Monks Press On With Cross-Country Pilgrimage Following Serious Accident
A group of Buddhist monks, demonstrating remarkable resilience, are preparing to continue their 2,300-mile peace walk across the United States. This decision comes after a distressing traffic accident near Houston that left two of their members injured, one with substantial leg injuries.
The Incident on Highway 90
The accident occurred at around 6:13 p.m. on Wednesday near Dayton, Texas, approximately 40 miles northeast of Houston. The monks were walking along U.S. Highway 90 with their escort vehicle, which had its hazard lights activated for safety.
According to Dayton Interim Police Chief Shane Burleigh, a truck approached the slow-moving escort vehicle. “The driver didn’t notice how slow the vehicle was going, tried to make an evasive maneuver to drive around the vehicle, and didn’t do it in time,” Burleigh stated. The truck subsequently struck the rear left of the escort vehicle, pushing it into two of the monks.
Injuries and the Road to Recovery
The most seriously injured monk suffered substantial leg injuries and required transport via helicopter to a hospital in Houston. The group's spokesperson, Long Si Dong, confirmed the monk underwent surgery on Thursday, which was reported to have gone well.
In a video update on the Walk for Peace’s Facebook page, a spokeswoman said the monk was in good spirits and giving a thumbs-up. He is expected to need a series of surgeries to heal a broken bone, but his prognosis for a full recovery is positive. A second monk sustained less serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to a suburban Houston hospital.
Steadfast Determination on the Path to Peace
Despite the setback, the monks, who hail from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, have shown incredible resolve. After camping overnight near Dayton, they plan to resume their pilgrimage with what the group describes as “steadfast determination.”
The Walk for Peace began on 26 October and aims to traverse 10 states before concluding in Washington, D.C. Their mission is to raise global awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion. They are accompanied on their journey by their dog, Aloka.
The group has stated they do not intend to alter how they conduct their walk, which takes place along highways and through open fields. They plan to continue working closely with local law enforcement in the areas they travel through to ensure safety. The driver of the truck involved in the accident is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, which is currently looking at driver inattention as a likely cause.
In a heartfelt message, the group asked for continued thoughts and prayers as healing begins and their profound journey toward peace continues.
