On Tuesday, February 10, 19 Buddhist monks from the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, arrived in the District of Columbia and marched towards the Lincoln Memorial, where they had a concluding ceremony. They completed a 2,300-mile pilgrimage, which was a 108-day walk for peace, which began on October 26, 2025.
The Walk for Peace, led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, kept many people on their feet to keep up with their journey and inspired many across the nation. The monks, dressed in vibrant burnt-orange, maroon, and saffron-colored robes, walked between 20 and 32 miles a day to promote mindfulness and unity.
“I was at the national cathedral and the monks were walking down Wisconsin Ave,” Hannah Schneider said, a student at National Cathedral School who watched the arrival of the monks. “There were a ton of them, maybe 70 to 100, and a lot of them were smiling and waving at us,” she exclaims.
Schneider also mentioned that as the monks walked into the cathedral, many people supported them on the sidewalk. Schneider reflects on her experience: “It was cool to see them and made me feel hopeful. A lot of people gave them flowers, and some gave them cards. Some of the monks gave flowers back to the people who gave them cards,” she said.
While the walk was quiet, the monks drew many people’s attention. They gained a lot of popularity online and millions of supporters throughout their journey. Many people like Schneider take notice of how much silence can have an impact and inspire people, and it is an example of how powerful peace can be.
