Buddhist Monks Continue 2,300-Mile Walk for Peace Through Snowy Virginia, Headed to D.C.

Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures have not slowed a group of Buddhist monks on a powerful journey for unity and healing. On day 98 of their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, the monks made their way across snow-covered roads in Virginia, continuing a mission rooted in compassion, mindfulness, and connection.

The Journey

Each step carries intention. The monks walk barefoot, regardless of weather, as a living reminder of resilience and shared humanity. Along the way, they pause for meditation, prayer, and quiet reflection, often drawing local residents who stop to offer food, encouragement, or simply a moment of conversation. Community support has become the fuel that keeps the journey moving forward. Organizers say kindness from strangers — warm meals, places to rest, and words of encouragement — has carried the group through some of the most difficult days of the trek.

Hope also returned in the form of a familiar companion. Aloka, known as the group’s Peace Dog, rejoined the monks after recovering from surgery. The dog’s return lifted spirits and symbolized the healing message the walk aims to spread. The monks are now approaching their next major milestone: arrival in Washington, D.C. on February 13. The walk into the nation’s capital will mark another powerful moment in a journey designed to inspire peace across communities, cultures, and generations.

With more than half the journey still ahead, the monks continue forward — step by step — proving that peace does not begin with speeches or policies, but with action, presence, and compassion on the ground.

Featured Image Credit: Walk For Peace