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The Walk for Peace has ended, but the journey has just begun.
The gifts these monks have shared, the inspiration to live in a peaceful, mindful way, are just astonishing in their impact.
They have walked through wind, cold, rain, and uncertainty, offering peace as a living devotion—for all of us.
Their message is so needed now, so essential, people joined from around the world.
My friend Debbie Copeland and I drove to see them on Saturday, day 104, and we are still unpacking the experience.
From our vantage point on Route 1, we could see them come around the bend. Almost immediately, I felt my heart chakra burst open.
The Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the leader of the Walk for Peace, led the way, moving at a quick pace in the sub-zero winds of that day.
Even though we were not supposed to look them in the eye or offer flowers, from 20 feet away, the Venerable Monk locked eyes with mine.
The thought went through my mind that I was wearing sunglasses and that I should take them off. But I realized he could see right through them and into my soul. I couldn’t move, glued to my spot by the intensity of the experience.
He reached out for my flowers, and I gave them to him.
As they went by, my heart beat with their steps.
I felt like I was much more than my body–transported, transparent, yet here, too–all at the same time.
I thought I would feel Peace, but what I felt was the dedication, the determination, and the devotion these men shared with us on behalf of Peace.
It’s disciplined, embodied and strong.
Here’s a 3-Minute Tiny but Mighty Practice to create more peace in your life:
Find a quiet moment to focus. Let your body settle, let your mind do what it usually does: chatter. Focus on your breath and allow it to bring you into the present.
As you breathe, follow your breath into your chest. Begin to notice the center of your chest where your heart beats. Can you feel it beating? Breathe into it.
Sense the Peace that resides there. If you don’t, don’t worry about it. Just practice it, and it will become easier.
The Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara suggests affirming this: “Today is going to be my peaceful day.”
Peace is already woven into your heart and into the living fabric of this planet.
When you walk with awareness, when you breathe with intention, when you choose not to escalate what does not need escalating, you are aligning with that deeper current that is always here, just beneath the noise: Peace.
Peace as a Living Devotion: More Than a Feeling
When I reflect on the Walk for Peace monks, what struck me most was not just their presence but the profound sense of "peace as a living devotion" that emanated from them.
This isn't peace as a passive state, or merely an absence of conflict, but an active, embodied commitment. It’s something they commit to every day. It’s not something that just naturally happens, but something they work towards. The choices they make, the actions they take, all of it is with a commitment to peace and love.
In their daily practice, this devotion manifests through every step, every breath, every mindful interaction. It’s a conscious choice, hour by hour, to align their entire being with the principles of peace and lovingkindness.
They don't just seek peace; they are peace, moment to moment.
Think of it like a gardener tending a sacred plot. Their devotion isn't just about wishing for beautiful flowers; it’s in the patient tilling of the soil, the gentle watering, the careful weeding, and the unwavering belief in growth, even when seeds lie dormant. Similarly, these monks embody peace through rigorous discipline—not punitive, but freeing.
Their meditation isn't a retreat from the world but a continuous inner recalibration, ensuring their actions flow from a place of clarity and compassion. This transcends out into the world where it is needed. The energy of peace finds where it is needed. Peace creates peace.
Their walk itself is a moving meditation, transforming mundane physical exertion into a spiritual offering. Each footfall on the asphalt becomes a prayer, a blessing extended to the land and the people they pass. It is a testament to the power of consistent, mindful effort, showing us that devotion isn't reserved for grand gestures, but is woven into the simple, steady fabric of daily existence.
They are living examples that peace is not merely an ideal, but a practice, cultivated with relentless love and presence. Peace is healing. The world needs peace.
Transported, Transparent, Yet Here: A Moment Beyond Words
In that extraordinary moment on Route 1, as the Venerable Monk's eyes met mine, something shifted within me that is still difficult to fully articulate.
It was a sensation of being "transported, transparent, yet here"—a profound merging of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Such a simple gesture created such an incredible moment. It felt as if my usual boundaries, the invisible walls of my ego and everyday concerns, suddenly dissolved. My worries didn’t matter; they washed away.
My body was rooted to the spot, undeniably present on that roadside, yet my consciousness felt unbound, expanding beyond the confines of skin and bone. It was as if the very air around me became a conduit, stripping away layers of self-perception, leaving only a clear, open awareness.
Like a drop of water returning to the ocean, I felt an instantaneous connection, a profound belonging that transcended personal history or identity. It wasn't about me feeling peace, but about being a vessel for it, allowing a larger current of peace to flow through. Every person they touched, then touched someone else, and someone else, and someone else. That is why peace during tumultuous times is exactly what is needed. It’s healing and powerful.
The experience was akin to sunlight passing effortlessly through a crystal: the light doesn't become the crystal, nor does the crystal cease to be itself, but for that moment, they are one in their luminosity. I was acutely aware of the biting wind, the sound of their steps, the texture of the asphalt beneath my feet—all the concrete details of the "here." Yet simultaneously, I was riding a wave of pure, unadulterated presence, a sensation that lifted me beyond the mundane into something vast and eternal.
It was a glimpse into the interconnectedness that always exists, often hidden beneath the noise, but ever-present, reminding me of our true, boundless nature.
I wrote a blog post on the Walk For Peace last month, earlier in their walk and why it was such a necessary message and blessing at that time.
Check it out here if you’re feeling just as amazed and inspired by the Walk For Peace Monks as I am.