The Buddhist Monks Spreading Love and Hope Across America
Although I live in the UK, I have long felt an affinity with the US. This began when, as a child, my dad would take me to visit the US national parks. We saw some remarkable places – the Everglades, Yosemite, Death Valley, Grand Canyon and many more – and I fell in love with this big, beautiful country. I went back as a teenager for a life-changing six-month adventure, and have recently visited with Laura and my son, Ben. I have always felt a powerful connection with the US and can’t wait to go back.
But given the current political situation, that wait may be a long one – I will not visit until the current administration is consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belongs. Like millions of others, in the US and beyond, I have watched in horror as Donald Trump has systematically trashed this remarkable country’s once-respected reputation on the world stage. I could write at great length about the ugliness and cruelty being unleashed on the American population, and the rest of the world, right now. But my many US readers don’t need me to explain that (my heart breaks for you right now, so sending my deepest love to you all).
This post is about something altogether more wholesome and heartwarming, which is unfolding as I type these words. Switching focus to the positive is not to ignore the harsh realities, but to say that love, beauty and goodness exist too. Where there is darkness we can also find light. I’m talking about the inspiring group of Buddhist monks walking 2,300 miles across the country, from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington DC, on their Walk for Peace. Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who is making every gruelling step barefoot, the monks are trekking through the South, with their faithful companion Aloka the Peace Dog – a stray who joined the monks on a similar walk through India, but has become a beloved pet and social media star in his own right.
Spreading love and compassion
My Instagram feed is bursting with images of the monks, and sweet Aloka, and what I notice is that everywhere they go huge crowds turn out to greet them. Many people weep openly as they receive blessings from the monks. People shower them with flowers, gifts, food and water. Such a simple act – slowly walking through America – is bringing peace, joy and hope to a country in desperate need of good news right now.
Everywhere they visit, the lead monk gives a talk, focusing on how achieve peace in your own heart and mind, and then foster greater peace in your family, community, city, country and across the world. Imagine if we all listened to these talks and then committed to one small action: helping an elderly neighbour, donating to our local food bank, feeding a homeless person, refusing to engage in angry, hostile, back-and-forth debate on social media. Little by little, tiny action by tiny action, the world would begin to change. And when faced with such dark forces politically, sometimes this is the best we can do – find greater peace within and share it with loving abandon.
If you would like to nourish your inner peace, here are two simple practices I learned at a Buddhist centre in North London I often visited before we left the city. In this tradition you are taught to practice mindfulness of breath one day, then metta (loving-kindness) meditation the next. Then mindfulness, then metta, and so on. This is a simpler practice than the one I was taught, but it’s the classic version of mindfulness practice – start with five minutes if you have never meditated before, then build up to the 20-minute practice. Both meditations are available to download from my online store for just £3. All profits from my store go to help people with a trauma history access low-cost therapy and other free resources:
I hope you enjoy these practices and also follow the wonderful monks as they embark on the second half of their epic journey.
May you be well, may you be safe, may you be free from suffering.
Love,
Dan ❤️
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