The Walk for Peace concluded yesterday, 112 days after a group of Buddhist monks set out from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas in October to walk 2,300 miles to Washington, DC, along with their dog Aloka. The purpose of the walk was to share a simple message of peace and mindfulness.
I followed their journey for the past few weeks via their daily updates and live streams on the Walk for Peace Facebook page and Aloka The Peace Dog’s Facebook page. After a few days, following them online became part of my daily practice. I began making small changes in my daily routine based on what the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara speaks about in his daily peace talks.
On Monday, a friend and I stood on a street in Arlington, VA and waited for the monks to walk by.
We watched their progress toward us on the Walk for Peace live stream. The closer they got to us, the more excited we got. Finally, the flashing lights of the Arlington police motorcycles became visible, announcing the imminent arrival of the monks. As the bikes slowly rumbled past us, a joyful cheer went up from everyone around us.
And then, the monks appeared.
I had heard that they walk at a brisk pace, but I wasn’t prepared for just how fast they walked. They walked by, I held out the flowers I had brought with me as an offering of gratitude, and I felt blessed that some of the monks took them.
20 seconds later, they had already passed us.
And yet, I will never forget these 20 seconds.
I kept my “lover” (Bhikku Pannakara’s term for our cell phones) in my pocket. I did not take any photos or videos. I wanted to be fully present in the moment.
The photo below was posted on the Arlington County Police Department Facebook page. It was taken a block or two from where we were standing.
In one of his peace talks, Bhikkhu Pannakara asked the crowd: “What will you do with this? Will you simply watch us pass by, or will you learn something from it?” I am choosing to learn, and to make changes in my life.
Bhikkhu Pannakara teaches that true, lasting peace starts from within each person. By maintaining peace within ourselves, it spreads to others. Think about the impact it would have on our world if everyone who came out to see the monks pass by, everyone who watched them online, makes just one small change toward living with more peace.
“Today is going to be my peaceful day.” This is not a wish. It is a decision. A quiet promise we renew each morning through how we act, speak, and walk.
Without mindfulness, without being present and aware, there can be no peace. Not in ourselves, and not in the world. The choice to be peaceful is up to each of us.
Best of wishes for your journey of peace. I wish all such journeys carried such resolve.
Thank you, Terry!
They were in my area for what seemed like a long time. I think i read where their dog needed some vet attention. Part of the time they were here the weather was very bad, cold, sleet, snow, rain. I think the police gave them an escort so no one would bother them. Too bad the upper ups in DC cant act like these people do.
Aloka had a torn cruciate ligament and had surgery in South Carolina. He was on restriction after the surgery and couldn’t walk with the monks, so he rode along in their RV, until yesterday, when he got to walk the final mile back to the temple with them.
Just knowing someone I know was there in person made me a little tearful. I’m so glad you had a chance to be a part of this beautiful event, which I, too, hope will become a daily practice in each person’s individual life. I’ve been visiting my garden for a still and peaceful moment to take in the world around me in my little back yard, and yesterday I enjoyed a walk in the still very snowy woods.
Nature has always been a pathway to peace for me, too, Bernadette.
I’m just curious, is there symbolism behind giving them flowers or is it just something people do to be nice and show support for their walk?
Offering flowers to the monks symbolizes respect and gratitude for their journey. Flowers in Buddhism also represent the Buddhist teaching of impermanence. The beauty of flowers fades – a reminder to live in the present moment and let go of attachment.
Thanks for explaining this. It makes perfect sense now.
I love this post. I am so happy you got to see them when they got to your area. This last part speaks so much. If we all chose to be peaceful, the world would be a better place.