The Monks’ Walk Ends, But the Peace Remains

By Jaewoo Park

After four months and 2,300 miles, a group of Buddhist monks completed their journey across America in the nation's capital on February 11. (Credit: Jaewoo Park)

WASHINGTON DC — After four months and 2,300 miles, a group of Buddhist monks completed their journey across America February 11. Having started in Texas in October, the monks reached their destination at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where a massive crowd waited to greet them.

Such was the crowd that there was almost no place to stand, as tourists, residents, and even workers from the U.S. Capitol gathered to witness the monks’ arrival.

The group was led by Venerable Paññākāra, a Vietnamese American Buddhist monk and former engineer. Known for his barefoot pilgrimages in South Asia—including a 112-day walk across India—Paññākāra was accompanied by Aloka, a stray dog that joined him during his travels in India.

For this 2025–2026 “Walk for Peace,” the journey from Fort Worth to D.C. was deeply challenging. The monks faced snowstorms, freezing winds, and exhaustion. The mission was even marked by tragedy when one member was seriously injured in a car accident and subsequently lost a leg. Despite this, the group chose to press on, fueled by their message of peace.

Tourists, residents, and even workers from the U.S. Capitol gathered to witness the monks’ arrival. (Credit: Jaewoo Park)

Aloka, the mindful canina

The National Mall was full of energy as the monks arrived. Many attendees brought their own dogs, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Aloka. While Aloka was present at the memorial today, it was difficult for the large crowd to see him due to the massive surge of people. Nevertheless, his legendary journey from India to America remained a major topic of conversation among the supporters.

The atmosphere was a diverse tapestry of voices and causes. While some people held signs for “Free Palestine” or “ICE Out,” others sold T-shirts featuring the monks’ faces. Politics aside, the crowd gathered as one, drawn together by the sight of the monks in their vibrant saffron robes.

‘We need peace’

The monks’ journey touched many individual lives in D.C. Nikki Rutledge, a Thai American who recently moved to D.C. from Kentucky, had been following the group on Facebook Live for months. “I really respect them,” Nikki said. “With so many wars in the world right now, we need peace. It is important for us as Asian Americans to see them standing for us.”

Similarly, Carol Sylvester and Corinne Salin traveled from Virginia to witness the finale. Having followed the story through both snow and heat, Carol noted, “It is beautiful to see people coming together. Their story is amazing because they faced so much hardship, like the accident and the cold. We need this kind of warmth right now.”

Through the Bible Belt

The group of monks make their way through Snellville, Georgia on December 31, 2025. (Credit: Jongwon Lee)

The Monk’s pilgrimage left a profound mark on the Deep South—a region often dubbed the “Buckle of the Bible Belt” for its high concentration of Christian faithful. As the monks traversed Alabama and Georgia between December 2025 and January 2026, local communities greeted the group with “rock star” enthusiasm. Local media outlets echoed this sentiment, framing their presence as “what a beleaguered America needs right now.”

This reception has revitalized the Buddhist community within these Southern states.

Ching Hsia, a longtime Buddhist and Atlanta native, observed a rare sense of harmony that transcended denominational lines, adding that while most locals may not seek to adopt Buddhism as their faith, these interactions have fostered a newfound curiosity and respect for Buddhist philosophy and Asian culture.

The power of mindfulness

The highlight of the day was a speech by Venerable Paññākāra. He began by thanking the police, fire departments, doctors, and families who supported them along the way.

“Life moves very fast,” Paññākāra told the hushed crowd. “Sometimes just a few seconds are enough for us to hurt someone… but those same few seconds, if we live them well, can become the beginnings of peace.”

He then invited the audience to practice “5 Seconds of Mindfulness”:

·       Second 1–Loving Kindness: Stop before causing harm and soften before speaking.

·       Second 2–Compassion: Understand that we do not know what pain others carry.

·       Second 3–Love: Truly love yourself and the person in front of you.

·       Second 4–Harmony: Choose living together over winning.

·       Second 5—Hope: Believe that violence is not the final answer.

“The walk for peace is not a protest,” he reminded them. “It is a reminder that hope still exists when people are willing to care.”

Joining him on stage was the Venerable Phra Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan, who survived an earlier car accident during the walk. Sharing his experience, he said, “At that moment, I thought maybe I was going to die. But practicing mindfulness meditation during our walks was really helpful when I faced death. I invite all of you to practice as well.”

One final step

While the D.C. portion of the journey is over, the monks have one final trip. On Thursday, they walk to the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis before returning to their temple in Fort Worth, Texas.

As the sun began to set over the memorial, one of the organizers shared a final thought: “The walk ends here, but the peace stays in our hearts.”

Jaewoo Park was a reporter for Radio Free Asia. He is based in Washington DC. Jongwon Lee contributed this story.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article misidentified the injured monk as Ajan Mahadam. His name is Phra Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan.