Why Monks Walk for Peace (And What You Can Learn From It)

Good evening everyone all the way from Thailand. Today I want to talk about the

Thailand. Today I want to talk about the monks who are out there walking for peace. Wherever you are in the world,

peace. Wherever you are in the world, you may have seen these images of monks who are walking. They're walking in a single file line. They're walking at times barefoot. Some of them may be

times barefoot. Some of them may be carrying a bag. Some of them may be carrying a tent on their shoulders. What

is it exactly that they're doing? Is

this a protest? Is this a demonstration?

Is this a ceremony? Are they're trying to convert you to Buddhism? What what's

happening? So, in this video, I wanted to take time to explain all of this also then to use the inspiration of what they're doing uh use the wisdom so you

can integrate it into your daily lives.

So, let's start with what you may be seeing out there. Uh the first one that has a lot of attention at this point in time are the monks, the venerables who

are walking in the United States.

They're walking from Texas all the way to Washington DC. They've been doing this for several months. It's spanning

over thousands of miles through different terrains, different states, different weather. And for me, uh,

different weather. And for me, uh, coming from America, being an American monk, wow, it's so beautiful to see

what's happening, to see how people are coming out to support them, to see uh, and to learn about the monks, to learn about what they're doing, and it's

inspiring hope for the world. It's

fantastic. And they're walking to raise this awareness in the United States. So

in at times we can feel dark, we can feel gloomy and it seems that what they're doing out there is bringing so much light, hope and peace into the

world. So for me it's just a beautiful

world. So for me it's just a beautiful honor to see and wanted to send all my blessings to them so that they reach their journey peacefully. Outside of

that you may not be aware but there are uh other uh temples who are engaged in this practice as well but on a smaller

scale and some of these pilgrimages some of these journeys that are happening it's happening in Nepal you may not be aware of it it's happening in

India in Bangladesh but different countries and here in Thailand that's happening as well here at the Damakaya temple They just finished in January a

one month pilgrimage where they had over 1,000 monks walking in a single file line for a month throughout the city

throughout the temple bringing this awareness as well. So it's beautiful to watch even noviceses the young monks they will engage in this kind of

activity in Mai. We have for people who are familiar with the pap meditation retreat they do a small uh mini version of that at the end of the year the last

week of the year as well. If anyone is here, the lay people, you're welcome to come join as well. But let's rewind it back and let's give you uh some uh

history and context of what's happening.

And for these kind of pilgrimage uh what it was inspired by is the original Tudanka practice from the Buddha's time.

And what this is is for those who want to train themselves deeper in mindfulness, in meditation where they

practice letting go, uh they practice uh detachment, they practice patience and mindfulness and endurance. Wow. This

kind of practice when they engage in it, they follow 13 different rules. Some of

them include of just eating one time a day. uh they need to uh go for the arms

day. uh they need to uh go for the arms round and they take whatever food that is given to them. Uh they wear the robes that they have uh with them. Uh all the

things that they're sleeping on, their tent, everything that they own is what's on their back also. Then they sleep in open spaces. So they're not sleeping

open spaces. So they're not sleeping indoor or in a luxury place. Uh they're

out in the forest or out in the open.

But these kind of practice helps them to develop their mind and this has about 13 different rules. So like I said all

different rules. So like I said all these uh kind of pilgrimages that uh you've seen they have adapted and they have been inspired by it. Some of them

are very strict like the walk for peace monks. Wow they are going long distance.

monks. Wow they are going long distance.

This is fullblown training again. So

beautiful to see. And some other temples they take a smaller version of that as best as they can. And again this is optional. So after the rains retreat

optional. So after the rains retreat some of the monks who want to deepen their practice wow utilize this walk to train themselves. So then with that what

train themselves. So then with that what are they training? And for Buddhist monks when we come into the temple on this spiritual path for us is what we're

training is we're training the mind to get the mind to reduce or to eliminate it to eliminate the poisons of the mind

defilements of the mind which are anger, greed and delusion. So imagine when these monks go on this pilgrimage. This

gives them an opportunity to meditate to bring their minds back to themselves.

And when they're walking in this kind of environment, got to keep in mind that it's not easy. You're dealing with all the natural elements. You're dealing

with uh discomfort. So when you have nothing, you eliminate all the different distractions of relationships, of your house, trying to make a living, uh the

temple, when you eliminate all of these distractions, what are you left with?

You you're left with your mind. So in

this moment, the monks when they're walking in a single file line, they get to practice meditation. They get to practice mindfulness, meaning bring their minds back. They'll see people

along the side of the roads. It's okay.

Bring your mind back. The mind is wild.

The mind is like a monkey and it will keep jumping and jumping. And these

monks are going on this uh sacred path to really train it deeper again. Bring

it back. Bring it back. And they're

paying attention. They're staying

focused. And they continue to keep walking. Also then it gives them an

walking. Also then it gives them an opportunity to observe their mind. Again

like I said when you have nothing and you're just walking from morning to night then you get to notice yourself.

You get to notice of what emotions come up what fears come up? What worries? Uh

where does your mind go to? Is it the past? Is it the future? Is it

past? Is it the future? Is it

complaining? Is it worried? Is it

anxious? And again when they're just stuck with themselves when they're on this path then they get to see neutrally oh wow this is the habit of their mind

and this is a beautiful practice and this is the first one that they're training which is the mind. The second

thing that they're training and they're working on is letting go of detachment.

