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WASHINGTON — <\/span>A group of Buddhist monks<\/a> is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, capping a trek from Texas that has captivated the country.<\/p>\n The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka.<\/p>\n They walk to advocate for peace<\/a>. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands have gathered along Southern roadsides to watch the monks\u2019 quiet, single-file procession that began in late October.<\/p>\n \u201cMy hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,\u201d said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group\u2019s soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.<\/p>\n The monks plan to mark the last days of their Walk for Peace with outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir long journey and gentle witness invite us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and the work of peace in our communities,\u201d said Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who will help host an interfaith reception for the monks at the cathedral.<\/p>\n The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.<\/p>\n Mark Duykers, a retired mechanical engineer who practices mindfulness, said he and his wife will drive 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Washington to see the monks.<\/p>\n \u201cIn these divisive times, we saw entire towns in the Bible Belt coming out for these monks \u2014 having no idea of what Buddhism is \u2014 but being uplifted and moved by it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s inspirational.\u201d<\/p>\n Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700 kilometer) journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.<\/p>\n While in the U.S. capital, they plan to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak \u2014 Buddha\u2019s birthday<\/a> \u2014 a national holiday. But, Pannakara and others have emphasized that is not the walk\u2019s goal.<\/p>\n Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on advocacy or legislation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a spiritual offering \u2014 an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts,\u201d he said. \u201cWe believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society.\u201d<\/p>\n The trek has had its perils, and local law enforcement officers have provided security. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured<\/a>; one had his leg amputated.<\/p>\n Some of the monks, including Pannakara, have walked barefoot or in socks for most of the journey to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment. As they have pressed on through snow and cold, they\u2019ve at times donned winter boots. <\/p>\n Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Pannakara first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means \u201cdivine light\u201d in Sanskrit, during a 112-day journey across India in 2022.<\/p>\n The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It\u2019s a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.<\/p>\n The monks\u2019 return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at Maryland\u2019s Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.<\/p>\n From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Bharath reported from Los Angeles.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP\u2019s collaboration<\/a> with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n