A group of Buddhist monks, the day after finishing 108 days march for peace From Texas to Washington, they walked to Capitol Hill on Wednesday before heading to the Lincoln Memorial to end their journey.
The 19 monks and their dog Aloka walked 2,300 miles (3,700 km) across several southern states – sometimes in frigid conditions – attracting large crowds in churchyards, city halls and town squares. The group including Message of peacecaptured hearts across the country and the world, earning her millions of followers online.
On Wednesday morning, The monks walked single fileThey were followed by about 100 other monks and nuns who joined them in Washington. Behind them was a sea of ​​people raising peace signs and walking silently. More than 21,000 people followed the live broadcast online from around the world, posting messages in Spanish, Hindi, Thai and Sinhala.
The crowds chanted and thanked the monks from the sidewalks as they walked from George Washington University, where they stopped for the night, to Capitol Hill. Later in the day, they are expected to address a large crowd at the Lincoln Memorial and officially conclude the peace march. Venerable Bhikkhu Panakkara, who led the group, will also lead a love and kindness meditation at George Washington University.
Panakkara walked barefoot on Wednesday, waving and smiling to the crowds. A number of people, including young children, delivered flowers to the monks.
On Tuesday, the monks stopped at American University and Washington National Cathedral for an interfaith conversation as thousands gathered to hear Panakkara speak.
The monk urged those gathered to practice mindfulness every day and cultivate peace in their hearts. He asked them to wake up every morning and deliberately write on a piece of paper the words: Today will be a day of peace.
The monks’ journey had its risks. In November, outside Houston, the group was walking on the side of the highway when their car was struck by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dame Phomasan had her leg amputated. Phomasan, the abbot of a temple monastery in Snellville, Georgia, rejoined the monks near Washington and entered American University Square in a wheelchair and joined the group on their march to the Capitol.
Peace marches are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Some monks walked barefoot or in socks during parts of the journey to feel the ground directly and help them be present in the moment.
Monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by Buddha that focuses on breathing and the mind-body connection. Panakkara’s peace talks at stops along the way urged listeners to put down their phones and find peace within themselves.
Their return journey should be less difficult. After their appearance at the Maryland State House, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they are expected to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early Saturday.
From there, the monks will walk together again, covering the 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their journey began.
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