Reflection: Walking for Peace with Buddhist monks

The final miles of the Buddhist monks’ “Walk for Peace” in Washington, D.C., were a joyful walk. I loved it! Together with my dear friend Bridget, we ate lunch with the monks before walking together to the National Cathedral. The place was packed, and it was a feast.

Regarding the walk, I can tell you this – those fellows walk at a good pace! I had trouble keeping up. Seeing the expressions of love and kindness on the faces of the people as we passed by was deeply moving. I was happy to see the monks. I was deeply moved to see the people who lined the road. Thank you, dear venerable people!

During lunch, we sat with members of the monks’ support team. They shared some of their experiences on the road, starting all the way from Fort Worth, Texas. [Note: Most notably, one of the monks was severely injured in a traffic accident while participating in the early days of the walk, resulting in the loss of one of his legs.]

These venerable people who make up the support team work behind the scenes and get very little recognition. But without them, the monks would not be able to do what they do. So please give honor and thanks to and for these behind-the-scenes saints.

For me, the main message I received was a profound affirmation of the beauty and power of human goodness. This message shone brightly from both the people gathered and the monks who walked.

“The infinite goodness of the human heart,” Brother Roger Schutz, founder of Taize, used to say. There is within us all a source of goodness, of kindness, of compassion. Drink deeply from this well. Live from this wellspring. What is this source? For those who cherish the Jewish/Christian tradition, it is the imago Dei, the image of God. God made us, says Genesis, in the very image of God. It is a beautiful image. A good image. A source of compassion, of wisdom, and love within.

“Today is my peaceful day.” This teaching, shared repeatedly by the monks at evening events during their walk across the country, is helpful. We can add…today is my compassionate day. Our intentions at the beginning of the day and throughout the day are like a guiding light. Today is my joyful day. We can add whatever descriptor we need. Today is my day of trust…of hope…of gratitude… We intentionally set the course for our day.

Every day here at Community of Peace in Virginia, we set the tone for the day by asking the question: how can we love the world today? It’s a good guiding question. On Fridays, every Friday, we say: this is my silent day. We practice silence every Friday.

The lifestyle of the Buddhist monks includes significant periods of silence. We can learn from this. What is our relationship with silence? How can we deepen our silent times? It is in silence that we can explore our inner life, our heart and mind. Just a little bit of silence in the morning goes a long way. In the silence, we can hear our hearts. We can open ourselves to the source of peace within. We can listen to the One who calls us beloved. Everything begins in silence. Go there. As often as possible.

Finally, many are asking: What now? How can the inspiration of this moment continue into the days ahead? I’ll share my own thoughts on this in another post. I’d love to hear from you regarding this question: How will you continue this walk for peace in your life? What new possibilities are you seeing for a more peaceful life?

I am feeling gratitude and excitement for this moment. It is an extraordinary moment. A moment I believe we all needed. All good things come from God. I give thanks. May we continue to be inspired and live more peacefully in this world. May it be so!

FAITH IN ACTION: You are welcome to share your thoughts about the walk for peace with Stefan using the form on the Community of Peace website

Photo: Stefan Waligur and friends walking with Buddhist monks in D.C. on Feb. 10, 2026.(Photo courtesy of Stefan Waligur)