Walk for Peace

A guest article

The Walk for Peace, which has captured the imaginations and hearts of millions of people, ends today in Washington DC. In this guest article, Jan Jemson describes this walk and then shares how it has impacted her and others. We would love to hear what you have to say in the comments.

The background

The Walk for Peace is a long-distance pilgrimage in the United States taken by Buddhist monks from the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center, in Fort Worth Texas. The 18 monks set off from their temple on 26 October. They have walked almost 2,300 miles (3,700 km), planning to arrive in Washington D.C. on February 10, 2026, an auspicious 108 days later.

“We are planning to go to Washington DC, because Washington DC is the heart of the nation. By reaching to the heart of the nation, we believe that we can reach to the heart of all Americans across the United States,” said Neeraj Bajracharya, government liaison and press coordinator for the walk.

Daily conditions

The monks maintain strict discipline. They start their walk between 6:30-7:00 AM.  Their purposeful gathering and lining up reminds me of ‘Avengers assemble!’ in Marvel films. Superheroes for peace, with ‘weapons’ of mindfulness and compassion. They maintain a walking pace of more than 20 miles a day, through all weathers.

The monks maintain their strict, ascetic, and minimalist lifestyle, designed to reduce attachment, initially sleeping in tents on the road side, in their walking clothes. Three of the monks, including the head monk Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, have chosen to make part of the trek barefoot, to feel the ground and improve mindfulness. Often their feet are heavily bandaged to treat injuries from stepping on rocks, nails and glass. The ability of the monks to tolerate the pain and discomfort, for the benefit of others, has become a source of inspiration, and gratitude to followers.

‘How unselfish it is. That they’re out there walking for us. Not asking for anything in return.’

Two of the monks are adhering to dhutang, which means they are only allowed to adopt three “postures” during the walk, specifically walking, standing or sitting, never lying down, even to sleep.

“They sit down in a meditation position, and they meditate all night. And that’s how they replenish their energy,” explained Bajracharya.

During the trip, one monk was injured in an accident, which led to amputation of one of his legs. He was unable to complete the walk, but has contributed immeasurably to the impact of the walk, by expressing his patient acceptance of his physical trauma.

The leader

The group is led by Bhikkhu Paññākāra, a former Motorola engineer and University of Texas at Arlington graduate, who traded his corporate career for monkhood. His warmth and calm demeanour have made him popular. His primary focus is to encourage people to use mindfulness to maintain a peaceful mind:

 “Peace is not a trophy we find at the end of 2,300 miles; it is the path we cultivate under our feet with every breath and every step.”

Alongside mindfulness his peace talks have included many simple but profound teachings. He used the example of a woman he’d met, who had no money to buy food, to explain the importance of patient acceptance: explaining that if you have acceptance of your conditions you are rich, even if all you can afford is a handful of rice. Whereas, when you are always wishing for more, you will never be happy, even if you are extremely wealthy.

His teachings are echoed and amplified across the world in the comments on social media posts. A particular favourite on social media, perhaps ironically, was his teaching on reducing our dependence on mobile phones. He humorously referred to smartphones as a “lover” that people are “cheating on their partner” with by constantly checking them, particularly before sleep. Now many of the Walk’s followers refer to their phone as their ‘lover.’

The emotional impact of the walk has exceeded Pannakara’s expectations. In a recent interview he said that he was surprised by the number of people who had thanked him on the journey, telling him that the walk had ‘saved their life,’ presumably by giving them a sense of hope. The interviewer asked what advice he would give to people who felt that they couldn’t go on, he replied – ‘I would tell them to get a pen and paper and write down, ‘Today will be my peaceful day.’ Incredibly simple advice, but the words have the effect of lifting the burden of their troubles for that day, one peaceful day at a time would add up to a lifetime of peaceful days.

“They come because they are suffering”

Bhikkhu Paññākāra illustrated his compassionate motivation for the walk when talking about the large number of people following the walk. He didn’t see this as a cause for pride, instead it was the cause of increasing compassion.

