Overview
- The two dozen monks concluded their journey with a 1.5-mile walk to the Maryland State House, where an estimated 6,000 people greeted them.
- Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller escorted the group into the State House for formal recognition, with Gov. Wes Moore praising their mission.
- The trek began Oct. 26 in Fort Worth and spanned roughly 109 days across about 10 states, following interfaith events in Washington and a closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial earlier in the week.
- Lead monk Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra urged attendees to practice mindfulness, telling the crowd that peace must be created through individual action.
- After enduring brutal cold and a November crash that led to a monk’s partial leg amputation, the monks agreed to return to Texas by bus to participate in a scheduled homecoming event.