In a blog post titled "Why We Walk," the 19 Buddhist monks who are walking on a pilgrimage of peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C wrote: "Our walking itself cannot create peace. But when someone encounters us — whether by the roadside, online or through a friend — when our message touches something deep within them, when it awakens the peace that has always lived quietly in their own heart — something sacred begins to unfold."The post continues: "This is our contribution—not to force peace upon the world, but to help nurture it, one awakened heart at a time."

 

Many of us accompanied the monks, both literally and figuratively, as they traveled through North Carolina in January. And we can still feel the awakened heart as a result. Let’s gather mid-February, around the time they are expected to arrive in D.C., to hold a prayer circle of peace in their honor. This gathering will serve as a final communion with the monks during the concluding days of their pilgrimage. Our circle will feature inspirational and contemplative liturgy and Sacred Movement accompanied by music and candlelight.