The Monks’ Powerful 2300 miles Walk for Peace: Stillness in Motion, SC

I had been following the Walk for Peace Facebook page closely since the monks entered South Carolina, carefully considering where the best place might be to witness their journey in person. I suspected the State Capitol would draw the largest crowd, and I was right. Thousands turned out to join the monks as they walked from West Columbia to the Capitol, filling the streets with quiet energy and shared purpose.

Rather than braving the crowds, I decided to wait for them to pass through my own town of Blythewood. I arrived along Highway 21 about an hour before they were expected, only to find parking already scarce. People had lined both sides of the highway, many holding flowers and handmade posters, all waiting patiently for the monks to appear.

Escorted by police vehicles, the monks arrived holding flowers in their hands and wearing smiles on their faces. Watching people of all ages and backgrounds offer blooms, bow in respect, or step forward to seek blessings for loved ones with disabilities gave me goosebumps. It was a deeply moving moment—one I will carry with me long after the walk passed through my town.

The group started with nineteen Buddhist monks, with roots in Laos, Vietnam, and Taiwan, who began their remarkable 2,300-mile Walk for Peace at the Huong Dao Buddhist Temple in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26, 2025. Accompanied by a rescue dog, they plan to cross ten states before completing their pilgrimage in Washington, D.C. This long-distance walk follows a “meditative tradition more commonly practiced in South Asian countries” (AP). Along the way, it has quietly captivated the communities they have passed through.

People from all walks of life gather to greet the monks, listen to their teachings, and walk beside them for a few miles. They are being hosted by a network of local hosts including families, churches, recreation and community centers. Following their ascetic tradition, the monks eat only one meal per day. Three of them— including their leader, Bhikkhu Pannakara — walk barefoot. Despite their bandaged feet, I noticed steady smiles on their faces, a visible expression of the practice they live each day. They hand out peace bracelets.

This 120-day pilgrimage is neither political nor meant to promote a specific religion. As Bhikkhu Pannakara explained, “We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us.” That message resonated deeply as I listened to his speech at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Blythewood. Before leaving, he encouraged everyone to write down a simple statement and read it each morning:

“Today is going to be my peaceful day.”

It was a quiet reminder that peace doesn’t begin on a long road across America — it begins within.

If You Go

Check the Route in Advance: Follow the Walk for Peace Facebook Page, for updates. Arrival times can shift due to weather, traffic, or the monks’ pace. They post their plan for the following day including location and times of where to visit with them, usually at lunch and in the evening depending on parking availability.
Check their live map update to get an idea of where they have reached in their walk. It is updated periodically.
Arrive Early: Crowds begin gathering well before the monks arrive, especially in towns, near churches, and along major roads. Parking fills quickly
Bring a Small Offering: Many people greet the monks with flowers, or simple snacks. They in turn pass the flowers to others.

Reference Walk for Peace Facebook Page, Walk for Peace press release, AP, Yahoo News