‘They come because they are suffering.’

It occurred to me that we can have this compassionate view about all the people that come into our Kadampa Buddhist centres. I know it was true for me, I walked through those doors because I was suffering, I stayed because I found a solution to my suffering.

Aloka the peace dog

No description of the Walk for Peace would be complete without the beautiful dog Aloka. Now he has to rest often in the support car, but he has ‘led’ the monks’ walk on many occasions and will no doubt lead them into Washington DC. He has won the heart of thousands of people and is seen as symbolic of the wish for all living beings to experience peace.

The story of how he became part of the movement is fascinating because it suggests strong karmic connections between Aloka and the monks, particularly Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who first met Aloka, an Indian Pariah (stray) dog, on a 112-day journey across India in 2022  According to the monks, Aloka followed them despite facing hardships – including being hit by a car and falling seriously ill during the journey – he repeatedly rejoined the procession. Following them from Kolkata in eastern India all the way to the Nepal border.

When he fell critically ill Pannakara scooped him up in his arms and cared for him until he recovered. Now, he says, Aloka inspires him to keep going when he feels like giving up. He gave Aloka his name, which means divine light in Sanskrit. ‘“I named him light because I want him to find the light of wisdom,” Pannakara said. The obvious affection and connection between them is beautiful to see. They remind me of the daemons in, ‘His Dark Materials.’ Where people’s ‘souls’ are visible on the outside, in the form of animals, from which they are inseparable.

His impact is nicely summarised in People Magazine,

‘The medium-sized dog walks when he can, rests when he needs to and often leads the way with an alert but gentle presence. His calm demeanor mirrors the monks’ intention, making him feel less like a mascot and more like a fellow pilgrim.’

Some believe him to be an emanation, this theory borne out by the very distinctive heart-shaped marking on his forehead.

Aims of the walk

The overall aim of the walk is to help bring about world peace.

Peace walks originated in Cambodia in 1992 during the repatriation of refugees from Thai border camps amid the Khmer Rouge, according to a paper published by Kathryn Poethig, a professor of global studies at California State University, Monterey Bay.

In a blog post titled “Why we walk,” the monks wrote:

“Our walking itself cannot create peace. But when someone encounters us — whether by the roadside, online or through a friend — when our message touches something deep within them, when it awakens the peace that has always lived quietly in their own heart — something sacred begins to unfold.”

“This is our contribution—not to force peace upon the world, but to help nurture it, one awakened heart at a time.”

The impact of the walk exceeded their expectations by hundreds of thousands of people. The monks have been documenting their travels on multiple social media platforms. Since creating their Facebook page on November 8, 2025, it has grown exponentially, reaching 1 million followers on January 11, 2026, and 2 million just 11 days later. They have 2.6 million followers on Facebook and 1.8 million followers on Instagram as of February 4, 2026.

‘It has become my alternative to doomscrolling. Instead of absorbing one more news cycle of outrage sliding toward despair, I find myself peace-scrolling — watching venerable monks walking slowly and mostly silently along highways and through small towns, raising hope simply by moving forward.’ Rev. Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D. is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church

People in countries all around the world are logging in for the daily dose of peace medicine. This has created a completely inclusive, worldwide family. This phenomenon was described by one Tibetan Lama as the ‘ most positive thing that has happened this year. ‘People of all ages and from all walks of life lined the streets to offer the monks wooly hats and chapsticks.’

My own reflections on the impact of this walk

For me there have been three incredibly powerful outcomes in the walk:

Compassion

Audrie Pearce joined the crowd lining Main Street. She had driven four hours from her village of Little River, and teared up as Pannakara handed her a flower.

“There’s something traumatic and heart-wrenching happening in our country every day,” said Pearce, who describes herself as spiritual, but not religious. “I looked into their eyes and I saw peace. They’re putting their bodies through such physical torture and yet they radiate peace.”

