Nineteen Buddhist monks reached the Lincoln Memorial on February 11 after walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas — a journey that took 109 days and crossed Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. They came to spread a simple message: that people of different faiths, races, and backgrounds can walk together.
The walk was never easy. Three monks, including the head monk Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, started barefoot as a spiritual practice, but winter storms forced them into shoes. In November, a truck hit their escort vehicle near Daytona, injuring two monks. One of them, Wat Lao Buddha Khanti, had to step back but rejoined the group in January. Even Aloka, a stray dog from India who had walked with them before, needed free surgery for a chronic leg issue — after which he completed the final stretch from the warmth of a van.
What kept them moving was the people they met. Communities fed them, sheltered them, and walked alongside them. The monks posted on Instagram: "To see so many hearts walking together, standing together, and sharing this sacred journey — it fills us with profound joy and gratitude."
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Start Your News DetoxA Message at the Lincoln Memorial
When they arrived in Washington, D.C., the final address drew such a large crowd that the livestream crashed multiple times. Venerable Ratanaguṇa, a senior teacher in the group, stood before thousands and spoke about what he witnessed: "An assembly made up of people of all races and cultures without distinctions of faith or religion. People from all walks of life coming together here in the spirit of unity, love, empathy, and understanding."
He emphasized that finishing in Washington, D.C. — what he called "the heart of a democratic, multicultural nation" — made the moment especially significant. The monks thanked everyone who had supported them, both spiritually and materially, along the entire route.
The Dalai Lama sent a message through his niece, Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet. "Their initiative illustrates how religious practices can contribute to a practical and constructive way to social harmony and public dialogue," he wrote. "May their walk help sow the seeds of greater peace, understanding, and compassion in the United States and beyond."
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara closed the gathering by leading a global loving-kindness meditation from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. EST. The monks made clear this wasn't an ending — they pledged to continue their Walk for Peace long after leaving D.C., carrying the momentum forward.
