Nineteen Buddhist monks and one determined rescue dog set out from Fort Worth, Texas in late October with a simple destination: Washington, D.C., 2,300 miles away. The journey, which they call the Peace Walk, will take about 120 days. When they arrive in February, they plan to gather at the Capitol and share reflections on healing and unity with anyone who shows up to listen.
The group includes monks from Laos, Taiwan, and Vietnam, along with local monks who join for two to three days as the walk passes through their regions. Their stops aren't grand — they're visiting state government buildings and sitting down with locals to talk about compassion amid the divisions that feel so permanent right now.
"We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us," said Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader and vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center. "Unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole."
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Start Your News DetoxWhat makes this walk unusual isn't just the distance or the message — it's that they're not walking alone. Aloka, a rescue dog, is with them every step. Pannakara found Aloka during a similar 112-day walk in India. The dog followed the monks the entire way, even when he got sick and was hit by a car. When they tried to put him on a truck to safety, he jumped off and kept walking.
Photo courtesy of Peace Walk
Aloka's name means "light" in Sanskrit, and Pannakara jokes that he's now a U.S. citizen. Each night, the dog sleeps on a mat or in a tent alongside the monks. He takes breaks when they do — for showers, meals, and meditation with the people they meet. When supporters worried about his wellbeing, the group posted an update: "Our brave little friend is safe, sound, and fully focused on doggie peace. He is a true symbol of resilience."
There's something quietly powerful about watching 20 beings — 19 human, one canine — move forward together through a divided country with nothing but a message about the peace that's already inside us. No protests, no speeches. Just step after step, day after day, showing up in communities and saying: this is possible.
