Dhammacetiya Walk for Peace in the US

The Watercooler
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There’s a Buddhist activity in the southeastern United States (US) that’s gaining widespread media coverage:

EDITED to correct information about where they’ve travelled so far.

EDITED to change the title of this thread, because initially there were some mixed or confusing feelings but now there is only deep gratitude :folded_hands:.

A group of ~15 monks who support the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas are walking about 2300 miles/3700 kilometers on a Walk for Peace. They have designed the route to go from Texas to Washington, D.C.

They are due to come through my city in North Carolina in a few weeks.

Already they have experienced some physical hardship and they’ve walked from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama so far. Now they’re making their way through Georgia. When you go to their website here, they describe an incredible project: they want to inscribe the entire tipiṭaka on 840 stupas.

This project consists of 840 stupas, both large and small, each constructed of durable materials – granite and hard steel, so they will last for centuries. The 840 stupas represent 84,000 Dhammakkhandhas (Portions of Dhamma) that comprise the teachings of the Enlightened One, the profound, pure and practical truth, the way of life filled with mindfulness and awareness, and the message of Compassion, Wisdom, and Liberation.

I have deep gratitude for this effort.

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I had no idea that this was a fundraiser for stupa building. I just liked that it was a walk from the deep, conservative south to DC, showing that there are people who have higher values than what late stage capitalism offers.

As someone who goes on alms round and intentionally takes public transportation I do so as a reminder that there are values greater than greed, hatred and delusion. I have people approaching me regularly just excited that ‘I’ exist. Where that ‘I’ in all its projections, is someone living as a monastic in a strange, competitive and money driven world.

Do we need more stupas? Why not? They’re another symbol of wholesome values.

Will people questioning greed, hatred and delusion bring down this symptom of late stage capitalism- it’d be nice, and worth a try! It’s a sign that there is another way, in a time when many feel hopeless.

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My auntie lives with aspergers, and perhaps dementia. After she got fire from her job after 10 years working, her mental health got worse and one day she decided to go and see the world.

During the end of Covid in 2021, she left Massachusetts and traveled to Mexico, and from Mexico back to Florida.

She has crossed America mile after mile mostly on foot. Her most recent journey was from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and back.

Sometimes the police helped her along the way.

One day she took off again, but this time I followed her, trying to stop her. Twenty miles later, I was badly sunburnt. But during that walk, I learned a great deal about my auntie’s heart and about the way she sees reality.

One moment has stayed with me. She told me about an American man who once showed her the way when she was asking for direction.

He said, “Follow the direction of the sun,” and pointed to his heart.

My auntie understood it like this:

“Here, in America, the sun is in the direction of the heart.”

Walking beside her for those twenty miles, I could only admire her resilience and the human spirit. In some way, the walking eased her pain. She became more cheerful, bright and happy, just like the auntie I remember growing up with from my childhood.

I think even if the Walk for Peace is not for any lofty cause at all, the fact that these Venerables made a determination to walk and to keep going with that determination until they reach their destination deeply humbles me.

I don’t imagine they are walking with the thought, “We are going to make 840 stupas out of this walk.”

What touches me more is the act itself: the commitment, the endurance, the willingness to place one foot in front of the other, again and again.

To me, this feels closer to walking with the sun in one’s heart.

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For sure, I can understand how all kinds of mixed feelings can arise on all number of considerations (such is the marvelously agitated orientation of the mind :sweat_smile:). I personally, have no clue about these monks, their intentions and so on, and only heard about the Walk for Peace via a casual reference from Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi at the end of an online sutta class he led on Saturday.

While not knowing myself—in fact, all the more, because of that—I think it might be worth taking extra care in representation on the following point, and pausing to be sure we have the right understanding:

After hearing about the walk, intrigued, I did a bit of a Googlaroo and also discovered the Stupa project. However, I didn’t automatically associate it with the walk. At least while not having cause to do otherwise, I was inclined to just understand that the monk leading the walk also started a stupa project a few years ago.

As they are hosting some of the walk info on the Dhammacetiya website there is fair room for questions about how tied these two things are, but it could also just be a technical convenience (which is at least to some degree supported by a glance through the site’s news archive that shares all kinds of general news, and is not just exclusively focused on the stupa project).

In the route link you shared, they point to the dedicated Walk for Peace Facebook page as the source of truth. The map says:

For all information and updates of the journey, please visit us here: https://facebook.com/walkforpeaceusa

Much as I’m loath to enter, or promote the Zuckerverse, this is perhaps a worthy exception. The intro given there states:

Official Page of Walk for Peace, the 120-day, 2,300-mile journey by Buddhist monks — with loyal dog, Aloka — walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world. :folded_hands:

Under the links given there, the specific page for the walk is given (https://dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace/) rather than the Dhammacetiya home page. A Zeffy link is also given and the description for that gives:

The Walk for Peace began on October 26, 2025, at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.

