The conference began with a welcome address by Dr. Jasbir Kaur Saluja, President of the Sikh Religious Society. She welcomed the participants and talked about the importance and uniqueness of having a gathering of such diverse and distinguished religious and spiritual leaders. This was followed by remarks by Sardar Gulbarg Singh Basi, Chairman of the World Sikh Council, Americas Region.

Mr. Arun Gandhi kicked off the conference by sharing perspectives from his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi. He reminded us that wasting resources was a form of violence against nature and discriminating against fellow humans was a form of passive violence against humanity. We must practice non-violence in our thoughts as well as our actions.

Ms. Shayda Safapour talked of the Baha’i tradition and urged us to spread service as a river of love. Ms. Asayo Horibe, representing the Buddhist faith, told us to be a strong link in the chain of love. If we are all strong links, the chain of love will be strong and peace shall prevail.

Reverend Dirk Ficca shared the insight from Jesus’ teachings on service – we need to serve the least among us, not the most powerful. He also reminded us that service is worship in the Christian faith. Mr. Anil Deshpande shared the perspective from the Hindu tradition that the entire universe is a family and it is therefore our duty to serve all humanity. He also shared the work that his organization Seva International is doing. Iman Kareem Irfan shared Prophet Mohamed’s teachings that we need to serve the Creator and we need to serve the Creation.

Molly Horan, the Communications Manager for the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, recounted the great ties that she has shared with the Sikh community and invited everyone present to the Parliament of the World’s Religions to take place from October 15 – 19, 2015 in Salt Lake City.