After Walking 2,300 Miles, These Buddhist Monks Are Arriving in DC - Washingtonian

"Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, the spiritual leader of the walk, said in a statement: "The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole." Paññākāra, who is journeying barefoot, is also the executive director of the project to build a 14-acre expansion called The Dhammacetiya in Fort Worth."

"The group hopes to ask Congress to recognize Vesak, Buddha's birthday and day of enlightenment, as a federal holiday, and to spread peace through their journey. They are planning on stopping at the Washington National Cathedral on February 10, followed by a meditation retreat the next day. The group has also sent out an invitation to all Venerable Monks and Nuns in the area to join them at American University at 10 AM for lunch on February 10. Registration is open here."

"By the time the group reaches DC, they will have walked 2,300 miles. That's the same mileage of roughly 88 consecutive marathons. Sadly, yes. In November, two of the monks in the group were hit by a car near Houston. Both were brought to the hospital, but Maha Dam Phommasan sustained injuries so severe his left leg was amputated. On day 67, the group journeyed to reunite with him in his home near Atlanta, where he was recovering."

Nineteen Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center began a Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, DC on October 26 and expect to arrive February 10 after more than 100 days. The barefoot pilgrimage, led by Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, spans approximately 2,300 miles — roughly 88 consecutive marathons. The group plans to stop at the Washington National Cathedral, hold a meditation retreat, and petition Congress to recognize Vesak as a federal holiday. The monks invited local Venerable Monks and Nuns for lunch at American University. The journey included a November car collision that resulted in the amputation of monk Maha Dam Phommasan’s left leg.

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