February, 2026

Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara leading the Walk for Peace pilgrimage

Walk for Peace: Buddhist monks arrive in Washington after 2,300-mile journey

For 108+2 days, 20 monastics from Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Ft. Worth, Texas, embarked on a walk to Washington, DC along with their Peace Dog Aloka. The walk was neither a political movement nor focused on advocacy or legislation. “It’s a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts.”

108 is a symbolic number in Buddhism and Hinduism.
The monks spent 108 continuous days of walking to reach Washington, DC. ( plus 1 day in DC and the last day in Maryland.)
108 symbolizes the number of earthly desires, passions, or defilements a person must overcome to attain enlightenment, commonly represented by the 108 beads on a mala (meditation necklace). It signifies a holistic path to spiritual awakening, purity, and the cleansing of the body, mind, and speech. 
Humans have 5 senses plus an extra sixth sense:
sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and mind
3 feelings of: pleasant, unpleasant and neutral
2 classifications: attached to pleasure/emotions and nonattached
3 periods: past, present, future
6 x 3 x 2 x 3 = 108

In astrology, 108 relates to 9 planets and 12 months (or zodiac signs) representing the 108 karmic possibilities or changes that a soul can experience through the interaction of cosmic energies. 

Today, with science and technology rapidly transforming the direction of our world, and with political leaders and authoritarian powers imposing domination by force, countless vulnerable people are plunged into suffering and fear, many feeling helpless, angry and divided. People have been rising up to injustice and expressing themselves in different ways.

Following these monks led by Ven. Pannakara and their Peace Dog Aloka has been very heartwarming.
Back in 2022, Ven. Pannakara had embarked on a Dhutanga pilgrimage Peace Walk through India and Nepal- a 112-day journey, roughly 3,400km, joined by over 100 monks. A stray Indian Pariah dog, with a natural white heart-shaped mark on his forehead, attached himself to the monks on Day 6 of the walk. Perhaps a karmic connection, Ven. Pannakara gave him the name, Aloka– meaning “light” in Sanskrit. Becoming forever best friends enduring joys and hardships, Ven. Pannakara arranged to have Aloka brought to the U.S. They have gained millions of followers on social media during their U.S. walk, and have touched so many hearts along their path. At an evening rest stop and dhamma talk, Ven. Pannakara said: ”We are walking not to bring you any peace, but to raise the awareness of peace so that you can unlock that box and free it for yourself.”

Although the walk has been positive, it has not been without obstacles. Early in the journey, an accident occurred with a truck hitting the monks’ escort vehicle. Two monks sustained serious injuries and one of the monks, Ven. Maha Dam Phommasan, had his leg amputated. Ven. Phommsan could not continue with the walk, but has used this experience as a further message for peace. Despite the accident, the group continued to trek across the U.S. to honor not only their original message of peace but also their brothers. Ven. Phommasan was able to travel to Washington in a wheelchair to be reunited with the group for the last days of the journey.

Read and See More:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/walk-peace-buddhist-monks-end-2300-mile-journey-washington-2026-02-10/

Buddhist monks have led peace walks for thousands of years.
In more recent times, another revered Buddhist monk, Maha Ghosananda (1929–2007) was known as the “Gandhi of Cambodia.” He led walks for peace starting in 1992 through war-torn, landmine-strewn regions bringing together thousands of refugees, monks, and citizens to foster national reconciliation, healing, and non-violence following the Khmer Rouge era. 

Read more about Maha Ghosananda of Cambodia:
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/maha-ghosananda-cambodias-great-advocate-for-world-peace/

Even though these walks have come to an end, may the spirit continue with the wish that all beings find happiness and inner peace, free of suffering. May there be justice for all humans to live in dignity.

Continue to follow Ven Pannakara and the monastics on their website of Huong Dao Center in Ft. Worth, Texas:
https://dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace/

Watch the Documentary The Footsteps of a Buddhist Monk- tracing the India Peace Walk in 2022.
Narrated in Vietnamese with English subtitles. A book may also soon be available via the website:
https://dhammacetiya.com/footsteps-of-a-buddhist-monk/

And as Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh reminded us:
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14572.Peace_Is_Every_Step

https://www.lionsroar.com/walking-meditation-thich-nhat-hanh/

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