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Buddhist monks head to DC to finish a 'Walk for Peace' that captivated millions
+623 words added -355 words removed
By
The Associated Press
Led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, Buddhist monks participate in a "Walk for Peace" in Richmond, Virginia, on Feb. 3. The group is walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to promote peace, compassion and nonviolence. hide caption
WASHINGTON — A group of Buddhist monks Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, their saffron fixtures on social along with their rescue dog Aloka.
to advocate for has resonated across welcome political gathered along to watch the monks' procession that began in late October.
the and said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group's soft-spoken the their for Peace on Tuesday the
to and the of in Washington for the monks at the
The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.
and the the — and
Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.
Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on advocacy or legislation.
"It's a spiritual an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts," he said. "We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society."
a Some of the have walked barefoot or in socks of the to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment.
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha to and
On Tuesday, the monks 108 days of walking. It's a sacred number in Buddhism, spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.
return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at Maryland's Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.
From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.
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− Aaron Mathes/AFP via
− Getty
+ Mark
− Images
+ Schiefelbein/AP
− is
+ —
− set
+ bearing
− to
+ a
− reach
+ message of peace — walked into the heart of
− foot
− capping
+ greeted
− a
+ by
− trek
+ large,
− from
+ joyful
− Texas
+ crowds
− that
+ as
− has
+ they
− captivated
+ completed
− the
+ their
− country.
The
+ 15-week
− monks
+ trek
− in
+ from Texas.
In
− robes
+ and
− have
+ maroon
− become
+ robes, the monks became
− media,
+ media as they made their way through the southeastern United States,
− They
+ Their
− walk
+ simple mission,
− peace. That simple
− message
+ peace,
− the
+ a
− U.S.
+ beleaguered
− as
+ country
− a
+ — and appeared especially
− respite
+ in
− from
+ a
− conflict
+ city
− and
+ at the center of
− divisions.
+ strife
− Thousands
+ and
− have
+ power.
Thousands
− Southern
+ icy
− roadsides
+ sidewalks
− quiet,
− single-file
+ quiet
− "My
+ In
− hope
+ the
− is,
+ afternoon,
− when
+ the
− this
+ monks
− walk
+ stopped
− ends,
+ at
− people
+ Washington
− we
+ National
− met
+ Cathedral,
− will
+ where
− continue
+ they
− practicing
+ were
− mindfulness
+ joined by more than 100 other Buddhist monks
− find
+ nuns.
"It
− peace,"
+ is overwhelming for us,"
+ charismatic and
− leader
+ leader,
− who
+ on
− has
+ the
− taught
+ steps
− about
+ of
− mindfulness
+ the
− at
+ cathedral.
Flanked
− stops
+ by
− along
+ dozens
− the
+ of
− way.
The
+ faith
− monks
+ leaders
− plan
+ across
− to
+ traditions
− mark
+ — including Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who helped host
− last
+ interfaith
− days
+ gathering
− of
+ — Pannakara was visibly moved by
− Walk
+ shared cause
+ peace.
Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For
− with
+ are
− outdoor
+ escorted
− appearances
+ by
− at
+ Metropolitan
− Washington
+ Police
− National
+ Department
− Cathedral
+ officers as they walk along the C&O Canal and Potomac River
− and
+ in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption
"This is
− Lincoln
+ moment
− Memorial
+ I
− on
+ will
− Wednesday.
+ remember for the rest of my life," he said. "And I hope you do the same."
− "Their
+ As
− long
+ the
− journey
+ monks
− and
+ walked
− gentle
+ single-file
− witness
+ down
− invite
+ city
− us
+ streets,
− all
+ people
− to
+ cheered
− deepen
+ them.
− our
+ Some
− commitment
+ shushed the crowds, urging them
− compassion
+ be silent
+ reverent. But
− work
+ monks acknowledged the people's enthusiasm with subtle nods and smiled at those calling out "Sadhu!" — an expression in Buddhism that means "well done."
Nearly 3,500 people packed American University's Bender Arena for the monks' first public stop in Washington. But no raucous sports cheers greeted them: Spectators remained silent as they walked into the arena, as a sign
− peace
+ respect for the monks and their quest for peace.
