Guest essay by Lynda Fanning
On Feb 11, 2026, the amazing Walk for Peace by 19 Buddhist monks ends in Washington DC with a Global Loving-Kindness Meditation. Their clear purpose for every step of this 2300 mile, 109 day walk from their monastery in Fort Worth, Texas, has been to spread and build PEACE as Unity, Loving-Kindness, and Compassion with the untold thousands of their greeters/supporters lining the roads and filling the cities and towns along the way.
They walked for peace across India last year during which they were chosen by Aloka (“light” in Pali), a Buddha-like stray dog who came home with them and has now helped spread peace over a big part of the US.
Most days on the pilgrimage they held one or more peace-sharing talks or events, almost always led by the lead monk, Bhikkhu Pannakota. He would talk about ways of finding peace, like living mindfully, in the present, breath by breath, and letting go of the unchangeable past as “rocks around our necks”.
The monks were able to touch hearts, inspire, and open people up to their own suffering on their way to loving-kindness and peace. There were many emotional scenes along the way and much visible gratitude. As the monks showed their own peace and caring, it was said that people could see “something real happening in front of them.“
Those of us who walked with them in Richmond VA were deeply touched by the ease of connecting with others as if we were all more strongly experiencing openness and lightness of heart. It seemed to take no effort, as if distance between us all had disappeared. This feeling was often described by others in different gatherings all along the journey.
In the hardships of all these miles, extreme weather, sickness and even a devastating accident, the monks never lost the purpose of building peace, exhibiting peace, passing on peace. And now at the end of these steps on a road we ourselves can better receive this role of creating peace and lovingkindness. The Bhikkhu asks us to start each day with “Today is my Peaceful Day”, not as a wish but a decision.
So, for us at IMCC, we have heard the monks’ often repeated appeal to all who will not be there in person to even more importantly attend “in spirit,” emphasizing a focused attendance there by our “Inner Being.”
Specifically, they said “at this time pull away from whatever you’re doing and be fully with us at these events in spirit.” Instead of an ending they are emphasizing this to be seen as a beginning. In all these miles, a community was born; strangers became companions. Hope became something you felt in your heart area, not just believed in your mind. So it is the beginning for all of us to be even more committed to use our own light to build peace with every choice we make, every gentle word, act of compassion, every pause before reaction, every heart-felt smile to a stranger, how it feels to genuinely care, and to carry our own light.
So let us all invite our full Being to be there with the monks in Washington as well as with the awakened hearts of all along the path, near and far even to the corners of the earth, no longer needing this WALK of 20 miles a day, but using our own light to build peace.
Click here to join the closing ceremonies via live stream on Wednesday, February 11:
9:30 AM: Walk to Peace Monument / Capitol Hill
1:30 PM: Walk to Lincoln Memorial
2:30–4:00 PM: Peace Gathering and Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial
4:30–7:30 PM: Meditation Session with Ven. Bhikkhu Pannakara
Click here to be inspired by Aloka’s Song.