Hindu Prayer In U.S. Senate Disrupted

[Guest guest]

A friend who gets HPI articles forwarded the items below. I in turn sent them

to the Pagans who invited me to speak in Maryland. Several are calling their

Senators to complain about the insult to Mr. Zed at the Senate opening.

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

From HPI (Hindu Press International)

www.washingtonpost.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (HPI note -- We present today a series of

articles on the opening of the United States Senate with a Hindu prayer by Rajan

Zed of Nevada. Leaders of various religions have delivered the Senate prayer,

but this was the first by a Hindu. Astoundingly, it was interrupted by shouting

Christian protesters from the Senate gallery, resulting in widespread news

coverage to an event that might have otherwise gone little noticed.)

 

A Hindu clergyman made history Thursday by offering the Senate's morning prayer,

but only after police officers removed three shouting protesters from the

visitors' gallery. For a video of the disruption and prayer (English version of

the Gayatri Mantra), click here (note the CNN video begins with a commercial).

 

Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple in Reno, Nev.,

gave the brief prayer that opens each day's Senate session. As he stood at the

chamber's podium in a bright orange and burgundy robe, two women and a man began

shouting " this is an abomination " and other complaints from the gallery.

 

Police officers quickly arrested them and charged them disrupting Congress, a

misdemeanor. The male protester told an AP reporter, " We are Christians and

patriots " before police handcuffed them and led them away.

 

For several days, the Mississippi-based American Family Association has urged

its members to object to the prayer because Zed would be " seeking the invocation

of a non-monotheistic god. "

 

Zed, the first Hindu to offer the Senate prayer, began: " We meditate on the

transcendental glory of the Deity Supreme, who is inside th e heart of the

Earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of the heaven. May He

stimulate and illuminate our minds. "

 

As the Senate prepared for another day of debate over the Iraq war, Zed closed

with, " Peace, peace, peace be unto all. "

 

Zed, who was born in India, was invited by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,

D-Nev. Speaking in the chamber shortly after the prayer, Reid defended the

choice and linked it to the war debate.

 

" If people have any misunderstanding about Indians and Hindus, " Reid said, " all

they have to do is think of Gandhi, " a man " who gave his life for peace. "

 

" I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of

about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our

heavenly Father regarding peace, " said Reid, a Mormon and sharp critic of

President Bush's Iraq policies.

 

Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church

and State, said the protest " shows the intolerance of many religious right

activists. They say they want more religion in the public square, but it's clear

they mean only their religion. "

 

Capitol police identified the protesters as Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn

Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar. Their ages and hometowns were not available.

 

 

 

2. Hindu Prayer in Senate Draws Religious Protesters www.washingtonpost.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (HPI note: This Reuters report contains some

additional information, given below in excerpts.)

 

Capitol police said two women and one man were arrested and charged with causing

a disruption in the public gallery of the Senate. The three started shouting

when guest Chaplain Rajan Zed, a Hindu from Nevada, began his prayer.

 

They shouted " No Lord but Jesus Christ " and " There's only one true God, " and

used the term " abomination. "

 

 

 

3. Christian Newswire's Version of Senate Protest www.christiannewswire.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (HPI note: Following is the report by the

Christian Newswire on the Hindu prayer.) Ante Pavkovic, Kathy Pavkovic, and

Kristen Sugar were all arrested in the chambers of the United States Senate as

that chamber was violated by a false Hindu god. The Senate was opened with a

Hindu prayer placing the false god of Hinduism on a level playing field with the

One True God, Jesus Christ. This would never have been allowed by our Founding

Fathers.

 

" Not one Senator had the backbone to stand as our Founding Fathers stood. They

stood on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! There were three in the audience with the

courage to stand and proclaim, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' They

were immediately removed from the chambers, arrested, and are in jail now. God

bless those who stand for Jesus as we know that He stands for them. " Rev. Flip

Benham, Director, Operation Save America/Operation Rescue

 

 

 

4. " Americans United for Separation of Church and State " Deplore Disruption

www.commondreams.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (HPI note: This is a press release.) Americans

United for Separation of Church and State today deplored the disruption by

Religious Right activists of a Hindu chaplain's prayer to open the U.S. Senate.

