Fort Worth was no different. Thousands of people lined the streets of the city\u2019s historic Stop Six neighborhood to welcome the monks home. They clutched bouquets of roses and homemade signs that read \u201cWalk for Peace\u201d and \u201cLove heals.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the message we need right now,\u201d said Jamal Robinson, 44, of Dallas, who brought his two young children. \u201cThis is the movement we need right now. I feel hopeful here, and I have not felt hopeful about our country for a long time.\u201d <\/p>\n
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By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n The 19 monks and their dog, Aloka, began their walk in late October from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth. At first, their trek drew little attention.<\/p>\n But the monks, clad in saffron and maroon robes, soon became unexpected celebrities. Their message seemed to resonate with others weary of conflict and political division, and people flocked to them. Even Aloka, recognizable for a heart-shaped mark on his forehead, became a sort of star with a million followers on Facebook.<\/p>\n Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara speaks to supporters as rain falls during a homecoming ceremony after completing their Walk for Peace, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n Speaking through tears Saturday, the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group\u2019s soft-spoken leader, thanked supporters who braved a downpour. Many in the crowd took cover beneath umbrellas. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what I have done in the past to deserve this, but I love you all,\u201d Pannakara said. \u201cThis is what we need in this world: love and kindness and compassion and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Pannakara urged the crowd to practice mindfulness every day and put away their phones. He asked everyone to join him in reciting his motto: \u201cToday is going to be my peaceful day.\u201d<\/p>\n The monks\u2019 trek was not without peril. In November they were walking on the side of a highway outside Houston when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured<\/a>, and one had his leg amputated. Last month, Aloka needed surgery to correct a leg injury before returning to the walk.<\/p>\n Still, the monks did not stop. They practice Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.<\/p>\n Thousands of people gather to welcome a group of Buddhist monks after completing their 2,300 mile Walk for Peace back at their temple, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n El\u00edas Valverde II \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n \u2018Message of peace\u2019<\/p>\n The crowds gathering across the South have transcended race, religion and politics. <\/p>\n \u201cThe news and state of the world are so heavy right now. You sort of want to bury your head in the sand,\u201d said Judy Manning, 61, who attends Preston Meadow Lutheran Church in Plano<\/a>. \u201cThese monks found a way to communicate a message of peace, calm, love and kindness without saying a word. It\u2019s joyful.\u201d<\/p>\n The walk drew the praise of the Dalai Lama, who said in a statement the monks\u2019 humility and calm presence helped convey a message of \u201cpeace and mutual understanding\u201d and contributed to \u201csocial harmony and public dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Monk](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/7KH3BI2T5ZFPRNTWNTR7IQGT4U.jpg\")
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