A Practitioner’s Perspective
by Ellen Fenner, RScP
On October 26, 2025, a group of Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, along with their rescue dog named Aloka, which means light, illumination, brightness, started out on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace. The 108 day journey, a number that symbolizes the union of the individual with the universe, bridging the gap between the physical and spiritual realms, concluded on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. Their mission to spread mindfulness, compassion, and unity across the United States was greeted along the way with gratitude, acceptance, and many tears. Those who were directly encountered by the individual monks described it as life-changing.
The founder of Science of Mind (SOM), Dr. Ernest Holmes, regarded the Buddha, along with Jesus and other spiritual leaders, as a teacher of the same inner Divine reality that exists within every person. He viewed Buddhism as a key, valid expression of the "golden thread" of universal truth found in all major religions. He integrated Buddhist concepts of inner divinity — the "Buddha within” — with New Thought principles, and emphasized that both Buddhism and Science of Mind aim to awaken the inner light and realize oneness.
As the 19 venerable travelers stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial from which many wise and noble leaders have advocated for peace, the ordained Theravada monk, Bhikku (meaning beggar or one who lives by alms) Paññakãra, the leader of the pilgrimage, stated a list of 10 vows for humanity to follow as we strive for greater unity. They are as follows:
May every nation live in safety, stability, and dignity, free from fear, chaos, and unnecessary suffering.
May every person be heard, respected, and protected, regardless of their race, their background, their faith, and the language that they speak.
May fear be replaced with understanding, and may misunderstanding never again become a reason for violence.
May hatred be transformed into compassion, so pain is met with care instead of blame.
May peace exist, not only in words and speeches, but in laws, policies, communities, and daily life.
May true strength be measured, not by control, force, or weapons, but by how we protect one another, especially our children and the vulnerable.
May progress always walk together with morality, and may growth never be built on human suffering.
May dialogue be chosen over confrontation and listening over judgment in families, societies, and nations.
May people find peace within their own hearts, so that the world no longer needs violence to survive.
May the path to peace require no enemies, only human beings, returning to morality, to responsibility, and to one another.
As we all step into our own understanding of our place in this “Walk for Peace”, may you be well, happy, and peaceful.
Namaste.