 

" This shows the intolerance of many Religious Right activists, " said the Rev.

Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. " They say they want more

religion in the public square, but it's clear they mean only their religion.

 

" America is a land of extraordinary religious diversity, and the Religious Right

just can't seem to accept that fact, " Lynn continued. " I don't think the Senate

should open with prayers, but if it's going to happen, the invocations ought to

reflect the diversity of the American people. "

 

Religious Right groups have been agitating against the Hindu leader's prayer

since it was announced. The Rev. Donald Wildmon's American Family Association

has asked his members to complain to their senators about the invitation. The

group's news service reported that " Christian nation " activist David Barton said

that Hinduism has few followers in the United States (HPI note: There are two

million Hindus in America) and that prayer to a " non-monotheistic god " is

" outside the American paradigm. "

 

Said AU's Lynn, " The Religious Right promotes a deeply skewed version of

American history. Our founders wanted separation of church and state and full

religious liberty for all faith traditions. The episode today shows we still

have a ways to go to achieve that goal. "

 

 

 

5. Christian Chaplain Denied Prayer Request www.americandaily.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12 (HPI note: This is from the Christian Newswire and

was issued before the prayer and disruption took place. It indicates there was

advance planning of some sort.) A Hindu chaplain will pray a Hindu prayer on the

floor of the U.S. Senate for the first time in history. But yesterday, staffers

from the offices of Senator Clinton (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) both denied a

request for equal access to a chaplain who prays " in Jesus name. "

 

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt personally visited the

Washington offices of both Senators on July 10th, but was turned away.

 

" Yes, we sponsored today's Hindu chaplain from Nevada to pray Hindu prayers on

the Senate floor, " admitted Reid's staff, " but we won't sponsor you because

you're from New York, " they told Chaplain Klingenschmitt.

 

Senator Clinton's office also turned away her own constituent. " We won't sponsor

you to pray 'in Jesus name' on the floor of the Senate, " her staff told

Klingenschmitt, " because Senate Chaplain Barry Black is a Seventh-Day Adventist

who regularly prays on the Senate floor... so we don't need a Pentecostal

chaplain who prays in Jesus name. You can ask Chaplain Black if he'll sponsor

you, but Senator Clinton won't. "

 

Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who is a former Chief of Navy Chaplains, refused

to help. " How did you get in here? " his staffer asked Klingenschmitt. When he

pointed to the sign above Black's door that says " welcome, please come in, " the

staffer replied, " Chaplain Black knows who you are, and he likely won't talk to

you, and his personal calendar is booked with appointments until 2009. "

 

" Our national motto isn't 'in gods we trust.' " said Janet Folger, President of

Faith2Action. " I believe U.S. Government-sanctioned Hindu prayers are an

abomination, " Folger added, " Unless you sing 'gods bless America...', use your

Freedom of Speech to let your Senators know you are outraged by calling: 202-

224-3121. "

 

Klingenschmitt plans to watch the Hindu chaplain's prayer from the Senate

gallery tomorrow, and will take interviews in the Capitol Rotunda immediately

afterward.

 

 

 

6. Historian Protests Hindu Prayer www.onenewsnow.com

USA, July 10, 2007: (HPI note: This article from a Christian news organization

appeared two days ago.) A prominent Christian historian and constitutional

expert is expressing concern that the U.S. Senate will be opened up for the

first time with a non-monotheistic prayer. On Thursday, a Hindu chaplain from

Reno, Nevada, by the name of Rajan Zed is scheduled to deliver the opening

prayer in the U.S. Senate. Zed tells the Las Vegas Sun that in his prayer he

will likely include references to ancient Hindu scriptures, including Rig Veda,

Upanishards, and Bhagavard-Gita. Historians believe it will be the first Hindu

prayer ever read at the Senate since it was formed in 1789.

