News Summary
Nineteen Buddhist monks have initiated a 2,300-mile peace walk from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. Their mission is to promote national healing, unity, and compassion. The journey, marked by community support and interfaith cooperation, will see the monks walking at least 20 miles each day, stopping at key locations to spread their message. Local leaders have shown strong backing for the monks, emphasizing the importance of peace and respect for life amid social tensions. This pilgrimage aims to inspire communities across the U.S. while highlighting Texas’s rich Buddhist diversity.
Fort Worth, Texas – Nineteen Buddhist monks have embarked on a 2,300-mile peace walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., with the aim of promoting national healing, unity, and compassion. The journey began on a Sunday morning, as local community members gathered to bid farewell to the monks outside the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.
During the farewell ceremony, community members showed their respect by bowing and touching the monks’ feet, while chants of “Buddham Saranam Gachhami” echoed through the temple. Joining the monks on this journey is a dog that Bhikkhu Pannakara found during a previous walk in India.
Bhikkhu Pannakara, who serves as the vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, is the spiritual leader of the walk. Before starting the journey, he prayed before a statue of Lord Buddha, seeking permission to lead the expedition. The group consists of two senior monks, including a 70-year-old monk from Laos, along with younger monks from Taiwan and Vietnam.
As the monks make their way across ten states, local monks will periodically join the group for two to three days at a time, providing a sense of community along the route. The monks plan to walk at least 20 miles each day, stopping at state capitols, historic landmarks, and local communities to spread their message of peace and compassion. On the first day of their journey, they covered an initial distance of about 14 miles, starting at 9:30 a.m.
In accordance with their ascetic practices, the monks will sleep under trees and eat only one meal per day. To support their journey, two RVs will accompany the monks to prepare food along the way.
Local leaders have expressed strong support for the monks’ cause. Haltom City Mayor An Truong highlighted the importance of promoting respect for life and peace during this walk, pointing to the negative impact of wars and societal anger over the years. Meanwhile, Texas Representative Nicole Collier has also expressed amazement at the journey’s potential to resonate with many in the community, emphasizing the significance of diversity and interfaith cooperation in Fort Worth.
Christine Sturgeon, an interfaith representative from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has praised the dedication and compassion of the monks. The monks’ pilgrimage coincides with the fact that Texas is home to approximately 1.1 million Buddhists from various backgrounds, including diverse Asian cultures. Reflecting the cultural richness of the state, the Texas State Legislature has recognized May 15 as Vesak Day, a celebration of interfaith harmony and cultural diversity.
This peace walk underscores not only a commitment to spiritual growth and unity but also a dedicated effort to inspire and uplift communities across the nation as they undergo this transformative journey.
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Additional Resources
- Dallas News: Safe Haven Buddhist Monastery in McKinney
- Wikipedia: Buddhism
- WFAA: Police Investigating Thefts at Buddhist Temples
- Google Search: Buddhist temples in Texas
- AsAmNews: Buddhist Temples and Robberies Investigation
- Google Scholar: Buddhism community
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas
- Google News: Buddhism Fort Worth
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