It never occurred to me to travel to witness part of the Walk for Peace, the 2,300 mile walk that Buddhist monks began last fall. The mission of this pilgrimage is not to solicit donations, and they do not carry signs or banners to make their point. There are no speeches or opinions, no protests or performances. In Buddhism, peace is not demanded from the world; it is embodied. They walk because the walking itself is the teaching. Mindful steps. Mindful breaths. Mindful intentions. We are witness to a profound practice.
The monks believe violence does not heal violence. Peace only begins when hatred is not fed and compassion becomes action.
It never occurred to me to drive to some place in Georgia to witness the Walk for Peace until I saw a Facebook post by Darin Wright, who said she jumped out of bed one morning and felt compelled to witness the walk; she went immediately because they were just getting further away. Inspired by her friend Jean Anne Gardner’s post about traveling to witness this, Darin posted, “Being in their presence was powerful even as they passed by. I truly wanted to follow.”
After witnessing the walk, Jean Anne shared her experience on social media, noting the unassuming, steady freely-given kindness of the monks and also the dog that travels with them, Aloka, a creature alert to the world but not disturbed by it.
“But what truly took my breath away were the people who came to meet them.
“The crowds were wide and diverse, children, old folks, families, people of different races, faiths, and languages. Some were curious, some reverent, some hopeful.
“I left reminded that peace is not an idea. It is an action. It is a choice. And sometimes, it looks like walking together toward something better, one step at a time.
“On an ordinary stretch of road, with monks and children and strangers offering flowers and open hands, it felt clear ...we are not lost ...we are, even now, still on the road to Good Hope,” she posted.
Timothy Thompson, (HEMP the artist) is a photojournalist following and documenting the walk from Alabama. He agreed to share this post with the Mountain Mirror.
“I’ve been trying to find the right words for what I witnessed, because “a group of monks walked past” doesn’t even touch it.
“This is the Walk for Peace, a 2,300-mile pilgrimage on foot from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. It began October 26, 2025, and it’s expected to take around 120 days as they move through about 10 states with one simple mission: carry peace into public space, not as a slogan, but as a practice.
“And what made it hit me the hardest is where I caught them.
“McDonald’s. Waffle House. Power lines. Traffic. The usual American rush. The kind of scenery that tells your brain “hurry up, consume, keep moving.” Then here comes this line of discipline and devotion, robes moving like a quiet river through the loudest kind of modern backdrop. It felt like a reminder that peace doesn’t need perfect conditions. Peace is supposed to be strong enough to walk straight through the middle of our distractions.
“They aren’t doing this as a show. They walk with intention, and people are watching because it’s rare to see that kind of consistency. Thousands have been following them online, and when they enter a town, you can feel the atmosphere change because everyone instinctively knows this is bigger than a photo.
“If you’ve been keeping up with their story, you also know this isn’t a soft journey. In November, near Dayton, Texas, a truck hit their escort vehicle and it struck the monks, injuring multiple people. One monk suffered severe injuries and later had his leg amputated. And even with that pain and disruption, the walk has continued. That part matters, because it proves the message. Peace isn’t fragile. Peace is resilient.
“And then there’s Aloka, the dog walking with them, moving like a symbol of loyalty and gentleness alongside the whole pilgrimage. Something about that dog being right there in the formation makes the whole thing feel even more human, even more grounded.
“As the photographer, my goal wasn’t to interrupt them. I wanted to honor their pace, their route, their quiet. So I stayed out of the way and let the moment be what it was, while still capturing it for people who weren’t there and for the people who were there but didn’t realize they were watching history in real time.
“If you saw them, too, tell me where you were standing and what you felt. And if you didn’t, let these images remind you that peace is not a mood. Peace is movement. Peace is repetition. Peace is choosing your inner posture even when the world stays loud.”
I wish it had occurred to me to get in the car and drive to wherever they were. Because it was something I needed to see.
by Ferris Robinson
The monks believe violence does not heal violence. Peace only begins when hatred is not fed and compassion becomes action.
It never occurred to me to drive to some place in Georgia to witness the Walk for Peace until I saw a Facebook post by Darin Wright, who said she jumped out of bed one morning and felt compelled to witness the walk; she went immediately because they were just getting further away. Inspired by her friend Jean Anne Gardner’s post about traveling to witness this, Darin posted, “Being in their presence was powerful even as they passed by. I truly wanted to follow.”
After witnessing the walk, Jean Anne shared her experience on social media, noting the unassuming, steady freely-given kindness of the monks and also the dog that travels with them, Aloka, a creature alert to the world but not disturbed by it.
“But what truly took my breath away were the people who came to meet them.
“The crowds were wide and diverse, children, old folks, families, people of different races, faiths, and languages. Some were curious, some reverent, some hopeful.
“I left reminded that peace is not an idea. It is an action. It is a choice. And sometimes, it looks like walking together toward something better, one step at a time.
“On an ordinary stretch of road, with monks and children and strangers offering flowers and open hands, it felt clear ...we are not lost ...we are, even now, still on the road to Good Hope,” she posted.
Timothy Thompson, (HEMP the artist) is a photojournalist following and documenting the walk from Alabama. He agreed to share this post with the Mountain Mirror.
“I’ve been trying to find the right words for what I witnessed, because “a group of monks walked past” doesn’t even touch it.
“This is the Walk for Peace, a 2,300-mile pilgrimage on foot from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. It began October 26, 2025, and it’s expected to take around 120 days as they move through about 10 states with one simple mission: carry peace into public space, not as a slogan, but as a practice.
“And what made it hit me the hardest is where I caught them.
“McDonald’s. Waffle House. Power lines. Traffic. The usual American rush. The kind of scenery that tells your brain “hurry up, consume, keep moving.” Then here comes this line of discipline and devotion, robes moving like a quiet river through the loudest kind of modern backdrop. It felt like a reminder that peace doesn’t need perfect conditions. Peace is supposed to be strong enough to walk straight through the middle of our distractions.
“They aren’t doing this as a show. They walk with intention, and people are watching because it’s rare to see that kind of consistency. Thousands have been following them online, and when they enter a town, you can feel the atmosphere change because everyone instinctively knows this is bigger than a photo.
“If you’ve been keeping up with their story, you also know this isn’t a soft journey. In November, near Dayton, Texas, a truck hit their escort vehicle and it struck the monks, injuring multiple people. One monk suffered severe injuries and later had his leg amputated. And even with that pain and disruption, the walk has continued. That part matters, because it proves the message. Peace isn’t fragile. Peace is resilient.
“And then there’s Aloka, the dog walking with them, moving like a symbol of loyalty and gentleness alongside the whole pilgrimage. Something about that dog being right there in the formation makes the whole thing feel even more human, even more grounded.
“As the photographer, my goal wasn’t to interrupt them. I wanted to honor their pace, their route, their quiet. So I stayed out of the way and let the moment be what it was, while still capturing it for people who weren’t there and for the people who were there but didn’t realize they were watching history in real time.
“If you saw them, too, tell me where you were standing and what you felt. And if you didn’t, let these images remind you that peace is not a mood. Peace is movement. Peace is repetition. Peace is choosing your inner posture even when the world stays loud.”
I wish it had occurred to me to get in the car and drive to wherever they were. Because it was something I needed to see.
by Ferris Robinson
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