On the 101st day of their journey, about 20 Buddhist monks walked 8 miles through Henrico County as part of a pilgrimage to promote compassion, understanding and mutual respect among all people.
Emotional well-wishers lined the route to witness the Walk for Peace and to show solidarity with its message. On Brook Road, supporters took flowers from a wagon and placed them onto the pavement to create a path for the monks. “This flower is for my sister,” one woman said.
About 2 miles to the north, Katriona Dean and Matthew Williams waited excitedly for what would be their third time seeing the monks in Virginia. The couple had traveled from their home in Ontario, Canada “to share the message of, let there be peace on Earth,” Dean said.
“You can feel it. There’s something in the air. You can tell when people are all on the same page,” Williams said. “We need this now more than ever in society, especially between races, different sexes, nationalities.”
A pilgrimage spanning 2,300 miles
The Walk for Peace is a 2,300-mile pilgrimage that began Oct. 26 at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The venerable monks started their journey to inspire others by their message of hope, peace, compassion and unity.
The walk is scheduled to culminate at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 12. The monks’ journey north through central Virginia coincided with a winter storm and near-freezing temperatures. Despite the conditions, the Walk for Peace attracted large crowds, with many well-wishers offering – or receiving – flowers as the monks quietly walked by.
The Walk for Peace arrived in Henrico on Brook near Azalea Avenue around 9 a.m. on Feb. 3, escorted by the Police Division. The monks continued along Mountain Road, Woodman Road and Magnolia Ridge Drive before turning back onto Brook and crossing into Hanover County around 3:45 p.m. to continue their trek north.
A welcome and rest at the Campus of Virginia Randolph
Henrico officials and worshippers from two temples – Hue Quang Temple and Vien Giac Buddhist Temple — organized a midday stop at the Campus of Virginia Randolph. After a rest, the monks gathered and blessed their meal. The room was filled with the aromas of hot ginger tea, rice and vegetables, as well as respectful silence from the assembled guests.
In a program after lunch, Board of Supervisors Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III presented Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace, with small gifts and a proclamation commending the monks “for their efforts to foster unity, healing, and peace across our state and nation.”
“This pilgrimage comes at a critical time when communities across our nation face rising mental health challenges, divisions, and global uncertainty, serving as a reminder that peace is not merely a destination, but a practice that begins within and radiates outward to families, communities, and nations,” the proclamation says.
In remarks, Bhikkhu Pannakara emphasized the importance of being happy with what you have, of practicing mindfulness, of avoiding the distraction of cellphones and other devices, and of adopting peacefulness as a mindset.
“We are mindful on each and every step we make,” he said. “I focus on my breathing when I walk, it’s not just a walk, but walk with practicing mindfulness.”
Love for Aloka
One of the most famous participants in the Walk for Peace is the monks’ four-legged companion, Aloka. The dog was found astray in India before being adopted by the monks as their cuddly “ambassador of peace.” He is believed to be about 4 years old and is possibly an Indian Pariah dog. Aloka rode along the final stages of the Walk for Peace while recovering from leg surgery.
In Henrico, the pup received his own basket of gifts, which included treats, a stuffed toy and an honorary patch from the Police Division.
Aloka has amassed nearly 1 million followers on Facebook by documenting the Walk for Peace from his dog’s eye view. The Henrico Police Animal Shelter staff said they hope Aloka’s story inspires the adoption of other animals in need.
“Along with their mission to promote unity, we would love for this walk to also spread compassion for animals,” said Dr. Jessica Summers, the shelter’s veterinarian. “To see how much Aloka affects people reminds our team of the healing and joy that pets bring to their adoptive homes, even in dark times. There are so many animals in our shelter who are waiting to be adopted.”
‘Walk with us’
Before departing their lunchtime stop, the monks invited the guests to join the journey by leading lives of peace and kindness. The monks shared braided bracelets with members of the crowd, tying them on one by one.
“Whenever you look at it, it means … that you can walk with us until the end of this life to make this world to be a better place for our future generation,” Bhikkhu Pannakara said.
A live map of the monks’ travels is on the Walk for Peace website.