I personally have not watched one video of the walk, or seen one image, without crying at the sight of the monks’ open, encompassing compassion. Even though, as one social media observer commented,

‘They are getting nothing from it themselves apart from exhaustion and pain.’

All that the monks offer is a flower, a piece of string tied around a wrist as a blessing cord, a pat on the head, or kind words,  but the effect on those receiving these gestures is palpable. Many crying uncontrollably with what feels like relief that their suffering has been acknowledged. The profound impact of their kind actions can only encourage us all to do the same, to take the time in our daily journeys to notice those who need our help.

Hope of a solution

By setting, and mindfully holding, an intention to keep a peaceful mind, we can carry peace with us into our next step, our next breath, as the monks exemplify. I believe this message is particularly powerful at a time when many of us feel our life circumstances are completely out of our control. We stand powerless on the sidelines grimly observing the onslaught of the high cost of living, political changes, a sharp rise in prejudice and intolerance. This small group of men, and the snowball effect of the following they have gathered, reignite our childhood beliefs that Jack can overcome the Giant, that the Big Bad Wolf is all huff and puff, and that Cinderella will go to the Ball despite the Ugly Sisters.

There is no one coming to rescue us. By embarking on the walk the monks are embodying the solution. Through their physical and mental action they show that peace is not just an ideal to be admired, or craved, it is something we can all actively work towards.

‘What we are witnessing is not politics or social protest. Not public policy or propaganda. It is virtue made visible. Peace practiced rather than pronounced. Compassion offered without condition or agenda.’  Rev. Jim Harnish, a retired United Methodist minister.

The monks have repeatedly said that the Walk of Peace doesn’t end in Washington, it’s up to us to continue it. It’s time to stop observing, it’s time to take action. We must wrap ourselves in robes of determination, hold tightly to our wooden staff of effort, set the intention to never falter on the path to peace, and step bravely out into the world.

The seeds they are planting are already sprouting around the world. Followers are pledging to remain peaceful every day:

‘’I am trying to instill his teachings in my everyday life, it is a work in progress everyday.”

‘I wish to honour all of those gentle souls with my own determination to be kinder, softer and practice a more peaceful way of life.’

Dharma connections

Finally, I would like to say how beautiful it is, as a Dharma practitioner, to see people from all walks of life prostrating and offering gifts to the monks. As Dharma practitioners we know that these simple acts of prostration and offering will sow wonderful karmic seeds, a cause of their future enlightenment. I am reminded of Gen La Dekyong describing her joy when she sees coaches full of tourists arriving at Manjushri, to visit the temple, ostensibly to have tea and cake and a nice day out. Gen La Dekyong’s joy comes from knowing that the Buddhas are virtuous from their own side, so as soon as the tourists stand in front of the shrine, the virtuous seed is sown and will definitely ripen. How kind of these monks to give so many people the precious opportunity to connect with the Three Jewels. Like sycamore seeds softly, swirling down, precious karmic seeds rain down on the hundreds of thousands of people who have come to show their respect and gratitude to the monks.

The end of the Walk

As the walk reaches it’s end in Washington DC  the monks can be sure they have achieved their aim. Many now are calling for them to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. More importantly, perhaps, are the pledges being made to continue the peaceful, compassionate intention of the monks’ journey.

‘One step becomes two. Two become a thousand. A thousand become countless. And slowly, gently, persistently—not through grand gestures but through ten thousand small acts of love—we can help make the world more peaceful.’

On Tuesday, February 10, Washington National Cathedral will welcome the Buddhist monks as part of the final days of their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace.

This stop will include an interfaith welcome at the West Front of the Cathedral and moments of reflection and prayer. All are invited to join us outside for this powerful gathering centered on peace, gratitude, and hope as the Walk for Peace continues toward the National Mall. The monks are expected to arrive at approximately 1 pm.

In case you’d like to join in, here are the details of their Global Loving-Kindness Meditation, Feb 11, 2026. 

The monks will have the last words:

May you and all beings be happy and at peace.