Buddhist Monks Complete 2,300-Mile Peace Walk in D.C.

A group of 19 Buddhist monks from Thailand, Vietnam, France, Burma and Sri Lanka completed a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace on Wednesday, arriving in Washington, D.C., after 108 days of traversing 10 Southern states from their starting point in Fort Worth, Texas. Led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the monks, accompanied by their rescue dog Aloka, promoted mindfulness and inner peace through daily stops at temples, churches and community centers, drawing crowds that transcended racial, religious and geographic lines.

The journey began on October 26, 2025, at the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, where the group practiced Vipassana meditation, an ancient technique emphasizing breath and mind-body connection. Walking mostly barefoot or in socks to stay present in the moment, the monks covered the distance in single file, often in challenging weather including snow, ice and frigid temperatures across the Southeast. They slept in sleeping bags on floors or in tents, with two members observing dhutanga, a tradition of asceticism that involves sitting in meditation rather than lying down to rest.

The trek faced perils early on. In November near Houston, a truck struck the...