The saffron robes of 19 Buddhist monks provided a vibrant contrast to the gray February skies this week as the Walk for Peace made its way through Fairfax County. 

For 108 days, the venerable monks walked along major interstates and rural paths with their rescue dog Aloka. Often accompanied by huge crowds consisting of hundreds, the monks, many barefoot, trekked through all the way from the freezing snow storms in Texas to frozen roads in McLean. The monks arrived Monday morning as they entered the final 48 hours of their 108-day trek to Washington, D.C.

For McLean students, the arrival of the pilgrimage offered a rare moment of inspiration in an otherwise ordinary school year.

“My dad, who is Vietnamese and a Buddhist, really wanted to see the monks and wanted me to come with him,” senior Olivia Nguyen said. “We went to Marymount University to see them and listen to their speech. I thought it was a really cool experience, especially since I’ve been following their journey online through TikTok.”

The walk has gained official recognition from Virginia’s new governor. In her first official proclamation, Abigail Spanberger declared Feb. 2 as Walk for Peace Day in the Commonwealth.

“As we want to see change and progress and community built up across Virginia, I can think of no better first proclamation than one that recognizes the strength and valor of these venerable monks,” said Spanberger in a speech with the venerable monks in Richmond.

The 2,300 mile walk was organized by the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, a Fort Worth, Texas-based religious institution. The center states that the purpose is not a political protest but a spiritual offering. The venerable monks, who hold nothing but walking sticks in their hand, aim to promote mindfulness, loving-kindness and compassion.

“Mindfulness is something that we have to have, we have to live with every second, every breath,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, leader of the Walk for Peace, in a speech given at American University on Feb. 10. “Otherwise, stress, anxiety and depression will always be there with us. It will not leave us alone. It will chase us down.”

Their message resonated with McLean students who have felt the weight of increasing national and global tensions.

“I think the walk was really something amazing,” senior Dylan Reck said. “These men decided that they were going to walk 2,300 miles and put themselves at risk to advocate for peace when there is so much conflict around the world.”

The monk’s journey faced many obstacles. Over the three-month journey, the monks persevered through intense winter weather and a car accident in Texas that seriously injured two monks, including one who lost his leg. For some McLean students, this resilience carries an inspiring message.

“The amount of discipline to take a walk like that is inspiring,” sophomore Tarek Elbehiry said. “It gives you some sense of perseverance that I possibly take into my daily life.”

For their final step of the journey, the venerable monks hosted a reception at Marymount University. They stood in temperatures of around 18 degrees Fahrenheit, braving the cold to give a speech on the journey and meeting visitors. 

“The two monks I was able to talk to were so kind, and you could really feel the warmth from them,” Reck said.

The gathering drew individuals from across the country, connecting people during a time of political and social division.

“There were so many people there listening to the monk’s speech on practicing mindfulness, forgiveness and the importance of internal peace for world peace,” Nguyen said. “I met many people from different states who came to Marymount just to see the monks. It was really cool to see how the Walk for Peace connected people.”

The monk’s journey ended in the Lincoln memorial on Wednesday, a monument that has been the backdrop of America’s most powerful calls for peace and justice. Hundreds of worshipers and thousands more onlookers watched the venerable monks give a speech in front of the frozen reflection pool. 

“May the path to peace require no enemies,” said the venerable Pannakara. “Only human beings returning to morality, to responsibility, and to one another.”