 

WallBuilders president David Barton is questioning why the U.S. government is

seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god. Barton points out that since

Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American

paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto " One Nation Under God. "

 

" In Hindu, you have not one God, but many, many, many, many, many gods, " the

Christian historian explains. " And certainly that was never in the minds of

those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration [of Independence] when they

talked about Creator -- that's not one that fits here because we don't know

which creator we're talking about within the Hindu religion. "

 

Barton says given the fact that Hindus are a tiny constituency of the American

public (HPI note: actually, two million Hindus, along with 6.5 million Jews, a

like number of Muslims and at least 1. 5 million Buddhists), he questions the

motivation of Senate leaders. " This is not a religion that has produced great

things in the world, " he observes. " You look at India, you look at Nepal --

there's persecution going in both of those countries that is gendered by the

religious belief that is present there, and Hindu dominates in both of those

countries. "

 

And while Barton acknowledges there is not constitutional problem with a Hindu

prayer in the Senate, he wonders about the political side of it. " One definitely

wonders about the pragmatic side of it, " he says. " What is the message, and why

is the message needed? And will it actually communicate anything other than

engender with folks like me a lot of questions? "

 

Barton says he knows of at least seven cases where Christians have lost their

bid to express their own faith in a public prayer.

 

Zed is reportedly the first Hindu to deliver opening prayers in an American

state legislature, having do ne so in both the Nevada State Assembly and Nevada

State Senate earlier this year. He has stated that Thursday's prayer will be

" universal in approach, " despite being drawn from Hindu religious texts.

 

 

 

7. Hindu-American Foundation Comments on Senate Prayer www.HAFsite.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2007: (HPI note: following is a press release from

Ishani Chowdhury, Executive Director, Hindu American Foundation.)

 

" The Hindu American Foundation is certainly pleased that the faith of nearly 1

billion of the world's population, and 2 million American Hindus, has been

represented today at the Senate. As a strong, vibrant and deeply faithful

community, we share the need to be represented as part of the fabric of the

heterogeneous American society. It is quite disheartening to see that those

misinformed about the Hindu faith, and its countless contributions, have taken

the route of disrupting a significant and solemn occasion. Just as the Hindu

community was troubled by intolerance of the the exclusivist view of the

American Family Institute that were reflected by few protesters that were

removed from the gallery today, our community is heartened and grateful by the

brave voices of Senator Harry Reid and other Senators who made this historic

moment possible in the Halls of Congress today. We reach out everyone to join us

in continuing to build a society based on the principles of

tolerance, pluralism and understanding. "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Courtesy of the U.S. Congressional Record

(available online!), here's Zed's prayer:

 

Let us pray.

We meditate on the transcendental Glory of the Deity Supreme, who

is

inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky, and inside

the soul of the Heaven. May He stimulate and illuminate our minds.

Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and

from

death to immortality. May we be protected together. May we be

nourished

together. May we work together with great vigor. May our study be

enlightening. May no obstacle arise between us.

May the Senators strive constantly to serve the welfare of the

world,

performing their duties with the welfare of others always in mind,

because by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of

life. May they work carefully and wisely, guided by compassion and

without thought for themselves.

United your resolve, united your hearts, may your spirits be as

one,

that you may long dwell in unity and concord.

Peace, peace, peace be unto all.

Lord, we ask You to comfort the family of former First Lady, Lady

Bird Johnson.

Amen.

 

And here's the Rediff article that Janardana mentioned:

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/12zed.htm

[Guest guest]

Dear Group:

 

I found this story very disturbing. I decided to write to my two senators Patty

Murray and Maria Cantwell. I requested that they continue inviting those of a

variety of faiths to open the senate with their prayers.

 

I also mentioned that it was disappointing that they did not bother to show up.

