[Engaged] Buddhist Monks Walk for Peace across USA

[Jundo]

Buddhist monks resume 2,300-mile peace walk across America after crash

A group of Buddhist monks, currently midway through a 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometre) peace walk across the United States, are preparing to resume their journey. This follows a crash near Houston that left two of their members injured, a spokesperson for the group confirmed on Thursday.

The 'Walk for Peace' group, consisting of about two dozen monks, began their 26 October journey from Fort Worth, Texas. Their mission is to 'raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world', with plans to traverse 10 states en route to Washington, D.C.

Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the group, confirmed the monks have so far visited various Texan cities, including Austin and Houston. They typically walk along roads and highways, often escorted by law enforcement or a trailing vehicle. Their journey is also shared with their dog, Aloka.

CONTINUED: LINK

A local news story. They started from Texas, not San Francisco as said at the start ...
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Their facebook page ... walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.

https://www.facebook.com/walkforpeaceusa/

They are from the Huong Dao temple in Fort Worth. "Founded more than 26 years ago, the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center serves a largely Vietnamese-American Buddhist community in Fort Worth." ... the monk from there explains that the "journey represent[s] a living example of diversity and interfaith harmony: “People of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are afraid or unwilling to talk with one another. I hope that this pilgrimage will inspire people to see diversity as a strength rather than a weakness.”

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhist-monks-begin-pilgrimage-for-peace-from-texas-to-washington-dc/

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Bion]

Been seeing them on my Instagram quite a bit. The way people along the way react, and the way most become very emotional and can't contain their tears at the sight of the monks, is just so moving to me. Much metta to them.

Gassho
sat lah

[Shujin]

This is wonderful. I saw a post where they were thanking Houston Police Officers for their support. I saw that they camped under a tent at a volunteer fire station as well. As a fellow public servant, I'm happy to see my government doing something positive.

Gassho,
Shujin
st/lah

[Jundo]

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/g-s1-109416/buddhist-monks-finish-walk-for-peace

A group of Buddhist monks is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, capping a trek from Texas that has captivated the country. ... They walk to advocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands have gathered along Southern roadsides to watch the monks' quiet, single-file procession that began in late October.

"My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace," said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group's soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.

The monks plan to mark the last days of their Walk for Peace with outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.... 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 hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; one had his leg amputated. ...

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. ...

On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It's a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.

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PS - Additional little fact: "Some of the monks, including Pannakara, have walked barefoot or in socks for most of the journey to Washington, to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment. As they have pressed on through snow and cold, they've at times donned winter boots."