Buddhists welcome Hindu statesman Zed to Bodhi Day commemoration in Nevada

NEVADA - In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Buddhists welcomed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed to their Bodhi Day commemoration at Reno Buddhist Church (Nevada, USA) on December five.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, talked about some important events in Gautama Buddha’s life and briefed about the linkage of Buddhism and Hinduism. He also read the Gayatri mantra, the most sacred mantra of Hinduism, on the occasion, and the audience repeated after him.

This commemoration of Bodhi Day, the day Gautama Buddha got enlightened, included Gagaku (Japanese court music), Shoshinge sutra chanting, homage to Buddha-dhamma-sangha, reading from Buddhist texts, meditation, dharma talk by priest Reverend Phil Bryan, etc.

Bodhi Day is observed to commemorate historical Gautama’s achieving enlightenment, finding the answers he sought, experiencing Nirvana, and becoming Buddha (Awakened One).

Gautama Buddha founded Buddhism, fourth largest religion of the world, in 6th and 5th centuries BCE.

Basic teachings of Buddhism can be epitomized in Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and paticca-samuppada. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. (ANI)