In October 2025, nineteen Buddhist monks — and their cherished dog Aloka — set out on a 2,300-mile journey on foot across the United States to promote peace.
Their “Walk for Peace” started in Fort Worth, Texas, and is scheduled to reach the nation’s capital on February 10, where they will convene in Washington D.C. to offer reflections on healing, unity, and compassion to the public.
“The weather was harsh, the wind was fierce, but we were warmed up completely by the peaceful energy from hundreds of people who lined up on the roads to welcome us,” the monks shared on Instagram as they arrived in Alexandria, Virginia.
In addition to reaching 107 days on their penultimate pitstop, the Buddhist monks also welcomed back venerable monk Maha Dam Phommasan.
“Due to an accident we had before, Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan could not physically walk with us since then,” the official Walk for Peace Instagram account shared on February 9, referring to a traffic incident that injured two monks in early December.
“However, we are happy to share that he will reunite with the venerable monks today … and for the coming days in Washington, DC.”
“We are deeply honored and grateful to have Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan walking with us on this peaceful journey for peace,” the post continued. “His presence, wisdom, and dedication enrich this mission profoundly.”
The account also promised to introduce each “venerable monk on this journey” in the coming days as their trek reached its conclusion.
As the monks journeyed into Alexandria, onlookers watched in awe. One woman, Usa Bunak, was overwhelmed with emotion.
“This is so important for me to be here,” Bunak told WUSA9, adding that she traveled from Kensington, Maryland to greet the monks in the streets.
“I'm Buddhist and I grew up in Thailand … One of the monks is from my hometown in Ubon Ratchatai,” Bunak said. “And being part of this, this is the most important moment as a Buddhist — to be witnessing the monks do the walking meditation.”
Bunak also traveled to Alexandria on behalf of her husband.
“My husband is in hospice and he's dying at home. It’s so important for me to be here to bring the memory back to him and back to my family.”
“Just being here, and being here in America, meeting the monks that have been walking for 107 days — I've been following them since they started out in Texas — and I just thought, ‘When they are in D.C., I want to be here.’ I wanna be part of this, and it will just be a blessing for me and for my family.”
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Header image via Walk for Peace / Instagram