This journey will span approximately 2,300 miles (3,701 kilometers), at a mindful pace of 20–23 miles per day. This is not a protest — it is a living expression of hope. Each step is taken with mindfulness, carrying a message of harmony, kindness, and resilience.

To fulfill this vision, we seek the support and participation of everyone — regardless of background or belief. With your compassion, The Walk for Peace can unfold with dignity and become a meaningful contribution to all who seek peace.
At Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center Inc., we believe that change begins with each of us. Every act of kindness, every moment of peace, and every bit of mindful support bring us closer to a more compassionate world.

No mention of stupas.

Putting these things together, I’d feel quite hesitant about describing it as a “Dhammacetiya Walk for Peace”, and feel it more suitable to say, “Monks of Huong Dao Walk for Peace”. At least without clearer evidence to the contrary, I think it would be quite uncharitable not to allow that attention brought to the the stupa project may be more a peripheral side effect rather than a primary purpose of this endeavour.

From the representations I have thus far seen, at face value it would seem to be fair to characterize the chief interest in this particular undertaking as being to encourage individuals to turn inwards to create both inner and outer peace. Beautiful as it is, I don’t even feel this is an uncomplicated invitation. At the same time, reflecting on how spectacularly complicated samsara’s invitation is, I’d suggest there are many worse things.

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Thank you Ven. @Pasanna, @Sumana, & @Aminah for your helpful feedback. There are people in my neighborhood now showing curiosity – and the monks are still quite a ways from us! The media presence is growing day by day so it’s good to know how to discuss the Walk for Peace with other people. Hardly anyone in this part of the US has any understanding of Buddhism.

I suppose I could remove “Mixed Feelings” from the thread title. But I truly spoke from a place of some confusion. And it’s not all cleared up. But I am gaining clarity through this discussion.

Also I feel the project to inscribe the entire tipiṭaka on the stupas speaks volumes to the importance of the dhamma, as rendered in the pāli and a handful of modern languages. I would rather this not get lost on people, as a testament to the dhamma, even if there’s no direct relationship we can establish between the walk and the project.

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“Mixed feelings” seems entirely valid!

I think one of the many points of caution I would have is around how the inherently distortive effect of hype will almost inevitably spawn all kinds of confusion, unsturdy expectations and so on. Before getting too lost in that legitimate concern, I just remember these dangers are always in play and they are usually take much less wholesome things as their focus. There are always going to be all dangers on all sides.

From one clip I heard Ven. Paññākāra describe how they aren’t by any stretch universally welcomed, and have folks throwing stuff at them. It might be framed that part of the point is just to meet the uncertainty as it is.

Probably one of the better ways to get an idea of what they’re about is to listen to them:

I have to confess that probably the main detail that caught my interest was in the audiences that are assembling to listen. To my mind it gives a kind of a sweet echo to the very root of our tradition. There are countless suttas telling of how householders (many not followers of the Buddha) came to listen to a teaching. Some interested, some not.

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It may be that the public is so exhausted with all the negative news and such that the political world has sucked everyone into that this feels like a cool breeze on a summer evening. Something like that. There’s more of a sense that there’s something fundamentally wrong and alternatives are needed. And then a troop monks come along with a Walk for Peace. There’s at least a willingness to acknowledge them and listen.

A few years ago, I read a book by a Czech dissident during the Soviet occupation days in eastern Europe. The English translation titled it “The Power of the Powerless.” It was basically a pamphlet or series of essays analyzing the social dynamic of resistance when the political system will allow none. His conclusion was that one had to work outside of the system on a more individual level to break the cultural control. Little acts of saying, “No” that are difficult to stop. You say, “No,” and disappear into the crowd. Everyone nearby heard what you said, but the authorities will never find you, and then people realize you can say “No.” This walk for peace feels like that to me.

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First of all Beth, your courage to voice your mixed feelings is admirable. :slight_smile:

As well as the wide range of support voiced here for the walk patiently and optimistically, which goes to show the maturity of our, and in general Buddhist community, the willingness to debate such things with frankness.

To be on the side of confusion: I also share it with the purpose of this walk, building stupas? For Tipitaka? I mean, we’ve had the canon more or less transmitted without the internet, so I find the hackers example perplexing as well. And I must admit, monastics raising money is always a nuanced topic. So, I think it’s understandable to have mixed feelings.

With that said, I think you’re fortunate to have them pass you by! So I think having a vibe check in person would be a greater evaluation than anything we can speculate. So, please do share your experience meeting the Venerables, if you can.

And finally, I’d paraphrase and agree with Charles that the world is out of it. So, perhaps with something out-of-the-box like this, they introduce monks to laity, to talk about Tipitaka - these are a good excuse to find something precious in these chaotic times.

May this walk be an opportunity for people to meet the suttas. That would surely be a good thing. :slight_smile:

:lotus:

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Indeed.

