On Dec. 25, 2025, roughly two dozen Buddhist monks passed through Auburn and Opelika on their 2,300-mile peace walk across the United States. Hundreds of community members welcomed the monks into town on Christmas Day.
According to the monks, they are traveling in hopes of spreading messages of compassion, calling their journey a "walk for peace" or peace walk. The walk for peace has gained a swift but large following throughout Alabama.
The monks have been documenting their journey since they left Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center, the Buddhist temple and meditation center, in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26, 2025. This marked the beginning of their trip, as they have traversed across 10 states.
The walk is expected to last until February, spanning around 120 days. It will conclude at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The monks are also accompanied by their rescue dog named Aloka. According to an article, the monks first met Aloka in India after he followed them on a 112-day peace walk. Since then, the group has brought him to the states to begin another peace walk across the United States.
The group is not always alone, sometimes seen with strangers walking beside them and carrying their belongings in support or groups of volunteers preparing meals and aid kits awaiting their arrival in different spots. Auburn and Opelika were no exceptions.
Foundry Opelika Church housed the group on Dec. 25, while community members volunteered and prayed with the monks throughout the day and into the night.
On Dec. 26, the group began their trek from Opelika to Cusseta, Alabama, where they were greeted with a large variety of home cooked food, curious eyes and wide smiles from over 100 onlookers. Supporters are able to keep track of the monks through a live map found on their social media.
Volunteers race to set up tables of food before the arrival of the monks. Many work on a four to five day rotation before switching with another group. To become a volunteer, interested supporters will reach out to the organization and send in their availability. They will later be contacted and a plan will be placed into action.
Before lining up and serving themselves the monks chant to bless the food. Volunteers sit on their knees with their palms together and fingers pointed up in a gesture of respect.
Volunteers are second in line, after the monks, to grab plates and bowls of food. There was a wide selection of rice, vegetables, fruits, meats and desserts for everyone to pick from. After the volunteers, the supporters and guest were encouraged to grab food.
Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads a moment of quiet, mindful presence during a lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads a moment of quiet, mindful presence during a lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
Two women express emotion after a moment of mindful presence with Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.
Due to a heart shaped marking, Aloka is known as the peace dog and is walking the 2,300 mile pilgrimage with the venerable monks. He helps spread messages of compassion and kindness and has become a symbol of resilience. People waited their turn to take selfies, pet and sit with Aloka.
A venerable monk poses for his portrait during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. after walking from Opelika on Dec. 26, 2025.
A venerable monk takes a moment to sit with a visitor and pray during the lunch stop in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.
A woman shows respect to the Venerable Monk by sitting on her knees and offering up her wrist. The monk then ties a blessing bracelet made from yarn around her wrist.
At the end of the lunch stop the monks tie blessing bracelets of yarn and beads to the wrists of the supporters that they met in Cusseta, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025. The bracelets serve as physical reminders of the walk. They also bring good luck, protection and positive energy.
A venerable monk presses his palms together and points fingers upwards towards a group of Chambers County Deputy Sheriffs in a gesture of deep respect. The Walk for Peace has a police escort for safety, traffic management and crowd control.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Ally Northridge, senior in political science, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Fall 2024. Northridge previously served as a news writer and news reporter, and she is currently serving as the managing content editor.
