More than a hundred Buddhist monks, many in traditional robes and woolly hats, gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday to mark the end of a 2,300-mile peace walk from Texas. The journey, which began 108 days ago, saw the monks brave snow, frigid temperatures, and a paralysing winter storm, often walking barefoot to raise awareness of peace and compassion across America.
The crowd of thousands cheered as Bhante Saranapala, known as the 'Urban Buddhist Monk,' praised the monks' determination. The event featured speeches, including a letter from Tencho Gyatso, a niece of the Dalai Lama, who commended the monks for enduring physical hardship and drawing international attention to their message of peace and mutual understanding.
Bhikkhu Bodhi, a monk originally from Brooklyn, described the walk as one of the most important events of the 21st century, saying it brought out the greatest quality of the American character: the recognition that all people are created equal. He noted that the walk celebrated peace regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or skin colour.
The peace walk, a tradition in Theravada Buddhism, had its perils. In November, outside Houston, an escort vehicle was hit by a truck, injuring two monks. Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan, who lost a leg in the accident, rejoined the group near Washington and addressed the crowd from his wheelchair.
The monks were joined by about 100 other monks and nuns in the capital, deliberately staying away from politics. Among the crowd were individuals waving a Palestinian flag and holding a sign reading 'Peaceful resistance.' The event garnered millions of social media interactions, with many sharing messages of support.
