After walking roughly 1,300 miles on foot, a group of 18 Buddhist monks traveling from The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., stopped in Decatur on Dec. 30, drawing thousands to a peace gathering that blended spiritual reflection with civic engagement.
The Georgia stop required a significant detour from the monks’ direct route, according to Munir Meghjani, a volunteer coordinator for the walk and a board member of Atlanta Way 2.0, who helped with local planning as the pilgrims moved through metro Atlanta.
“Atlanta is not on the way from Fort Worth to D.C.,” Meghjani said. “They intentionally come out of the way to be here, because they believe Atlanta’s diversity makes it a perfect place to demonstrate that people of different faiths and backgrounds can come together in peace.”
“Atlanta has served as one of the largest peace gatherings on their journey so far,” Meghjani added.
Meghjani said the monks’ decision reflected how they approach the entire journey, choosing locations based on community need rather than convenience.
“Even though [we are] the cradle of the civil rights movement, we sometimes need a reminder to take care of our neighbor,” Meghjani said.
“This walk isn’t about efficiency,” he said. “It’s about showing up where people are hurting and reminding them they’re not alone.”
The monks, accompanied by Aloka, a rescue dog adopted during an earlier peace walk in India, arrived at the Beacon Municipal Complex after a silent procession through neighborhoods along Candler Road and West Trinity Place. Their visit marked day 66 of a 2,300-mile pilgrimage expected to span about 110 days, with just over 1,000 miles remaining before reaching the nation’s capital.
The walk has passed through five states and is scheduled to cross 10 states before concluding in Washington. The monks typically walk 25 to 30 miles a day, maintaining silence as a form of meditation and reflection.
The Dec. 30 Walk for Peace gathering in Decatur featured remarks from Buddhist monks leading the pilgrimage alongside elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, state Rep. Ruwa Romman, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, and thousands of attendees who traveled to witness the event.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock framed the monks’ effort as an example of faith paired with action.
“It’s not enough to simply pray for peace with our lips,” Warnock said. “We must pray with our legs… We can’t all walk 2,300 miles, but we can all do something.”
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson described the pilgrimage as both spiritual and civic.
“This peace rally… is an urgent message that peace is not merely a destination,” Johnson said. “It is a way of life that begins within and extends to our families, communities and nation.”
State Rep. Ruwa Romman said the gathering reflected a shared desire for connection during a moment of uncertainty.
“Peace is also feeding a hungry child right here,” she said. “Peace is when someone is sick they have a hospital to go to and can afford that treatment.”
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said the monks’ journey demonstrated both courage and restraint.
“Peace requires empathy… and it requires forgiveness,” she said.
Dec. 30 was declared Decatur Day of Peace by Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, calling the walk a reminder that peace must be practiced locally as well as envisioned globally.
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara said the walk grew out of years of humanitarian work, including weekly food distributions to hundreds of families after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After the COVID-19 [pandemic], we supported a lot of people… with food every week, 750 families per week for two years,” he said.
Pannakara acknowledged the physical cost of the journey. One monk from Snellville, Venerable Ajahn Mahadam, lost his leg after being struck by a car earlier in the walk, though the monks continued north despite injuries and exhaustion.
“If there is no loving kindness, there is no peace,” Pannakara said. “If there is no compassion, there is no peace.”
Among those attending was college student Shannon Goldy, who said witnessing the monks’ effort helped her feel less disconnected during a time of global unrest.
“Being here and supporting [people]… who are trying to fight for peace… it resonates with me,” Goldy said.
As the monks resumed their walk north, Meghjani expressed hope that people would see the journey as an invitation rather than a spectacle.
“This isn’t something to watch and move on from,” he declared. “It’s asking all of us to think about how peace shows up in our everyday choices.”
Those interested in supporting the monks can follow their journey online and donate to help cover food, lodging and safety needs along the remaining miles.
Beautiful, Gabi🌹
Thank You, Bruce!