A Fort Worth monk, the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, and his rescue dog, Aloka, have completed a 2,300-mile walk for peace from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C.

Local Monk Gains International Attention

Pannakara, the deputy abbot at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, led an international group of monks on the meditative walk, which started on October 26 and ended on February 14.

During the journey, Pannakara gave discourses on mindfulness and kindness in churchyards, town squares, and in front of the Lincoln Memorial, drawing large and diverse crowds. Millions of people worldwide followed the walk online.

A Life of Service and Compassion

Pannakara was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in 1997. He graduated with a degree in information technology from the University of Texas at Arlington but later became a novice monk and was fully ordained in 2010.

Pannakara’s decision to become a monk was inspired by his desire to help others and promote peace. He has organized food drives and has traveled to Myanmar to study and practice Vipassana meditation.

Pannakara’s walk for peace has propelled him into the spotlight as a leading voice for inner peace and unity in the United States. Despite the attention, Pannakara remains humble and focused on his mission to promote peace and preserve the Buddha’s teachings.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.