On Valentine’s Day morning, former TCC student Bonnie Davis stood on the side of a Fort Worth street, holding a small bouquet of flowers.
The pink and orange arrangement wasn’t for a romantic date. Instead, it was a gift for the 19 Buddhist monks who were returning from their Walk for Peace, a 2,300-mile journey from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. created to spread awareness for peace and national unity.
“I felt like I had to be here to welcome them home and bring flowers and say thank you,” said Davis, who was one of hundreds of people waiting to greet the monks as their bus arrived at Eastover Park. “I feel like they carry the hearts of America.”
Colorful messages of peace, love and mindfulness were scrawled in chalk on the road. Rose petals in autumn shades were laid down for the monks to walk upon.
People came from across the nation to witness the homecoming event and walk the final 1.2 miles with the monks back to their temple.
Mike and Julie Martinez flew in from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to join the monks’ last walk. They carried a bright blue flag with the symbol of a white dove and the word “peace” on it.
“I think their whole message altogether is we can all come together as one. You’re not left, you’re not right, you’re not political,” Julie Martinez said. “It’s not about religion. It’s just peace, something we all crave and something we can all do.”
Several participants sang songs, such as “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers as they followed the flow of the crowd. People of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and religions could be seen greeting and walking beside each other.
The walk ended at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, the monks’ home temple on Rosedale Street. Fireworks were set off in celebration when the monks reached the temple entrance.
Bhikkhu Paññākāra, the vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavanaa Center and leader of the Walk for Peace, thanked all who supported the monks during their journey.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to all those in such weather days that you came out and stand in the cold, shaking, offering us flowers, water, snacks. … All of you will live with me for the rest of my life,” he said.
The Walk for Peace journey began on Oct. 26, when the monks left their temple in Fort Worth and traveled on foot — sometimes through rain, snow, sleet and harsh winds — to Washington D.C., where they addressed the nation at the Lincoln Memorial.
Two monks were involved in a car accident in during the journey, which led to one of the monks requiring an amputation of his leg.
At the homecoming, each monk was recognized for the dedication and time they gave to the journey. The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping when the monks’ pet companion, Aloka, was introduced. Many of those in attendance also brought their own dogs.
As a steady rain began to fall, several Texas politicians expressed their support for the monks’ message. Rep. Salman Bhojani of Euless said the pilgrimage “offered a living example of what peace requires,” which is discipline, sacrifice and daily practice.
“You called all of us back to a deeper responsibility, to one another, to a shared dignity and to the common good,” he said. “I can say with confidence that your journey is also a profound expression of patriotism. … It is not lost on me that today we also celebrate Valentine’s Day. And we welcome the monks on this very special day, a day of love and compassion. … It is something we prove through sacrifice, discipline and service to others. That is exactly what each of you have modelled in this country.”
Paññākāra chose to honor the people who showed up in support of his journey by standing in the pouring rain with them.
“Thank you so much for all this love and support that you have shown us,” he said. “I really cannot stand seeing you staying in the rain for us like this. Every single time, for the last 110 days, when I seen people coming out under the rain, the cold and the ice, I cannot bear those feelings. It aches my heart.”
Tammy Bailey, a resident of Waco, began to tear up near the end of Paññākāra’s speech.
“I’m here to try to heal,” she said. “I’m not sure where my life is at this moment, not sure what tomorrow brings, but I’m going to be here.”
Paññākāra encouraged the crowd to follow the monks’ example by fostering peace and mindfulness in their neighborhoods, schools and homes.
“That is how we change this world together,” he said. “The monks alone cannot make this happen, but it requires all of us. Remember that moment when we say, ‘Today is going to be our peaceful day’ together.”
