Where is this peace march headed?

The message of peace and compassion, spread through a walking pilgrimage across Sri Lanka by a group of Buddhist monks led by the Venerable Pannakara Thero from the United States, along with "Aloka," the dog of peace, is currently touching the hearts of the people of this country. This special journey has been organized with the aim of promoting loving-kindness (Metta) and compassion (Karuna) in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.

These foreign monks and their four-legged friend are receiving immense respect and unwavering support from Sri Lankans, irrespective of race or religion.

This group of monks, who arrived in Colombo by air with Aloka, the service dog, first traveled by bus to Anuradhapura. There, to mark the World Peace Mission, they were presented with a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. Accepting the sacred Bodhi sapling, Venerable Pannakara Thero stated that this pilgrimage would bring great merit and expressed his gratitude to Mother Sri Lanka, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the Maha Sangha. Afterwards, carrying the Bodhi sapling, they proceeded to the Ruwanwelisaya and then arrived at the Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya to spend the night.

The Peace Walk officially commenced, covering a distance of 47 kilometers from Dambulla Viharaya to Matale. Addressing the gathered crowd before starting the journey, Venerable Pannakara Thero emphasized that while offering alms (dana) is a good deed, establishing mindfulness, as taught by the Buddha, is far more important. He explained the significance of acting mindfully in all daily activities, including eating, drinking, and walking. He further stated that if people act without mindfulness, driven by hatred, anger, and revenge, the world would further descend into destruction, and therefore, one must constantly practice mindfulness to cultivate peace.

During the journey to Matale, to provide relief to the barefoot monks walking on the scorching hot road, people engaged in activities such as sprinkling water on the road, laying banana leaves, scattering flower petals, and spreading white cloths. Even 'habarala' leaves were offered by the people to be used as covers during rain, and some monks were seen with bandages on their feet upon reaching Kandy. Aloka, the dog, who joined the journey and rested intermittently, also became a recipient of public affection. A unique event observed was the offering of food and drinks to the monks by a Hindu temple and an Islamic mosque, beautifully reflecting ethnic and religious harmony. Furthermore, the monks stopped along the way to offer blessings for the sick and children in need.

Upon arriving in Kandy, the group of monks visited the Malwathu and Asgiri Maha Viharayas to receive blessings from the Mahanayaka Theros and also paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic. Additionally, near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, they met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Venerable Pannakara Thero pointed out that even Aloka, the dog, became restless due to the crowds who came to show their affection, and therefore, people should act patiently and calmly. They also appreciated the beautiful weather conditions in Sri Lanka, having experienced both extreme heat and rain within a single day.

By Friday, this group had arrived at Beligammana Rajamaha Viharaya and reached Tholangamuwa yesterday. Today, they are expected to arrive in the Yakkala area, and tomorrow, they will visit the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya to connect with the public. This Peace Walk will conclude in Colombo on Tuesday, where President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will formally hand over the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling and the Sacred Relics to the monks. Afterwards, the monks will proceed in a procession to the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, where they will stay for two days. Finally, this Sri Maha Bodhi sapling is scheduled to be taken to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.