Buddhist Monks Reach Midpoint on 2,300-Mile Journey for Peace Across US
A group of 18 Buddhist monks has completed the halfway mark on a grueling 2,300-mile walk across the United States, with the ultimate goal of spreading messages of peace and compassion to millions of Americans. The journey, which began on October 26th from a Vietnamese temple in Texas, has already drawn massive crowds and attracted over a million followers on social media.
Leading the group is Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who is walking barefoot as part of the trek. His feet are heavily bandaged to treat injuries sustained from stepping on rocks, nails, and glass. The challenging terrain has also taken its toll on another monk, Aloka, who suffered a pre-existing leg injury while traveling with the group.
Despite the setbacks, including a serious truck accident that left one monk injured, the group remains committed to their mission. Two of the monks are following a particularly austere practice called dhutanga, which means they can only adopt three postures – walking, standing, or sitting – and never lie down, even for sleep.
The monks have already had several high-profile moments, including a dramatic rescue of Aloka in South Carolina and a heartwarming reunion with the dog at their current stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group's message of peace and unity has resonated deeply with Americans, who have taken to social media to express their admiration for the monks' courage and dedication.
As they near the halfway mark, the monks are now focused on Washington D.C., where they plan to deliver a petition asking Congress to recognize Vesak – the Buddha's day of birth and enlightenment – as a federal holiday. The Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra believes that by reaching the heart of the nation, he can spread his message of peace and compassion to every corner of America.
"By reaching to the heart of the nation, we believe that we can reach to the heart of all Americans across the United States," said Neeraj Bajracharya, the group's government liaison. "We want to reach out to each and every individual in America."
A group of 18 Buddhist monks has completed the halfway mark on a grueling 2,300-mile walk across the United States, with the ultimate goal of spreading messages of peace and compassion to millions of Americans. The journey, which began on October 26th from a Vietnamese temple in Texas, has already drawn massive crowds and attracted over a million followers on social media.
Leading the group is Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who is walking barefoot as part of the trek. His feet are heavily bandaged to treat injuries sustained from stepping on rocks, nails, and glass. The challenging terrain has also taken its toll on another monk, Aloka, who suffered a pre-existing leg injury while traveling with the group.
Despite the setbacks, including a serious truck accident that left one monk injured, the group remains committed to their mission. Two of the monks are following a particularly austere practice called dhutanga, which means they can only adopt three postures – walking, standing, or sitting – and never lie down, even for sleep.
The monks have already had several high-profile moments, including a dramatic rescue of Aloka in South Carolina and a heartwarming reunion with the dog at their current stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group's message of peace and unity has resonated deeply with Americans, who have taken to social media to express their admiration for the monks' courage and dedication.
As they near the halfway mark, the monks are now focused on Washington D.C., where they plan to deliver a petition asking Congress to recognize Vesak – the Buddha's day of birth and enlightenment – as a federal holiday. The Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra believes that by reaching the heart of the nation, he can spread his message of peace and compassion to every corner of America.
"By reaching to the heart of the nation, we believe that we can reach to the heart of all Americans across the United States," said Neeraj Bajracharya, the group's government liaison. "We want to reach out to each and every individual in America."
They're walking 2,300 miles to spread love, who knows if it'll work? 
The Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra's barefoot streak is admirable, but I hope he finds some comfy flip-flops in DC 
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gotta check out their social media following too, over a million people are already hooked 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, these monks are clearly passionate about spreading their message of peace and compassion, but 2,300 miles on foot? It's just plain crazy 
. And have you seen the state of some of these roads in the US? I wouldn't want to walk that much either 
.
. I mean, I'm all for discipline and self-control, but can't they just take a break every now and then? 
It's not like they're curing cancer or anything 
.
. Like, what even is the appeal of that day? Is it really worth disrupting the entire country's schedule just to celebrate some dude's birthday 
? I'm not saying it can't be a nice gesture and all, but come on... let's keep things in perspective, right? 
. I mean, 2,300 miles is a crazy distance, but it's all for a good cause 
. I love how the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra is taking care of his feet, even with all those injuries 
.
. Americans are really responding to this group's message of unity and peace. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we may have our differences, but at the end of the day, we're all human beings deserving of love and respect."
! These 18 monks are literally walking their talk 
! And the fact that Aloka was rescued in SC and reunited with his pup in NC... heartwarming stuff 
.
. Give me a break. It's all about publicity stunts and getting attention, not actual meaningful change. I'd love to see them actually do something concrete for their cause instead of just walking around in the open 
. But despite the challenges, they're still pushing forward and spreading their message. That's what I call dedication! 
A 2,300-mile walk for peace is huge! I can totally imagine how tough it must be on their feet (literally 
) but the message of compassion and unity is so strong. I'd love to see a diagram of their route... maybe a map with little monks walking along it? 
Here's a quick ASCII art representation:
. Are we really ready to put aside our differences and come together as one people? The Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra wants us to believe that by reaching Washington D.C., he can spread his message of peace to every corner of America... but what about the ones who aren't yet on board with this whole "peaceful coexistence" vibe?
. Are we just buying into the hype or are there real changes happening here? One thing's for sure, these monks have got everyone talking... but will it translate to actual policy changes in Congress? That's the real question 
my cousin actually did that for like a month straight from San Fran to LA, crazy! these monks are walking like 200 miles a day, whoa 
like who needs a superhero when you've got monks walking barefoot in the desert? 
I'm sending all my positive vibes their way 
. The fact that they've already had some crazy rescues and reunions with animals is just too adorable . And I'm totally down for Vesak being a federal holiday - who wouldn't want an extra day to practice mindfulness and kindness? 
They're not just walking for themselves, but for the people of America, and it's amazing to see how their message has resonated. The fact that they're pushing through injuries and setbacks is a testament to their dedication and courage . Bring on Washington D.C.!
I'm also really inspired by Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra's dedication to walking barefoot, even with injuries 
. Fingers crossed it works out for them! 