Walking for Peace

If you are on Facebook today, you might see reels or posts about a group of monks walking across the United States promoting peace.  They didn’t choose to make their journey during warm weather, nor did they choose a method of transportation that would be easy or pain-free.

No, they chose to walk from Texas all the way to Washington, D.C., in only their robes and simple footwear.  Each day they walk and accept tokens of appreciation along the way.  They have camped or stayed wherever they were welcome, and received food from whomever offered it to them.

The life of a Buddhist monk is simple; they own nothing more than their clothes and the bowl they use for meals.  I know only rudimentary things about the life of Buddhist monks but I do know that they depend upon the kindness of those around them to feed and administer to them their basic needs.

During these turbulent times I find that the daily posts on Facebook from Walking for Peace give me a sense of calm.  As the ice refuses to melt around my house and I have nothing but a hammer to chip away at it, I think about the messages that Walking for Peace tells me.

"Forgive others and forgive yourself" is a simple but challenging message.  We all, me included, are quick to judge or blame others for something that goes wrong.  I recently blamed a driver for being stupid and not clearing the snow and ice from the top of their car.  I felt angry that they were putting my life into danger as they nonchalantly drove down the street.

Listening to the monks speech this morning, I realized that I needed to forgive the driver for not knowing the danger they put me in.  I also needed to remember to forgive myself for being angry, because my fear for my own safety was real.

The monk who spoke in the video today spoke about two other areas that also resonated with me.  He talked about how we perceive ourselves and our lives and others.

Using an example of sticky rice he told the audience that if he had a handful of sticky rice he could feed himself and be rich.  But if he had a handful of diamonds and jewels he would be poor because while they have a value, they could not nourish his body the way the sticky rice could.

I find that the perception of rich and poor is worth further consideration.  What do you consider rich?  Many of us would say financial stability or wealth, not a handful of rice or other food.  But in reality, that handful of food will sustain us far more, while the diamonds will only break our teeth if we try to eat them.

Yes, the diamonds could buy many bowls full of rice, yet if you are in need of immediate sustenance, the diamonds will not do you any good.

The final message the Walking for Peace monk told the crowd was about ‘the lovers’ that take so much of our attention.  Of course he was referring to our ubiquitous cell phones.

“Do not take your lover to dinner.  Do not take your lover to the toilet.  There are others waiting for the toilet who need to go while you are having a conversation with your lover.”

The audience broke into nervous laughter.  Who would have thought a holy man dressed in orange robes and socks could be funny?  I never expected to hear him speak these words and smile with a twinkle in his eyes.

But he is so right in calling our cell phones our Lovers.  How often do you use your phone while eating, interacting with others or while just sitting at a stop sign?

Think about why you do this.  I am thinking about why I do this and realize that for me using the phone frees me from being present in the moment and maybe also being uncomfortable. 

And the message the monk gave the audience?  Practice mindfulness through breathing with intent.  Enjoy the taste of the food, the sounds and sights outside your car, and yes even the confines of the toilet! Yes, maybe even sit with that uncomfortable feeling and wonder why it is there.

He finished by saying that while he and the other monks could not change the world with their walking, they could change themselves and the way they interacted with people who mocked or disagreed with them along the way.  And that, is a very powerful thing to say.

They cannot change the world, but they can spread a message of peace through walking each day and interacting with whomever they encounter.

The Walking for Peace monks will make their way through Virginia over the next week, ending up in D.C.  I don’t know where their exact route will be, but I hope that I will be able to see them while they walk, and experience even a small drop of the positive emotions they are offering.