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The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center hosts a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025, announcing the Walk for Peace starting Oct. 26 in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\nAbout two dozen Fort Worth Buddhist monks are preparing to not just talk about peace \u2014 but to walk it, live it and share it with the U.S. throughout their 2,300-mile journey to the nation\u2019s capital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Monks participating in the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center\u2019s Walk for Peace will embark Oct. 26 on a 110-day pilgrimage, traveling from their temple in the Historic Stop Six neighborhood to Washington, D.C. The monks will traverse 10 states along their route, stopping at state capitols, historic landmarks and in local communities to share their message and invite people to join them in moments of reflection and prayer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Walk for Peace is not a parade, protest or ceremony of faith, Tue Nhan Bhikkhu, the vice president of the temple also known as the Rev. Nguyen, said during an Oct. 19 press conference. Instead, it is \u201ca journey to bring blessings to countless lives in a world filled with uncertainty and restlessness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Buddha taught that true peace arises when the mind is free from greed, anger and delusion. But this truth belongs to all humanity,\u201d Nguyen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center hosts a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025, announcing the Walk for Peace starting Oct. 26 in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
If you go<\/strong><\/p>\n What: <\/strong>Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center\u2019s Walk for Peace<\/p>\n When: <\/strong>9 a.m. Oct. 26<\/p>\n Where: <\/strong>4717 E. Rosedale St., Fort Worth<\/p>\n The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center has been located in Fort Worth for over 26 years. The temple serves a predominantly Vietnamese-American community that follows the Buddhist faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n The center is also the future site of the $200 million Dhammacetiya <\/strong>Project, 14-acres featuring 840 stupas, or shrines, each engraved with sacred Buddhist scriptures representing the Buddha\u2019s wisdom and compassion. The project was announced in 2022 and the temple kicked off the expansion<\/a> in May.\u00a0<\/p>\n Buddhist monks dedicate their lives to practicing and sharing Buddha\u2019s teachings through meditation, study and service. Following Buddha\u2019s example, monks often undertake walking pilgrimages that can last for months. During the Walk for Peace, participants will practice ancient self-discipline traditions such as eating only one meal per day and sleeping beneath trees as a practice of humility, endurance and spiritual focus.\u00a0<\/p>\n The pilgrimage culminates on Feb. 13 in the U.S. Capitol, where the monks plan to deliver a message symbolizing healing and renewal.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the Oct. 19 press conference ahead of the walk, attendees took their seats on red cushions embroidered with lotus flowers as leaders of the temple, members of Texas\u2019 Nepalese Buddhist Association and government officials shared their messages.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wished the monks a memorable and enjoyable event in a letter read by a member of the temple during the meeting, adding that the walk \u201cwill pave the way for a better, brighter future for Americans of all backgrounds.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Walk for Peace \u201cis something that our country, our community, needs right now,\u201d said U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey in a recorded video message played during the gathering.\u00a0<\/p>\n Texas Rep. Salman Bhojani, a Euless Democrat, presented a resolution to the temple in commemoration of the Walk for Peace during Sunday\u2019s event.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bhojani became one of the first Muslim Americans elected to the Legislature in 2022<\/a> and was the first person of color elected to Euless City Council<\/a> in 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the wake of bans on DEI policies<\/a> in the state, diversity is seen to have a negative connotation, Bhojani told attendees. People of different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds are afraid or unwilling to talk with one another, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n He hopes that the pilgrimage will inspire observants to see diversity as a strength rather than a weakness.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about peace all the time, but peace is not passive. You really have to do something about it,\u201d Bhojani said. \u201cThis walk is a very peaceful, humble way of going physically through our country and meeting the different people along the journey.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Buddhist couple Michael Pothier and Kelly Doan were in the crowd that attended the event. A tenant of Buddhism is to practice your faith out in the community, Pothier said. The Mansfield couple plan to volunteer during the walk and meet the monks in Houston to offer any needed support or aid.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe just want to do something that is meaningful for people,\u201d Doan said. \u201cEspecially at this time in this country, a lot of things are happening, not only in America but also in the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Even in a world filled with noise and division, peace is still possible \u201cnot because the world changes, but because we change,\u201d Nguyen said in his closing remarks. He hopes through the walk people are reminded that \u201cthe seed of peace is already within us all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo let us walk not with hurry, but with awareness,\u201d Nguyen said. \u201cLet us walk with open hearts, with respect for every life, every path, every faith. May every footprint we leave behind bloom into flowers of peace, so that wherever these steps have touched the earth, there remains a quiet fragrance of loving kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1019-WalkforPeace-11-1-1.jpg\")
Monks sit at the front of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center during a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1019-WalkforPeace-14-.jpg\")
Texas House Rep. Salman Bhojani presented Tue Nhan Bhikkhu with a resolution during a Walk for Peace press conference at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 19, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1019-WalkforPeace-15-.jpg\")
Texas House Rep. Salman Bhojani presented Tue Nhan Bhikkhu with a resolution during a Walk for Peace press conference at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 19, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1019-WalkforPeace-23-1-1.jpg\")
The Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center hosted a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025, announcing the Walk for Peace starting Oct. 26 in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
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