others.

And Mahatma Gandhi said, " God has no religion. "

 

 

Rajan Zed is a Reno Hindu chaplain and community activist and a former member of

the Gazette-Journal editorial board.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

 

As an American, and one who has learned somehting of the depth and

beauty of the Sanatana Dharma and Advaita Vedanta, I found this

contact by a very small group to be most disrespectful and

inappropriate. I know that many in America share these feelings.

 

I also find that this quote is wonderful:

 

And Mahatma Gandhi said, " God has no religion. "

 

Not two,

Richard

 

advaitin , " manikantank " <kanaiyyadesh

wrote:

>

>

> Jul 31, USA (RGJ) — My experience on July 12, delivering the first

Hindu

> prayer at the United States Senate in Washington, D.C., can be

summed up in

> one word: " overwhelming. " Protesters tried to disrupt the prayer.

That a

> roughly 90-second opening prayer, which usually goes unnoticed,

would spark

> so much debate is unprecedented.

 

snip

 

> We may learn from each other as we are headed in the same

direction. We

> should at least cooperate in the common causes of peace, human

development,

> love and respect for others.

> And Mahatma Gandhi said, " God has no religion. "

>

>

> Rajan Zed is a Reno Hindu chaplain and community activist and a

former member of the Gazette-Journal editorial board.