For nearly three months, a small group of Buddhist monks has been walking across the United States, one step at a time, carrying a simple message: peace is not a destination, but a daily practice. Now, their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace is getting ready to enter North Carolina, with Charlotte and nearby communities expected to see the monks in the next few weeks.
The journey began on October 26 in Fort Worth, Texas, and is scheduled to conclude in Washington, D.C. on February 13. Along the way, the monks have and are continuing to travel through ten states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.
According to a recent update shared Thursday on the Walk for Peace Facebook page, the monks are currently in the Columbia, South Carolina area, before heading to North Carolina. The monks are expected to first pass through Charlotte before continuing north through Harrisburg, Concord, Kannapolis and Salisbury on their way toward the Triad. They are expected to arrive in Greensboro sometime between January 20 and January 30, though exact dates and routes remain flexible as they adjust their pace based on weather, safety, and other circumstances. Supporters are encouraged to follow the group’s live tracking map and Facebook updates for the most current information.
The Walk for Peace is not a protest or political demonstration. Bhikkhu Paññākāra, one of the monks participating in the pilgrimage, described its purpose simply, “We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us.” In a statement shared by the group, the monks said, “As the nation faces challenges of division, mental health crises, and conflict, both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.”
That message has resonated widely. The Walk for Peace has drawn hundreds of supporters along the roadside and amassed a large online following, with more than 800,000 followers on Facebook. Accompanying the monks for much of the journey is Aloka, the Peace Dog, whose presence has become a symbol of gentleness and companionship along the route.
When the monks pass through North Carolina, community members are invited to observe respectfully, often during lunchtime or evening rest stops. Organizers emphasize quiet reflection rather than cheering or crowding, noting that the walk is meant to embody mindfulness, compassion and nonviolence in practice.
In a time marked by political division and increasing hostility toward marginalized groups, the monks’ presence offers a reminder that peace work is not abstract. It is embodied. It is local. And, for a brief moment, it will pass directly through our streets.
Supporters can track the monks’ progress and learn how to offer assistance at dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace.