[Vision2020] Spokesman: Hindu prayer opens Senate; seven senators stay outside chamber

[Saundra Lund]

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/mar/03/hindu-prayer-opens-senate-s
even-senators-stay-outside-chamber/

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015, 9:22 A.M.

Hindu prayer opens Senate; seven senators stay outside chamber



Rajan Zed delivers a Hindu prayer in the Idaho Senate on Tuesday morning, as
the opening invocation (Betsy Russell)

 



 

Seven senators remained outside the Senate chamber this morning as guest
chaplain Rajan Zed delivered today's opening invocation, a Hindu prayer,
then took their seats immediately after it was done. The seven: Sens. Vick,
Nonini, Nuxoll, Den Hartog; and Rice, Patrick and Siddoway (who all three
later said they weren't boycotting the prayer and were just running late).
Vick had previously announced his plans to walk out, saying he objected to
the Hindu prayer being delivered. Nonini said, "I was just late getting up
there - I didn't want to walk in in the middle of it." But, he said, "I was
disappointed that we didn't also have a Christian prayer."

Clad in a flowing orange robe, Zed said afterward, "We don't mind. Hinduism
is more embracing," he said. "We are very inclusive in Hinduism. . I think
that is fine." He said, "Most of them welcomed me. They came out and shook
my hand - some of them hugged me. It was good. There are multiple
viewpoints. . That is what makes the country great, you know? Different
viewpoints."

In his prayer, Zed told the Senate, first in Sanskrit and then in English,
"Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to
selfless one attains the supreme goal of life. Do your work with the welfare
of other always in mind." He said afterward, "It's all from Hindu
scriptures, very ancient. I didn't write it."

 

 

 

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