Followers hold up signs and follow the monks into their monastery to hear them speak.
Valentine’s Day saw the return of 19 Buddhist monks to their temple, located 1.5 miles away from campus, following a 2,300 walk across the country to the nation’s capital.
The “Walk for Peace” began in late Oct. 2025 when the monks departed the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, located a four-minute drive away from campus, and trekked from Stop Six to Washington, D.C. to spread their message of peace and coexistence.
The monks’ homecoming saw hundreds gather on a rainy Saturday morning to welcome the group and to join them in prayer.
Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani, who represents District 92, was present when the monks’ journey first began and attended the homecoming celebration on behalf of his constituents.
“It was an amazing journey that they took… [to] add more peace and compassion and love to our rhetoric—it’s missing right now in our country unfortunately,” Bhojani said. “Not only do I want to represent my constituents, but I want to let people know that the state of Texas is with these monks as they do their work.”
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara (Sư Tuệ Nhân) , who lead the Walk for Peace, takes photos with devotees after the homecoming ceremony concludes. (Roxanne Dominguez)
Solis Lujan, a Buddhist convert of 40 years and a New Mexico resident, said that witnessing the ceremony further cemented her faith.
“Only a small percentage of the people here are Buddhist, but they came out from every faith and that is an incredible need for this time,” Lujan said. “I’m overwhelmed.”
Makayla Dugain, a Fort Worth school teacher, said that the monks’ advocacy and message is needed now more than ever.
“Especially with the great divide that we have in the country right now… it’s great to come and see people who all feel the same way, that peace is necessary,” Dugain said. “This walk brought us together like it was supposed.”
Before the ceremony concludes, Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara (Sư Tuệ Nhân) asks attendees to put their hands together for a prayer before the lunch is given.
The monks of the Walk For Peace sit solemnly as Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara delivers a speech to a crowd of hundreds.
The crowd waves to the Venerables as they begin to address the crowd.
A young girl place flowers on a pagoda statue as a peace offering to the venerable monks and Chùa Hương Đạo.
Venerable Samma Maggo, one of the 19 Buddhist monks in the Walk for Peace, accepting offerings from devotees.
“There’s so much hate going on, it kinda blinds you sometimes so it’s good to see this,” said Forth Worth resident Cassie Keller, 27. “I think it’s really cool that we’re all standing here in bad weather just to listen to them speak.”
Shoes are scattered at the entrance of the monastery as followers enter to greet and pray with the monks.
