Monks on a 2,300-mile peace pilgrimage across the United States have resumed their walk after a driver crashed into the group in Texas, resulting in one monk having a leg amputated. The monks, from a Buddhist temple in Fort Worth, Texas, are walking to Washington DC, covering about 20 miles daily while eating one meal a day and practising loving-kindness, a form of mindfulness and non-violent resistance.
The pilgrimage, which began in Texas, has faced extreme challenges including the crash and bitter snowy cold. Despite these setbacks, the monks continue their journey, embodying peace through their slow-moving meditation rather than arguing for it.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of High Point, North Carolina, to witness the monks pass. The crowd included families, construction workers, and elderly women, all waiting to see the message of 'unity, compassion, and healing for the nation'. Thousands later gathered at a nearby stadium to hear the monks speak.
One observer, who drove two and a half hours to see the monks, described the experience as 'the gift of a lifetime'. She noted the monks' emphasis on being present, with one monk saying, 'When you clasp your hands together, you have to put down your phone and be in the moment.'
The monks give away flowers along their route, posting that 'when you give peace away, it doesn't diminish – it multiplies'. The observer, who bowed her head and held her palms in prayer as the monks passed, was moved to tears, feeling a connection to the shared yearning for peace.
