Monday, November 23, 2009

Hindu monk welcomed at University of Nevada-Reno


Hindu monk welcomed at University of Nevada-Reno

People belonging to different religions and denominations came to listen to well-known Hindu monk Swami Vedananda at University of Nevada-Reno (USA) on November 20, which was organized by Universal Society of Hinduism (USH).
Welcoming Swami, Bruce Brinkerhoff, Director of Public Relations for Northern & Western Nevada for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), thanked Swami for coming to Nevada to spread the message of love, human improvement, and peace.

In his keynote address, Swami Vedananda said that self of the person (called Atman) is at the base of everything and the first cause of everything. He talked about real nature of reality, final emancipation from the cycle of birth and death, nature of Brahman (the supreme being) and its relation to the world and individual soul, etc.

Rajan Zed, USH president, who organized this event, pointed out that peace began with us and we should lift our eyes from our own selfish concerns to some greater ideal. We should seek unity that celebrated diversity, he added.

Others who participated included Michael Slater and Barbara Slater, chairpersons of National Association of Interchurch and Interfaith Families; Sierra Foundation; Sharon Limroth and her group from local Rosicrucian Order; Ron Arnold, Lutheran Pastor; Tell Gifford, Dean DeGidio, Trish Sebastian, and Zona Allgire-Avila of Vedanta Nevada; Susannah Lee of Sustainable Energy Forum; etc.

Details of the picture attached: From left to right—Lutheran Pastor Ron Arnold, Professor Tell Gifford, Bruce Brinkerhoff of LDS, monk Swami Vedananda, Hindu leader Rajan Zed.