Buddhist monks and their dog walk across the South to promote peace

A group of Theravada Buddhist monks and their rescue dog Aloka are walking roughly 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, toward Washington, D.C., to promote mindfulness and peace; their journey has attracted large crowds across several southern states.

A group of Theravada Buddhist monks is walking in single file from Fort Worth, Texas, toward Washington, D.C., in a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace. They began on Oct. 26, 2025, at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center and are accompanied by a rescue dog named Aloka. The monks say the walk aims to promote mindfulness, healing and human connection, and they stop in towns to teach and chant. Their route and social media posts have drawn large crowds and diverse hosts across several southern states. Key details: - The walk started Oct. 26, 2025, at a Vietnamese Buddhist center in Fort Worth and is scheduled to end in mid-February in Washington, D.C. - The planned route covers about 2,300 miles and includes stops in churches, town squares and state houses where the group offers teachings and chants. - On Nov. 19 an escort vehicle was struck near Dayton, Texas, injuring two monks; one later lost a leg and the group continued with 18 monks. - The monks travel with Aloka, a rescue Indian Pariah dog who originally followed them in earlier treks and has become a visible companion on this journey. - Their public appearances have drawn large crowds in multiple towns, and the group received a proclamation at the South Carolina State House in Columbia. - The monks practice Vipassana meditation, often walk barefoot, sleep in tents outdoors, and document the trek on social media where they have gained widespread attention. Summary: The Walk for Peace has drawn attention both in person and online, and participants describe moments of calm and community at many stops. The journey has taken a visible physical toll on the monks and included a serious traffic accident that reduced their number. The group plans to arrive in Washington, D.C., in mid-February and ask Congress to recognize Vesak, the day marking the Buddha’s birth and enlightenment, as a federal observance.