The trek has had its perils. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated.
Phommasan, abbot of a temple
− our
+ Snellville,
− communities,"
+ Georgia,
− said
+ rejoined the monks near
− Episcopal
+ and
− Bishop
+ entered
− Mariann
+ American
− Budde,
+ University's
− who
+ arena
− will
+ in
− help
+ a
− host
+ wheelchair.
Phommasan's
− an
+ return
− interfaith
+ was
− reception
+ moving
+ Jackson Vaughn, 33, who's used a wheelchair since 2024. He has been traveling beside
+ for a week, since they came through his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"There are so many things happening in the world," said Vaughn, who was among the crowd
− cathedral.
+ university entrance. "To see people gathering peacefully and setting an example, I think, is a wonderful thing."
Spectators watch as Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a neighborhood on Tuesday in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption
He was grateful to fellow travelers who helped him navigate icy roads.
"I have been on this journey of trying to find my independence," Vaughn said. "But this really shows how connected we really are."
− Mark Duykers, a
+ Kristin
− retired
+ Williams,
− mechanical
+ 42,
− engineer
+ brought
− who
+ her
− practices
+ two
− mindfulness,
+ children,
− said
+ ages
− he
+ 8
− his
+ 10,
− wife
+ to
− will
+ view
− drive
+ the
− 550
+ procession
− miles
+ outside
− (885
+ the
− kilometers)
+ cathedral.
"I
− from
+ wanted
− Ann
+ them
− Arbor,
+ to
− Michigan,
+ not
− to
+ just
− Washington
+ witness
− to
+ history
− see
+ but witness
− monks.
"In
+ power
− these
+ of
− divisive
+ coming
− times,
+ together,"
− we
+ she
− saw
+ said.
− entire
+ "The
− towns
+ movement
− in
+ they've been building for
− Bible
+ past
− Belt
+ couple
− coming
+ of
− out
+ months
− for
+ has
− these
+ been
− monks
+ really
− —
+ powerful
− having
+ to
− no
+ watch
− idea
+ grow."
Over
− of
+ 20,000
− what
+ people
− Buddhism
+ tuned
− is
+ in to watch the live feed Tuesday
− but
+ logging
− being
+ on
− uplifted
+ from places ranging from Jamaica
− moved
+ Germany
− by
+ to
− it,"
+ Sri
− he
+ Lanka
− said.
+ and
− "That's
+ Thailand.
− inspirational."
+ Even as the occasional critic surfaced in the comments section, viewers seemed to heed the monks' message as they wished that person to find peace.
− (3,700
− kilometer)
+ (3,700-kilometer)
−
While in the U.S. capital, they plan to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak — Buddha's birthday — a national holiday. But, Pannakara and others have emphasized that is not the walk's goal.
− offering
− —
+ offering,
− The trek has had its perils, and local law enforcement officers have provided security. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was
+ Peace
− hit
+ walks
− by
+ are
− truck. Two monks were
− injured;
+ cherished
− one
+ tradition
− had
+ in
− his
+ Theravada
− leg
+ Buddhism.
− amputated.
− monks, including
− Pannakara,
+ monks
− for
+ during
− most
+ parts
− journey
+ journey,
− As they have pressed on through snow and cold, they've at times donned winter boots.
Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Pannakara first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means "divine light" in Sanskrit, during a 112-day journey across India in 2022.
− as
+ that
− core
+ focuses
− to
+ on
− attaining
+ breath
− enlightenment.
+ and
− It
+ the
− focuses
+ mind-body
− on
+ connection.
− the
+ Pannakara's
− mind-body
+ peace
− connection,
+ talks,
− observing
+ given
− breath
+ at
− and
+ stops
− physical
+ along
− sensations
+ the way, have urged listeners
− understand
+ put
− reality,
+ down
− impermanence
+ their phones
− suffering.
+ find peace within themselves.
− will
− complete
+ completed
− Hinduism and Jainism. It
− represents
+ representing
− The
+ On
− monks'
+ Wednesday, the monks plan to walk through Capitol Hill and hold a closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial.
Their