Zen Commuter

Nineteen Buddhist monks set out from Fort Worth, Texas, on a 2,300-mile pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., carrying a message of peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Despite harsh weather, physical exhaustion, and serious injury, their simple act of placing one foot in front of the other captured the attention of millions. In the Tricycle article, "What Do Buddhists Think of Fort Worth's 'Walk for Peace' Monks?", Buddhist teachers and authors reflect on why this journey resonated so deeply with people searching for hope, connection, and an alternative to the anger and division surrounding us. In today's episode, I explore what these monks can teach us about peace as an embodied practice. Their pilgrimage reminds us that peace is not passive, nor is it something we must wait for the world to create on our behalf. It can begin with our own intentional steps—through compassion, generosity, mindful presence, and the small ways we choose to meet one another each day. We may never walk thousands of miles, but every on