 

America has become a country of many faiths, but the fundamentalists try to make

their opinions known more loudly and often more violently.

 

Blessings,

Shankari Kali

[Guest guest]

Here are two prayers, the first recognizable as the " Lord's Prayer, " which is

the one Jesus offered during the " Sermon On the Mount " according to the gospels.

The second is the first portion of Zed's prayer on the Senate floor. Reading the

side by side, I for one find little real essential difference. Different

expressions of the same one taste, as it were...

 

" Our Father, which art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

in earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil. "

 

" Let us pray.

We meditate on the transcendental Glory of the

Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the Earth,

inside the life of the sky, and inside

the soul of the Heaven. May He stimulate

and illuminate our minds.

Lead us from the unreal to the real, from

darkness to light, and from death to immortality.

May we be protected together. May we be

nourished together. May we work together with

great vigor. May our study be enlightening.

May no obstacle arise between us. "

 

They seem quite complimentary to me. Zed didn't even give a uniquely Hindu

message, after all, but a very universal and ecumenical one, when you come right

down to it. So what's all this fuss? Have the ones incensed over it even read

Zed's words? Did those fundamentalists even take a moment to listen? Of course

not, they were too busy protesting to listen, until they got themselves evicted

by the sergeant of arms and lost whatever chance they had to hear. So often we

are so preoccupied with our own prejudices, assumptions, preconceptions that we

don't seven see what is before us. Instead of meeting another we joust with our

own illusions.

 

My guess anyway is that were Jesus there, he'd probably say " amen, " smile, and

think " he and I must know the same Father! "

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

But fundamentalists see all things as threat to their hegemony.

 

It cannot be a prayer like the " lord's " prayer. It mut be the exact prayer.

 

It cannot be some kind of clergy delivering the prayer, it must be one certified

as their

own.

 

They care not for even their own saviour's happiness, actual or alleged. They

care only for

the exact words that they have agreed that he spoke.

 

Fundamentalists do not care for the theory but for the words.

 

And this applies to all types of fundamentalists.

 

namaste.

 

pr

 

 

, " karen " <karen wrote:

>

> Here are two prayers, the first recognizable as the " Lord's Prayer, " which is

the one Jesus

offered during the " Sermon On the Mount " according to the gospels. The second is

the

first portion of Zed's prayer on the Senate floor. Reading the side by side, I

for one find

little real essential difference. Different expressions of the same one taste,

as it were...

>

> " Our Father, which art in Heaven,

> Hallowed be thy Name.

> Thy Kingdom come.

> Thy will be done,

> in earth as it is in Heaven.

> Give us this day our daily bread.

> And forgive us our trespasses,

> As we forgive them that trespass against us.

> And lead us not into temptation;

> But deliver us from evil. "

>

> " Let us pray.

> We meditate on the transcendental Glory of the

> Deity Supreme, who is inside the heart of the Earth,

> inside the life of the sky, and inside

> the soul of the Heaven. May He stimulate

> and illuminate our minds.

> Lead us from the unreal to the real, from

> darkness to light, and from death to immortality.

> May we be protected together. May we be

> nourished together. May we work together with

> great vigor. May our study be enlightening.

> May no obstacle arise between us. "

>

> They seem quite complimentary to me. Zed didn't even give a uniquely Hindu

message,

after all, but a very universal and ecumenical one, when you come right down to

it. So

what's all this fuss? Have the ones incensed over it even read Zed's words? Did

those

fundamentalists even take a moment to listen? Of course not, they were too busy

protesting to listen, until they got themselves evicted by the sergeant of arms

and lost

whatever chance they had to hear. So often we are so preoccupied with our own

prejudices, assumptions, preconceptions that we don't seven see what is before

us.

Instead of meeting another we joust with our own illusions.

>

> My guess anyway is that were Jesus there, he'd probably say " amen, " smile, and

think

" he and I must know the same Father! "

>

>

>

>

>

>