“The Walk for Peace” 

By John DeCarlo, MA, MDiv, Hofstra University 

Toward heartfelt peace 

Amid worldly 
tensions and ever urgent
turmoil  

Buddhist monks walked 
snowy highways and icy city streets,
stretched across American soil 

over two thousand miles,
from Texas to D.C.—always with 
a peaceful smile  

Thousands of bystanders quietly 
Bore witness to
their mindful quietude  

savored their compassion and
meditative mood—
each step, of every mile   

Human hearts—reigning supreme—
resonating with a restorative gleam—
Each step, of every mile. 

Recently, a group of 24 Buddhist monks from monasteries around the world completed the “Walk for Peace,” a 2,300-mile cross-country pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington D.C., that took five months. Viewing the photos and videos was incredibly moving. 

It also prompted me to reflect on the philosophical teachings of Dr. William Osler on embodying and practicing the art of healing. Osler believed that “the whole art of medicine is in observation.” He emphasized that accurate, detailed observation at the bedside, using all senses, is superior to relying solely on laboratory tests or theoretical knowledge, famously stating, “We miss more by not seeing than we do by not knowing.” 

Likewise, the monk’s particular type of Vipassana meditation is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. More specifically, it focuses on the deep interconnection between the mind and body, experienced by disciplined attention to physical sensations that interconnect and condition the life of the mind.  

The Buddhist monks also shared the message of peace, compassion, and mindfulness, as embodied in their walking about 20 miles per day, often barefoot or in socks, and through extreme winter conditions and snow. In doing so, the walk garnered immense global attention, amassing over 5.8 million followers across social media sites, indicating a collective interest in learning to be more mindful and compassionate of their own lives and those of others. 

The pilgrimage concluded with high-profile public and interfaith events, with the monks being welcomed at the Washington National Cathedral for an interfaith ceremony, and a final peace gathering and concluding ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial. In these respects, the Buddhist tradition encourages everyone, like Osler recommended to clinicians, to look beyond the body and illness of the patient, and to embrace and respect each person’s humanistic selfhood via an “education of the heart.” 

This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.