And in in our daily life, in our worlds, then it's very easy to attach to comforts. We attach and even look at

comforts. We attach and even look at your own lives immediately. We're

attached to our house. We're attached to our rooms. We're attached to our beds, to our partner, to our clothing, to our

identity, to all of that stuff. And what

the monks are doing when they're on this path is they're letting everything go.

Again, everything that they own, it's in this bag. When they're going from place

this bag. When they're going from place to place, the place is different every single time. So, you can't be attached

single time. So, you can't be attached to the spot that you're sleeping in because it's going to be different. And

you can't be attached to the weather because again, that's different from day to day. But everything keeps changing.

to day. But everything keeps changing.

Uh so then it gives them again an opportunity to let go. When you're in that moment, then what do you do? You

surrender. And again the second training that they get to do is to let go of their attachments because our attachments can build up so easily. So

this walk, this practice gives us that opportunity to let go and detach and also just be content with the things that we have. And then thirdly, uh what

they're also training themselves is on discipline, on patience, and again in this kind of walk, wow, the elements are constantly changing. And for them,

constantly changing. And for them, regardless of what's happening, whether it's sun, it's raining, it's snow in specific areas, then for them is they

get up and they go and they continue their walk. And from that then it builds

their walk. And from that then it builds that endurance, it builds that tolerance, it builds that strength. And

this is part of that training. But this

is just a very simplified version of what they're doing. And if you were to peel the layers back, wow, this training

is so deep. This training is very difficult. But coming back to all of you

difficult. But coming back to all of you and why I wanted to share this video is what do you take out of this? How does

this help you walking monks walk through the countryside, walking through the city? So these three things I feel like

city? So these three things I feel like can be helpful for your situation and use it as a takeaway. Uh the first one

is that peace happens in the mind. Yes,

everyone has different situations. Some

of you are experiencing problems with your relationships, problems with finances, different conflicts, different internal struggles. Some people are

internal struggles. Some people are poor, some people are rich. Some people

are living in the city, some people are living in the country. But everyone's

situation is different. But however,

wherever you are, you can access peace.

You can train the mind and you can start there. And people will ask us, well, do

there. And people will ask us, well, do I have to be a monk? Do I have to be in the monastery to access peace or to train my mind? And the answer is no.

Wherever you are in whatever your situation is, make an intention for that day. Just start with just start with

day. Just start with just start with this day after you put down this video.

Then make an intention of I choose peace. I want peace. And from that then

peace. I want peace. And from that then it can help to shift your life. But just

with a simple choice and just knowing that peace is always available for you and it is an option and hopefully we can learn from the beautiful beautiful

examples of all the venerables who are walking all around the world. Uh the

second thing uh a takeaway that you can utilize for your daily life is minimalism, simplicity.

Like I said before, the mind is used to attaching. We will automatically without

attaching. We will automatically without mindfulness start to attach. We will

start to collect things. We will um start to attach to our identities, to our material things, to your beautiful

car, to your beautiful spouse, to our children, to our job, to um our clothing. But all of these things it

clothing. But all of these things it helps all of these things it's very easy to be attached to. And one of the

trainings that you can take is and then get rid of some things. Find ways to detach not not get rid of your kids but just even some of the material things.

Try to find some space and distance from it as well. And with this training, it can be very helpful because a lot of times we're taught that more is better.

But but also sometimes more means our life is more complex. Then when we get those things and we cling on to those things and then it makes our mind even

heavier. It creates actually more

heavier. It creates actually more suffering because we're trying to protect those things. And what the wisdom is teaching us is then we don't

need so much and we can be content with the little things that we have and utilize the things that we have. So if

possible practice simplicity, practice minimalism. And then the third thing

minimalism. And then the third thing that we can take away from this is practice generosity. It's so beautiful

practice generosity. It's so beautiful to see the different walks out there and the lay people are coming out and they

get an opportunity to support. Some of

them will provide uh financial support.

Some of them will come to give encouragement. Some people will bring

encouragement. Some people will bring material things to support the monks such as water, such as food. Some of

them will bring uh clothing to and medicine to support these monks. But it

gives you that opportunity to practice goodness. For those who cannot join, for

goodness. For those who cannot join, for those who cannot give, you can just send prayers, send good thoughts, send uh loving kindness to them that they reach

their destination safely. But from this and from this experience, I hope it inspires you to train yourselves. Is it

possible? Is it difficult? Yes, it is possible. Is it difficult? Yes, it can

possible. Is it difficult? Yes, it can be difficult. And also we have models.

be difficult. And also we have models.

We have models who are doing it in very difficult situations uh through different uh different environments but they can still do it because at the end of the day what

they're practicing is the quality of their minds and if they can do it you can do it as well. So for all those who have the opportunity to, if these things

are, if these walks are close by your house, go support them. Go cheer them on, go spread this uh positive message.

And to all the venerables out there who are engaged in this wow, my deepest respect and want to rejoice in all of your merit, I send you my wishes that

you get to your destination safely. And

with that, I hope this video was helpful for all of you. But as always, sending you my blessings from Thailand. Thank

you everyone. Talk to you soon.