Fort Worth, Texas — Approximately two dozen Buddhist monks, led by Bhikkhu
Pannakara, will embark on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C.,
beginning October 26, 2025, to promote national healing, unity, and compassion.
This 120-day pilgrimage will begin at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth
—the future site of one of the most significant Buddhist projects in the United States: The
Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas – Dhammacetiya. This visionary $200 million
development spans 14 acres and will feature 840 stupas, each inscribed with sacred Buddhist
scriptures symbolizing the boundless wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. The project stands
as a testament to Texas’s vibrant and growing Buddhist community and its commitment to
strengthening the moral and spiritual fabric of the nation.
Buddhist monks dedicate their lives to preserving, practicing, and sharing the teachings of the
Buddha through renunciation, meditation, study, and compassionate service. Following the
Buddha’s example, monks often undertake long walking pilgrimages—spiritual journeys that
may last for months. During the Walk for Peace, participating monks will observe a strict ascetic
code inspired by these ancient traditions—including eating only one meal per day and sleeping
beneath trees—as a practice of humility, endurance, and spiritual focus.
Rooted in both spiritual devotion and civic purpose, the Walk for Peace seeks to remind
Americans that peace is not a destination—it is a practice. As the nation faces challenges of
division, mental health crises, and conflict both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a
simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward
to families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
“We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us,” said
Bhikkhu Pannakara, spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace. “The Walk for Peace is a simple yet
meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to
families, communities, and society as a whole.”
The Walk for Peace will traverse ten states on its route to Washington, D.C., stopping at state
capitols, historic landmarks, and local communities to share its message and invite moments of
reflection and prayer. As the pilgrimage makes its way through Texas, the City of Austin has
taken a meaningful step by officially proclaiming “Austin Walk for Peace Day” to honor the
monks’ journey and message of unity and healing. This gesture reflects Austin’s longstanding
commitment to peace, inclusion, and interfaith understanding. Organizers hope other cities along
the route will join in this spirit by designating their own Walk for Peace Days or hosting local
gatherings to celebrate compassion, mindfulness, and community renewal.
The pilgrimage will culminate on February 13, 2026, at the U.S. Capitol, where participants hope
to deliver a brief message symbolizing healing and renewal.
Texas, home to an estimated 1.1 million Buddhists, represents one of the most diverse Buddhist
populations in the nation—with heritage spanning Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea,
India, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Laos. Earlier this year, the
Texas State Legislature formally recognized May 15 as Vesak Day during “Buddha Day at the
Capitol,” affirming the state’s commitment to interfaith harmony, religious freedom, and cultural
diversity. The Walk for Peace builds upon that recognition, serving as a unifying moment for
Buddhists and an open invitation to people of all faiths and backgrounds to join in a shared
aspiration for peace.
“This walk is more than a journey—it is a heartfelt offering to the community,” said Dr. Neeraj
Bajracharya, General Secretary of the Nepalese Buddhist Association, Texas. “Walk for Peace
invites all people, regardless of faith, culture, or background, to come together in the spirit of
compassion, mutual respect, and understanding.”
For further information or inquiry, please contact:
0086, pannakara@gmail.com
NeerajBajracharyaPhD@gmail.com
dr.dong@sea4b.com
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