The Rev. Dr. King would approve

I have been following the Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace, thanks to videos posted online of their journey. About 20 monks, who are of the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, left their home in Ft. Worth, Texas, to walk 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. The walk is a long-distance pilgrimage. They walk at a meditative pace, gently interacting with those who wait along their route, pausing to receive water or flowers. They offer blessings to those who want them. Their route has taken them through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and now North Carolina. They will continue into Virginia and conclude in Washington, D.C. sometime in February.

Their walk is not a political statement. Their aim is to raise awareness of peace, compassion and kindness as they travel. An additional benefit is the gift of community that forms among those who wait, watch for and interact with the monks along the way. As word of the journey spread, the number of those who lined the route grew. The young and old, the able-bodied and the differently-abled, and people of all races, beliefs and backgrounds have joined to welcome them. Many put their hands in a prayerful position and bow their heads, hoping a monk will pause and bless them. Recipients of blessing often raise their heads with tearful eyes, a testimony to the power of the blessing they receive. The monks also pass out string bracelets, symbols of protection and blessing.

Many have walked long distance pilgrimages as a spiritual discipline over the centuries. The most familiar route is the Camino de Santiago. The very first route from Europe to Rome was forged in the 10th century. This route goes from the cathedral in Canterbury, England to Rome and is 1,250 miles, compared to the monks' route of 2,300 miles.

Those I know who have trekked all or part of a Camino route have trained and prepared.

They may travel lightly, but still have what we consider the “proper equipment.” The monks wear traditional garments and carry very little except a rolled-up sleeping mat. Three monks chose to walk barefoot. Others wear socks or very simple footwear.

Here is part of a commentary on the monks’ walk from one observer:

Everyone keeps asking the same thing: “Why are some of the monks barefoot?”

“Are they okay?” And honestly… that concern says a lot about us.

They are grounded. Literally and spiritually. Each monk walks the way that aligns with their own beliefs. The monks are people who choose silence over noise, stillness over chaos, and prayer over outrage. They don’t chase attention. They don’t argue online. They don’t insert themselves into every controversy. Ask yourself this … what does it say when people devoted to quiet feel the need to walk across the country for peace? If those who dedicate their lives to stillness are moving, maybe the rest of us should stop talking for a moment and listen.

The monks’ pilgrimage is in alignment with the message we need to remember tomorrow as we honor the legacy of The Rev. Dr. King. We can join a march right here in town starting at the Peck Center on the corner of South 11th Street, with the line-up of groups starting at 11 a.m. and the march at noon, as it has been since 1978. 

My very first visit to Fernandina Beach occurred over this holiday weekend. I remember being charmed by the town. The town where I lived in New Jersey had a big celebration for this day that I was missing. Just then, the annual march moved past where I was standing. I got a chill down my spine and thought, “OK, I could live here.”

Marches that Dr. King inspired and led did have the political aim of enacting the Civil Rights Act.

We know that peace and justice go hand in hand. He preached this. He was trained in nonviolence by Mahatma Gandhi and schooled in the example of Jesus through his Baptist roots. His opposition to the Vietnam War made him highly unpopular at the time of his death.

I can see Dr. King smiling down at these humble monks. I can envision his eyes filling with tears as the monks move through crowds offering blessings. He can see what we need to see, which is that peace is a fruit of the universal spirit that unites people across distinctions of race or religion. He can see glimpses of what he called “the beloved community,” as people gather in mutual support, walking together, laughing together, crying together and feeding each other.

Tomorrow will be one day for celebration and remembrance. The monks’ pilgrimage will end in mid-February. I hope we take in the message of these events and be moved to bring the vision into reality that we are a place that offers “ … Liberty and justice for all.”