The classic District soundscape of vrooming vehicles and street hustle and bustle temporarily came to a standstill on Feb. 10-11 as 19 Buddhist monks, and their rescue dog Aloka, arrived in Washington, D.C., as part of their 2,300-mile Walk For Peace, which also promoted mindfulness, kindness, reflection and unity.
“Let peace bloom and flourish among all of us throughout this nation and the world, so that this world can become the better place for all beings to live,” said Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, the Buddhist temple that initiated the Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas to the nation’s capital on Oct. 26.
With flowers, signs, smiles and support, people flooded District streets — from American University’s Bender Arena, to the Washington National Cathedral, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial — to catch a glimpse of the monks, thank them for their commitment to peace, and listen to their wisdom, particularly at a time of major tension and division in the U.S. and across the globe.
“If anyone does not understand the significance or importance of what this means, they need to wake up,” Angelina Mosher, a student at Georgetown University working toward an MBA, told The Informer, during the Feb. 10 peace demonstration along Embassy Row after the service at the National Cathedral. “They need to open their eyes because there is a lot of hate, hurt, and acrimony on all sides of the political spectrum, from all religions, from all socioeconomic classes, and to think that everything is just fine right now is being ignorant to the suffering of your neighbor.”
As she takes in brewing national and international turmoil, navigates life as a student nearing graduation, and worries about the economy and job security, Mosher was moved by the monks’ message, emphasizing the crucial nature of promoting peace at this time.
“I think people are feeling a lot of worry right now,” she said. “It really is inspiring to see how a simple act like walking can galvanize and inspire so many people.”
As the group of monks traversed the District, leading up to a rally at the Lincoln Memorial on Feb. 11, their focus was not on celebration– even after completing such a feat. With thousands gathered in the name of peace, and inspired by their long journey, the group focused on their mission, using the massive platform to offer a call to action.
“Choose harmony over winning. Harmony does not mean sameness. It means respect without agreement and coexistence without fear,” said Paññākāra. “Peace does not come from victory. Peace comes from the ability to live together.”
Gaining Inspiration from a Peaceful ‘Act of Resistance’
Witnessing the monks in person was awe-inspiring for many as the monks walked by determined to spread their message of peace.
“I think the monks have done a beautiful job of representing peace and unity in a nonviolent, non-reactionary, beautiful way,” said Kimberly, an onlooker who did not feel comfortable disclosing her last name.
Frustrated by division and civil unrest globally, Kimberly said participating in the first day of the monks’ District programming, including going to the Washington National Cathedral, offered hope and encouragement.
“People just judge based on the way we look, the color of our skin, what school jersey you happen to wear,” she said. “People have just stopped listening and talking with each other. So, I think [this walk] is just a beautiful representation of what the world could be.”
Additionally, Kimberly was inspired by the monks’ message of mindfulness.
“I do not take the time to stop and…slow down…I’m a news junkie. This actually has been helping me stop, and listen to their evening talks, so I can stop reading the news,” she said. “[Their journey] has been a reminder to be more reflective,” she said.
For Mosher, witnessing the monks has offered a lesson about the power of peace.
“It is an act of resistance. It is saying that we are not going to partake in anger, in frustration, in hatred,” she told The Informer, “and we’re going to do something positive and inspire others while calling for national attention [and] international attention.”
Excited to be part of the peaceful moment and movement, District resident Don Alley was among the massive crowd at the Lincoln Memorial during the Wednesday afternoon celebration of the monks’ long journey.
“It’s a simple thing they’re doing, but it’s so powerful. So, you want to be involved in something that is very simple, very crisp, very powerful, and very concise. It speaks volumes,” he said, before noting one of the other lessons the monks have to offer. “I think they’re saying a lot by just being who they are.”
Next Steps, Continuing the Peace Movement
As Alley stood in awe of the monks at the Lincoln Memorial, he considered how their message of peace could be used across D.C.
For Alley, achieving a more peaceful District and nation would involve open discussion, tackling unemployment issues and food disparities, and greater engagement between government officials and community members.
“We need communication. We need accountability,” Alley told The Informer. “We need to re-earn trust in one another and define the parameters of what our expectations are of each other.”
Although the nation’s capital was the final destination for the monks in their journey, Alley doesn’t view their presence in D.C. as closure, but rather a beginning.
“This is one step in understanding where we’re moving in terms of the people, not the government or the people in charge, but the people themselves,” he said. “We want you to understand that even though we stand in peace, even though we stand here and present ourselves in a large group, continue to realize how we’re building grounds, for there are more of us. We believe this is the way versus conflict, chaos, anger [and] rage baiting.”
While witnessing the monks at the Lincoln Memorial, Vio Trapsila said she feels that true peace work starts internally, which will then translate to how a person responds to external situations.
“Peace is within ourselves. What is bothering [you] first, you just have to deal with that first,” she said. “After dealing with yourself, then you can spread peace to others.”
Trapsila said she’ll take the lessons learned from the monks’ long journey as she navigates the world.
“It gives me movement or something because they walked very far, especially in this kind of weather,” she told The Informer. “It just [provokes] some feelings that I cannot describe. That’s just the peace I can feel.”
With the monks in the nation’s capital, Trapsila said that she believes leaders could glean some wisdom from the group’s message.
“Everybody deserves a time for themselves, to just connect with their God,” she said. “Public policy needs to have that. [Employers] have to give their employees time to pray.”
After her own journey to the National Mall to see the monks in a beautiful celebration of peace, diversity and unity, Trapsila encouraged others to be inspired by the brave group of peaceful walkers.
“Just be present. We need to have kindness. And then realize that we are all different. We have to embrace our differences,” she said, “and we will bring peace eventually.”
Emphasizing the importance of the walk, Mosher explained that peace in her daily life will be rooted in more intentionality moving forward, including: caring for and supporting friends and family, showing more compassion, being cautious with her words and slow to judgement and anger.
“I think that it would be quite easy to understate the importance of this moment and what it means because so often what we see on our phones and the news is violence, agitation, sensationalizing, headlines, and emotions are running high. And so, this moment is so important because it is showcasing an alternative path,” she told The Informer. “Slow down. We can walk mindfully and make a statement.”
On Thursday, Feb. 12, the monks made their final visits in Maryland, before departing for Fort Worth, Texas, where their remarkable Walk for Peace first began last October.
Understanding the ever-present nature of division and conflict, Paññākāra emphasized that the conclusion of the monks’ trek does not mean an end to intentional peace work.
“Don’t expect the world to be at peace because it will never happen. If we have thousands of monks walking every day like that, the world’s still not going to be at peace,” he told the crowd before offering a final charge. “But, if all the human beings in this world are practicing mindfulness every single day, it will change this world to be at peace.”