A Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Pannakara, has completed a gruelling 210-kilometre barefoot walk across Sri Lanka, accompanied by a rescued stray dog named Aloka, to promote world peace and kindness towards animals.
The trek, which started from the north-central town of Dambulla, ended in the capital city of Colombo, where Pannakara was received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans lined the route to offer Pannakara and his 12 fellow monks flowers and gifts.
Walk for Peace
The walk was part of a larger initiative to promote peace and compassion, and Pannakara’s message was clear: “If we cannot govern our own inner world with wisdom, how can we expect the outer world to remain peaceful?” The monks were presented with a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi, a tree that is said to have grown from a cutting of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment in India, as per the Bodhi Tree tradition.
Pannakara’s journey is not his first notable trek. He had previously walked 3,700 kilometres from Texas to Washington, a journey that took 108 days and attracted international attention. The contrast between the two walks was stark, with the Sri Lankan trek taking place in sweltering heat, while the American walk was done in freezing temperatures.
Kindness to Animals
Aloka, the stray dog, has been a constant companion to Pannakara and the other monks. The dog had followed the monks in India and remained with them even after being hit by a car. The monks then brought the dog to the United States, where it accompanied them on their peace walk, drawing global attention and donations that helped fund its travels. As Pannakara noted, “Aloka has no voice to speak our language. Yet he has communicated something very profound to all of us. Through his presence, we were reminded that loving kindness and compassion must not be limited. It must extend to all living beings.”
Some of the key takeaways from Pannakara’s journey include:
- The importance of promoting peace and compassion in our daily lives
- The need to extend kindness and compassion to all living beings, including animals
- The power of determination and perseverance in achieving our goals
As the world grapples with conflict and division, Pannakara’s message of peace and compassion is a timely reminder of the importance of promoting understanding and empathy. For more information on the Buddhist concept of compassion, visit the Buddhanet website.
