WASHINGTON (RNS) — Thousands of onlookers gathered at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday (Feb. 10) to see and hear from the venerable Buddhist monks who have completed a 108-day, 2,300-mile walking journey from Texas to the nation’s capital. Surrounded by leaders from several faith traditions, including Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who began the gathering with a peace prayer from St. Francis, the monks talked about how the practice of compassion can transcend religious differences.
“In front of you all, you can see all religions’ leaders here together for the same mission: peace,” said Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, the monks’ leader, who spoke for a half-hour on a sunny day. “This is the first time to me, that we are working together. We are walking together on this path to find peace for ourself, to share that to our nation and the world.”
At the event, called “A Sacred Stop on the Walk for Peace,” the 19 monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth were welcomed by a cheering crowd of people young and old, some of whom had waited for hours to secure a spot close to the monks. Many held flowers or signs, while others sported homemade “Walk for Peace” …
