Monks bring balm for America’s wounds as Washington cheers peace odyssey | Washington DC
Bhante Saranapala looked out over a hundred Buddhist monks wearing burnt orange, saffron and maroon robes, many sporting woolly hats and a few carrying flowers.
“These monks are amazing!” roared Saranapala Known as the “Urban Buddhist Monk”prompting cheers from the large crowd. “Their determination is to be greatly admired. Walking 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington D.C. takes strong determination!”
The Lincoln Memorial has witnessed many things in the last century: Black opera singer Marian Anderson, Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, Richard Nixon’s midnight chat with anti-war demonstrators, but rarely is a scene as colorful as Wednesday’s.
For 19 monks and their rescue dog Aloka from India, it was an important stop on a 2,300-mile route. “Walk for Peace”a self-described spiritual journey that was applauded by thousands across nine states.
This journey began 108 days ago in Texas and has seen them brave freezing temperatures and paralyzing winter storms, sometimes barefoot, to raise “awareness of peace, loving kindness and compassion in America and around the world.”
They were joined by about 100 monks and nuns determined to stay out of politics in America’s political capital, but among the thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial was one waving a Palestinian flag and another holding a large banner reading “Peaceful resistance.”
The meeting took place within the framework of the following views: recently renamed Donald J Trump Peace Institute and nearby also recently renamed Trump Kennedy Center. But above the friars were the more permanent Washington touchstones, a 19ft-tall seated statue of Lincoln carved from Georgia marble and a desire to “heal the nation’s wounds” inscribed on the monument.
The priests had come with salve for America’s existing wounds, and although there was plenty of ice and snow, they found the weather challenging as the capital emerged from a recent cold snap. As the priests took their places under the monument, a song blared from the speakers: “We are spreading peace, love and harmony all the way to Washington DC.”
Some gave speeches as birds and the occasional plane flew overhead. Tencho GyatsoThe nephew of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual leader, read a letter paying tribute to the monks: “Their dedication, including enduring physical hardships and harsh weather conditions during a journey of more than 2,000 miles, attracted attention both in the United States and internationally,” he wrote.
“The message of peace and mutual understanding conveyed through their behavior, marked by humility and calmness, resonated with many of the people they encountered along the way… May their march help plant the seeds of greater peace, understanding, and compassion in the United States and beyond.”
Bhikkhu Bodhi, a monk Originally from Brooklyn, he described the march as one of the most important events of the 21st century, saying: “It seems to me that this peace march has revealed the greatest quality of the American character, which is the recognition expressed in Abraham Lincoln’s words in his speech at Gettysburg that this is a nation founded on the principle that all men are created equal. We must review that and say that all men are created men.”
“And what this march showed is that no matter what race you are, no matter what ethnicity you are, no matter what religious faith you follow, no matter the color of your skin, we are all celebrating peace.”
Peace walks are a valued tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Some of the monks walked barefoot or in socks for parts of the journey to feel the ground directly and help them be present in the moment.
But this effort was not without its dangers. In November, outside Houston, the group was walking along the side of the highway when their escort vehicle was struck by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan’s leg was amputated.
Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Georgia, returned to the monks near Washington and addressed the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial from his wheelchair.
While the peace march attracted the attention of millions of people on social media, many people shared messages of support.
On Wednesday, King’s son, Martin Luther King III, said the march at X “was a powerful reminder that peace is being implemented step by step.” This is what it feels like to stand up for the best of who we are in a time of division. Love requires endurance. Peace is power.”
Some in the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial carried roses or held signs reading “Peace warriors welcome,” “Equal rights for all people” and “Every heart needs an Aloka.” They joined the slogan “Today will be my peaceful day” under the leadership of Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader of the Peace March.
Jacquelyn Gray, 64, who works in construction logistics, said: “I’ve been following them since the day they left and I’m impressed that someone can be so committed to something. I know as well as anyone that they can’t get here and that peace will magically sweep the planet, but I admire their dedication to this cause.”
Katharine Naujoks, 57, a high school science teacher, said: “The world needs some communalism, friendship, peace and good will. A lot of people are looking for that. I want to be part of that positive experience.”
Commenting on the priests’ epic march, which ends Thursday near Annapolis, Maryland, Naujoks added: “It’s pretty surprising that Virginia, Maryland and D.C. had to go through the coldest period of time. We’re not usually that cold, so it’s surprising to me. It just shows that this is a big deal. It’s a big deal to them, and it’s a big deal to everyone else here.”
Can Washington politicians learn from them? “It would be nice,” he said.
