Nevada: A Hindu statesman has shared with Catholics of an American diocese his religion’s view on creation and climate change.

Hindus view earth as mother and see divine presence everywhere and in all objects, Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, told the Nevada Diocesan Conference on January 9.

Hinduism reveres life and raises global consciousness of humanity through sharing and compassion and helps transform persons and foster interconnectedness of everything, said Zed, an Indian American who has taken up interfaith, religion, environment, Roma and other causes all over the world.

The two-day conference in Sparks, Nevada, covered topics such Rich in Mercy, Dealing with Grief, Discovering God’s Will, Love-Community-Tenderness, End-of-the-Life Issues among others.

“Redeeming Mercy” was the theme of the Conference, attended by about 800 people, thehansindia.com reports.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Nevada diocesan vicar general Fr Charles T. Durante; Rector Emeritus of Trinity Episcopal Church V. James Jeffery; Rabbi, Temple Bat Yam at South Lake Tahoe (California) Evon J. Yakar; and Abdul Raheem Barghouti of Northern Nevada Muslim Community.

Matthew T. Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center resident priest ,and Brian E. Melendez, American Indian Spirituality Scholar, also addressed the gathering

Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, read the Creation Hymn (Nasadiya Sukta) from Hindu scripture Rig-Veda and talked about the sacred sound Om, Brahm, Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva and purusha. He also quoted from Chandogya Upanishad.

Zed is on the panel of “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced jointly by Newsweek and WashingtonPost.com. He has been bestowed with “World Interfaith Leader Award,” “Nevada Religious Unity Award,” “Positive Pluralism & Unity Prize,” and other awards for interfaith dialogue.

In 2009, President of European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering invited him to a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, to promote interfaith dialogue and discuss Hindu issues. He read the first Hindu opening prayer in United States Senate in Washington DC.

He is also director of Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, Spiritual Advisor to National Assoc. of Interchurch and Interfaith Families.