Buddhist Monks Complete 2,300-Mile Walk for Peace to Washington
Nineteen monks finished a 108-day, 2,300-mile pilgrimage from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., after facing freezing weather and a crash that required one amputation.
Overview
Nineteen monks led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara completed a 108-day, 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., arriving Feb. 10 amid cheering crowds, organizers said.
The pilgrimage, which began Oct. 26, 2025, aimed to promote mindfulness and national unity amid political and social divisions, temple spokesperson Long Si Dong said.
The group faced treacherous winter conditions and a Nov. traffic collision outside Houston that injured two monks, with court records showing Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan underwent an amputation.
Officials and faith leaders, including Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde and D.C. Secretary of State Kimberly Bassett, greeted the monks at events at Washington National Cathedral and the Lincoln Memorial, organizers said.
The monks planned to hold a loving-kindness meditation at George Washington University, board a bus back to Fort Worth on Feb. 12 and conduct a homecoming walk to their temple, organizers said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an uplifting, unifying human-interest piece by foregrounding celebratory language (e.g., "cheering crowd," "captivated Americans"), privileging supportive voices—monks, attendees, faith leaders—and spotlighting inclusive quotes about mindfulness transcending religion. The structure opens with ceremonial visuals and omits skeptical or policy context, yielding a promotional narrative.
Sources (9)
FAQ
The pilgrimage aimed to promote mindfulness, peace, loving-kindness, compassion, and national unity amid political and social divisions.
The group of 19 monks was led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara and started from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
They endured freezing winter conditions, treacherous weather, and a November traffic collision outside Houston that injured two monks, resulting in an amputation for Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan.
The walk began on October 26, 2025, lasted 108 days, covered 2,300 miles, and ended with arrival in Washington, D.C., on February 10, 2026.
They planned a loving-kindness meditation at George Washington University, board a bus back to Fort Worth on February 12, and conduct a homecoming walk to their temple.
History
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