A 2,300-mile spiritual odyssey reached a major milestone Wednesday as a group of Buddhist monks journeyed through Fort Mill, greeted by thousands of local supporters before crossing the state line into North Carolina.
The “Walk for Peace,” now on its 81st day, moved through the heart of York County along Highway 21. After departing from an overnight stay at Catawba Baptist Church in Rock Hill, the monks made a scheduled stop at the Anne Springs Close Greenway, where a crowd of over 1,000 people gathered to hear a message of mindfulness.
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the walk’s organizer, addressed the rain-chilled crowd, offering a lunchtime talk on compassion.
The procession has become a major event across the South, with local communities showing deep support. In Fort Mill, the monks stopped at The Peach Stand, while students at nearby Fort Mill High School were permitted to watch from the roadside as the saffron-robed group passed by.
Pannakara, a Vietnamese native who credits these daily interactions with helping him learn English, emphasized that the walk is not a protest but a “silent movement” to inspire inner peace.
Update on Aloka the Peace Dog
The group’s beloved companion, Aloka the Peace Dog — a stray rescued during a previous walk in India — was absent from the pavement Wednesday. Aloka underwent surgery on Monday for a leg injury. While a veterinarian initially recommended a two-week recovery period, Pannakara expressed optimism that Aloka could rejoin the walkers in about one week. In the meantime, the “Peace Dog” is resting in a support vehicle.
The Road Ahead
The monks officially entered North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, bidding farewell to South Carolina via social media: “Thank you for the incredible warmth and the open hearts we encountered at every stop. North Carolina, we are honored to walk your roads.”
The journey, which began in Dallas, Texas, is scheduled to continue through Charlotte tonight. Over the next several days, the monks will travel toward Greensboro and Raleigh as they make their way to the nation’s capital. The group plans to reach Washington, D.C., and return to Texas by early May to host an international Buddhist event.
Supporters can continue to track the monks’ real-time progress through a live map at dhammacetiya.com.
