Nineteen Buddhist monks are set to end their months-long walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, DC, on February 10. The monks, who are from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, are journeying to the nation’s capital in a Walk for Peace to “promote healing, unity, and compassion,” according to a statement made at a press conference back in the fall.
The walk started on October 26, so if they do reach DC on February 10, the pilgrimage will have taken over 100 days.
Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, the spiritual leader of the walk, said in a statement: “The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.” Paññākāra, who is journeying barefoot, is also the executive director of the project to build a 14-acre expansion called The Dhammacetiya in Fort Worth.
What will the Buddhist monks do when they get to DC?
The group hopes to ask Congress to recognize Vesak, Buddha’s birthday and day of enlightenment, as a federal holiday, and to spread peace through their journey.
On February 10, they are planning a series of events, first stopping at American University’s Bender Arena at 9:30 AM. This event is open to the public. Then, they will stop at the Washington National Cathedral at 1 PM for an Interfaith Ceremony. There, onlookers can watch from the West Lawn, while clergy welcome the monks. A moment of “reflection and prayer” will be followed by a procession and an hour-long prayer gathering. This event will also be live streamed here. At 2:30 PM, the walk will continue on Embassy Row, followed by a private event at George Washington University.
The group has also sent out an invitation to all Venerable Monks and Nuns in the area to join them at 10 AM for lunch, on February 10. Registration is open here.
On February 11, the walk will start towards Capitol Hill at 9:30 AM. After lunch, the group is expected to walk to the Lincoln Memorial at 1:30 PM. Once at the Lincoln Memorial, from 2:30 PM to 4 PM, there will be a Peace Gathering and Concluding Ceremony. That night, at 4:30 PM until 7:30 PM, there will be a meditation session at George Washington University’s Smith Center .
How many miles will they have walked?
By the time the group reaches DC, they will have walked 2,300 miles. That’s the same mileage of roughly 88 consecutive marathons.
Have there been challenges along the way?
Sadly, yes. In November, two of the monks in the group were hit by a car near Houston. Both were brought to the hospital, but Maha Dam Phommasan sustained injuries so severe his left leg was amputated. On day 67, the group journeyed to reunite with him in his home near Atlanta, where he was recovering.
Has the snow affected the group?
Weather is apparently no match for the monks—they were in Central Virginia when the recent snowstorm hit, and continued walking. The snow did not stop spectators either, with people lining up along the roadsides, even in icy conditions. “While the body may feel the cold, our hearts are filled with warmth because of you,” the official Instagram page for the Walk for Peace says.
Why are some wearing shoes and others aren’t?
The monks themselves could choose whether to wear footwear. According to their website, it depends on how they follow their practice.
Is a walk like this unusual for monks?
No, Buddhist monks have a long history of walking as a form of spreading the practice of peace and meditation In fact, in an Instagram interview, Paññākāra explained that many in the group have already journeyed through Thailand and India.
Where are they right now?
As of this afternoon, they are just outside Thornburg, Virginia, about 15 miles south of Fredericksburg. You can follow them on their live map. On their 100th day (February 2), they passed through Richmond. You can also follow their Facebook page for daily updates and their website for official news.
Is it true they are walking with a dog?
The group has been traveling with their dog, Aloka the Peace Dog, who even has his own Instagram account. Aloka, an Indian Pariah estimated to be about four years old, was a stray in India before joining the monks on their journeys. The pup started the walk in Fort Worth, but had to stop after developing knee pain; he ultimately underwent leg surgery at the Charleston Veterinary Referral Center in South Carolina on January 12. Aloka has been recovering and resting, sometimes using an escort car to keep up with the walk.
How are the monks getting home?
They are scheduled to take a bus back to Fort Worth on February 12.
I have heard about something called a blessing cord. What is that?
If you decide to line up along the walk route and happen to meet a monk, you may be gifted a blessing cord, a knotted thread around the wrist. According to their official Facebook page, “It is a connection string between this journey and you, a tangible link that says: you are part of this walk for peace. We are walking together, always.” The blessing cord is “a token of loving-kindness and peace.”
What if I would like to show my support?
Many people have shown support in person with signs and donations such as food and water, but the monks have asked for a pause on materialistic donations due to carrying capacity. Others have offered financial support. The group also invites prayers for a safe journey.
This article has been updated since its original publication.
Samantha is an Editorial Fellow at the Washingtonian and a senior at American University, studying Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies. She lives in Washington, D.C.
