Buddhist monks walk to US Capitol on final day of their 15-week journey from Texas
A group of Buddhist monks, a day after completing a 108-day peace march from Texas to Washington, marched to the Capitol on Wednesday before heading to the Lincoln Memorial to conclude their journey.
The 19 monks and their dog, Aloka, trekked 3,700 miles on foot through several Southern states – sometimes in freezing conditions – drawing large crowds to cemeteries, city halls and town squares. The group, with their message of peace, has captured hearts across the country and the world, earning them millions of followers online.
On Wednesday morning, the monks walked in single file, followed by about a hundred other monks and nuns who had joined them in Washington. Behind them was a sea of people showing peace signs and walking silently. More than 21,000 people tuned in to the live stream from around the world, posting messages in Spanish, Hindi, Thai and Sinhala.
Crowds applauded and thanked the monks from the sidewalks as they marched from George Washington University, where they stopped for the night, to Capitol Hill. Later in the day, they were scheduled to address a large crowd at the Lincoln Memorial and officially conclude the peace march. Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, who led the group, will also lead a loving-kindness meditation session at George Washington University.
Pannakara walked barefoot Wednesday as he waved and smiled at the crowd. Several people, including young children, handed flowers to the monks.
On Tuesday, the monks stopped at American University and the Washington National Cathedral for an interfaith conversation in which thousands gathered to hear Pannakara speak.
The monk urged those gathered to practice mindfulness every day and cultivate peace in their hearts. He asked them to wake up each morning and intentionally write on a piece of paper the words: Today is going to be my peaceful day.
The monks’ journey involves its share of perils. In November, outside Houston, the group was walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was struck by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated. Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Georgia, joined the monks near Washington and entered the American University arena in a wheelchair and joined the group in its march to the Capitol.
Peace marches are a treasured tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Some monks walked barefoot or in socks during parts of the journey to touch the ground directly and help them be present in the moment.
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha and focused on breathing and the mind-body connection. Pannakara’s peace talks, given at several stops along the way, urged listeners to put down their phones and find peace within themselves.
Their return journey should be less arduous. After an appearance at the Maryland State House, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they are expected to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early Saturday.
From there, the monks will walk together again, covering 6 miles to the temple where their journey began.
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