By Lillian Gray
Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall Wednesday afternoon to see Buddhist monks complete their 109-day, 2,300-mile “Walk For Peace” from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.
Nineteen monks arrived in Washington on Feb. 11 after crossing through nine states, a journey with a simple message of promoting peace, love, kindness and compassion. At the end of their journey, they held a concluding ceremony which allowed spectators to walk with them to the Lincoln Memorial and hear closing remarks from many of the monks and their supporters.
Two Buddhist monks pass by the Washington Monument on their way to the Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
Spectators hold flowers to give to the Buddhist monks who walked 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A Buddhist monk makes his way to the Lincoln Memorial for the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A spectator holds a sign that reads “peace and love” at the “Walk for Peace” closing ceremony. Photo by Lillian Gray. 
A Buddhist monk holds flowers gifted by spectators who lined the streets alongside the National Mall. Photo by Lillian Gray
Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who led the group throughout the peace walk, addressed spectators at the Lincoln Memorial and expressed gratitude for the support the monks received along the way.
Wherever we go you show support and love. This moment will live with me for the rest of my life. – Paññākāra.
Paññākāra emphasized the significance of their journey: to inspire people to find peace within themselves, with the idea of spreading it to others.
“Ladies and gentlemen, life moves very fast,” Paññākāra said. “Sometimes, just a few seconds are enough for us to hurt someone, to say words we regret or to create more pain in a world that is already exhausted. But those same few seconds, if we live them well, can become the beginning of peace.”
Bhikkhu Bodhi, a Buddhist monk from Brooklyn, New York, did not participate in the walk, but praised those who did and the message behind it.
“Witnessing this ‘Walk for Peace’ over the last three months has been one of the most impressive experiences in my life as a Buddhist monk,” Bodhi said. “This ‘Walk for Peace’ is one of the most important events to take place in the United States in the 21st century.”
The monks set off on their walk in late October and quickly garnered the attention of news outlets and social media. In every town they passed through, people lined the streets to see and join them for a portion of the walk.
“This walk has shown that no matter what race you might belong to, whatever ethnicity you might come from, whatever religious faith you might adhere to,” Bodhi said. “We all celebrate peace, we all affirm kindness and compassion, and we all want to create a nation and a world which will embody peace, mutual affirmation and solidarity.”
Hope Thomas, a supporter who participated in the concluding ceremony, said she didn’t hear about the “Walk for Peace” until a couple of days before the event. She said she felt compelled to drive from Little Rock, Arkansas, with her dog, Byron, just in time to see the monks.
They got in the car Tuesday afternoon and drove straight to Washington with a brief stop to take a nap Wednesday morning so they do “not miss an opportunity of a lifetime.”
“I don’t know if there’s words for it,” Thomas said. “You’re surrounded just by people that want to come together in peace and want to come together in unity.”
Thomas, a yoga instructor, said her practice of mindfulness and meditation made her want to come see the monks and be a part of what they stand for.
“I think so many people are just exhausted at this point, some people may feel helpless as to what to do,” Thomas said. “I think this brings back a purposeful meaning that there is the possibility to go against what’s going on, go against that tide of negativity, and dare I say hate.”
Edyta Hutchman and her friends drove from Pennsylvania to see the monks. Hutchman shared that as the monks made their way to the Lincoln Memorial, she made eye contact with many of them and began to cry.
“So many of them looked right into your eyes, like they see you,” Hutchman said. “They were connecting with as many people as they could. It just felt so powerful.”
Hutchman said she felt inspired by the monks’ journey and that it was an extreme measure that allows people to reflect on what they’re doing and try to follow.
We’re having a collective experience. Everybody is here with the intent to bear witness of what these incredible people have done and it’s a feat that should be honored. – Hutchman
Washington resident Aly Alvarez-Garcia had been following the journey from the beginning and watched it transform into a unifying movement.
“If I wasn’t dehydrated, I’d be crying,” Alvarez-Garcia said. “I think it shows a lot of unity. And I think we’ve been missing that unity feeling, so it’s nice to see everyone just come together.”
Alvarez-Garcia said she thinks it made people reflect on the way they are treating the people around them.
“Even if it’s not impacting a ton of people all at once, a lot of seeds are being planted right now,” Alvarez-Garcia said. “And I think it’s those little seeds that grow into bigger movements.”
The conclusion of the monks’ journey took place in Annapolis on Thursday, where they visited the Statehouse and held a peace gathering. Soon they will take a bus back to Texas and walk six miles to the Huong Dao Buddhist Temple, where their journey first began.
Featured Image: A group of Buddhist monks walking toward the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate their 109-day walk from Texas to Washington, D.C. on Feb. 11, 2026. Photo by Lillian Gray.