I think it’s worth here pointing out the historical antecedent: Maha Ghosananda’s Dhammayietra (which was translated into English as “Peace Walks”)

During the Khmer Rouge, he and his followers would walk through “dangerous” areas so the people there would be reminded of higher ideals and not feel abandoned or hopeless. That Cambodian Buddhism is recovering now is partially a testament to that reminder’s effectiveness.

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Christopher Titmuss lived in same monastery for some time Maha Ghosananda was staying on retreat before his return to Cambodia and through him in Sarnath I heard stories of him he is absolutely inspiring.

Edit: if any monastics feel inspired to try walk in Australia get in touch I offer to stay some distance at the ready with bicycle + tent & panniers to offer food if something doesn’t arrive before 1130 and I know a couple others who feel the same.

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Isn’t this the walk where a monk was hit by a car and had to have a leg amputated?

I agree. (And good to see you here! Often thinking about all the work you did in making so many translations available on SC.)

I don’t know if this puts Americans in a better or worse light… But people in vehicles are known to throw things at pedestrians regardless of the clothes they are wearing.

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Today’s post:

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:sunrise: Good Morning! Day 73 (1/6/2026) Begins - Crossing into South Carolina! - We have just started our walk from Tignall, Georgia, heading through Lincolnton and crossing the Savannah River Bridge into McCormick, South Carolina. A new historic day of our journey—entering our sixth state! The journey continues, one step at a time. We warmly welcome everyone to visit us at our stops!

:round_pushpin: Use the Live Map in the pinned/featured post on top of our page to track our journey today and our stop locations. Check last night’s update for full details.

Have a peaceful day! May we be mindful in everything we do throughout the day. We invite you to walk with us in spirit. May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. :folded_hands:

#WalkForPeace #Buddhistmonks #AlokathePeaceDog #McCormick #SouthCarolina

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If it was a fundraiser, they would be advertising it as a fundraiser, they are not. the are promoting peace and teaching dhamma. If by doing so, they raise money for their project, its a great thing for buddhism in the western world.

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Hello, I wholeheartedly agree! It’s evolving into a remarkable partnership with local municipalities, for example. Law enforcement officers are offering generous protection and help citizens understand how to join the walk while staying separated.

I don’t take issue that the Walk for Peace is transparent about the Dhammacetiya stupa project. The name is clearly branded on the monks’ satchels. It’s also branded on the official videos they release daily.

I feel it would be beneficial if interested onlookers actually researched the project. This way they would learn something about the tipiṭaka.

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I’ll share my initial thoughts, though I have not researched this topic deeply.

I think such things are generally very good. Monks are walking for peace, people get interested in buddhism, that’s all great. It seems they are not doing it to gather money directly, and everyone can have multiple projects at the same time. Creating stupas with suttas is not bad too. They are not doing anything unwholesome, quite the opposite.

I think we should be careful of our critical minds, because this is probably one of the last things we need to worry about. :slight_smile:

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They are walking through the bible belt, requiring the skill to be gentle and promote their purpose of promoting peace. If you notice when he talks he does not talk about “buddhism or buddha”. Adding the fundraising or anything refering to building to spread something other than christianity would create more conflict than they are already experiencing. Promoting the stupas, can come later - they have a following that is building rapidly that will support this.

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In one sense I resonate with this sentiment! At the same time, as they get close to my city and the public media interest grows, I feel some responsibility to discern what’s happening – beyond the fact that there is a group of 20 dedicated monks on a 2300 mile peaceful walk.

hmmm… I may be on the fence about that. Is all I expect my fellow citizens to understand and appreciate is that Buddhist monastics dedicate themselves to walking huge distances under the influence of mindfulness and peace?

I am already crafting a gentle but informative way to help curious citizens understand that Buddhist peace is grounded in the four noble truths – clearly explained in the inscriptions they are planning on the stupas in Fort Worth, Texas. Like, “Buddhist peace is rooted in deep appreciation of the reality of suffering and our release from suffering.”

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Screenshot 2026-01-10 104349
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Here’s the latest update :heart_eyes:

This is relatively flat the rest of the way. Temperatures will start dropping in a few days as they keep moving northeast (also it’s been unusually warm but that’s going to shift).

They are about 50 miles from Columbia, South Carolina, where the state capitol is located. They plan a “Join the Walk” on the grounds of the capitol building.

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One thing I find so beautiful in sangha is “give Occassion for incomparable goodness to arise in the world” it’s often so hard to find somewhere one has ability to give that is not transactional and by their noble humble practice they receive an apple or requisites of people even of low means who don’t have opportunity elsewhere , maybe they can give time attention, a piece of fruit, etc

If they are raising money for some stupa and they are sangha on the surface I don’t see it like in the light like some people have a “go fund me” or the sort of grift of soliciting donations, it’s rather like a place to put money if that is the persons volition and it goes toward something itself which is symbolic and like an offering (a stupa would be something symbolic or future people would see etc)

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Some uplifting news from a country that's losing its way
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