A dog that walked 3,700 kilometers in 108 days in the US for peace has now arrived in Lumbini. The dog arrived in Nepal on Sunday, accompanying the leader of the walk, Monk Panyakar. 

The dog, who was part of a team led by Vietnamese monk Panyakar, gained worldwide attention. The peace walk, named Walk for Peace, covered 3,700 kilometers in 108 days. A team of 18 monks and devotees led by the leader of the walk, Monk Panyakar, arrived in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. The team, along with the dog, walked from the Akhand Shanti Dweep in Lumbini to the Mayadevi Temple. They were welcomed grandly by performing puja at the Mayadevi Temple. 

At a program organized in the premises of the Mayadevi Temple, Monk Panyakar said that a small journey has gained worldwide attention and respect, and that his small efforts for peace have achieved great success. He said that the walk not only respects the teachings of Buddha but also helps spread the message of peace around the world. ‘Our main objective is simple,’ he said, ‘Peace does not start with the state, it starts with the individual. Therefore, we should all work for peace with one step, one breath, one mind.’ 

At the program, Lumbini Development Trust Acting Member-Secretary Gyanin Rai said that the Peace Walk gained significance with the arrival of Bhikshu Panyakar along with Aloka the dog. ‘This has further increased the glory and spirituality of Lumbini,’ he said, ‘This will also support peace tourism.’ The Lumbini Development Trust welcomed Bhikshu Panyakar’s team from India to Akhand Shanti Dweep. 

Bhikshu Panyakar’s team, who had been on a week-long visit to India, arrived in Lumbini via Sunauli on Sunday. Along with the three monks who participated in the walk, a group of 18 people, including 14 male and female worshippers, have arrived in Nepal. This is not Panyakar's first visit to Nepal. He had come to Nepal to provide food and housing to the families affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal in 2072 BS. Similarly, Achan Piy Dhammo, who had joined him in the trek, had also come to Nepal twice and stayed in Langtang for the winter. Similarly, Achan Supalak, who had accompanied him, had also stayed in Lumbini for the winter in 2024 BS.

They will fly to Kathmandu by air on Monday morning. They are scheduled to visit Boudhanath, Swayambhu, Charumati and Anandakuti monasteries throughout the day and meet President Ram Chandra Poudel at 5 pm. On Tuesday, they are scheduled to fly from Kathmandu to Delhi.

After receiving the news that the person who walked day and night for world peace would not come to Lumbini, the birthplace of peace, they were deeply saddened and contacted them and tried to visit Nepal, said Bhikshu Maitri Mahasthabir, former president of the Monks' Federation. When asked about the desire of the monks visiting India to visit Nepal, Bhikshu Maitri Mahasthavir said that he became active in the management after receiving information that he would meet the President/Prime Minister. 

The trek in America, which is divided by religion, politics, and ideology, showed a great attraction towards peace, compassion, and friendship. ‘The crowd supporting and watching the peace trek had increased equally there,’ he said. 

‘The faces of the monks on the trek were full of compassion, friendship, and harmony,’ said Lumbini Hotel Association President Leelamani Sharma, ‘When I looked into their eyes, I saw peace there.’

The monk team had traveled advocating peace. During the trek, the monks had taught the general public about Buddhist philosophy and peace education. They would teach meditation at different places. Their trek had progressed by teaching compassion, kindness, harmony, and virtue. 

The peace walk has been a great inspiration, said Bhikkhu Siri Bazir, an associate professor at Lumbini Buddhist University. ‘Such walks inspire people more through the sacrifice and dedication of the monks than through words. Therefore, the purpose of this Peace Walk was to inspire people to find peace in their daily lives. Which was successful,’ he said.

Their walk, which started on October 26 from the Vietnamese Huong Dao Vipassana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, covered a distance of more than 3,700 kilometers and reached Washington, DC on February 10. The monks’ walk, which started from Texas, ended in Washington, DC via Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland. There were 19 monks in the group. The number of monks kept increasing along the way. 

The journey was not easy. The group led by Bhikkhu Panyakara walked barefoot. While walking, their feet were hurt by the stones, nails, glass, and hot blacktop road. However, the awareness of peace above the pain made all their sorrows and pain disappear, said Achan Pi Dhammo, a participant in the journey. According to Atlanta News First, on November 11, a truck hit a vehicle escorting the monks while they were walking near the highway. Two people were injured. One of them, monk Mahadham Phommasan, had to have his left leg amputated. However, the journey did not stop. He was taken for treatment, but the other monks continued the journey and completed the campaign.

Aloka in the news

Aloka the dog, who participated in the monks' peace journey, is also being talked about all over the world. As a symbol of compassion, Aloka has won everyone's hearts. People have been waiting for hours to touch Aloka and take pictures with him. Aloka's nature of easily mingling with every new person and treating people who try to touch and take pictures as if they were familiar has been praised everywhere. 

Those who meet and touch the dog are instantly impressed. The number of fans who follow him on social media is also increasing every day due to this nature of the dog. Aloka is also amazing. He is following the monk relentlessly. 

Aloka did not get tired even after walking 3700 km in America. He also walked with the monks, enduring sun, rain, snow and wind. He would stop when the monks stopped. He would slow down when he rested. He would behave by understanding people's feelings. He would show love. He would show belonging. That is why those who come with food and bouquets to welcome the monk would not forget to bring food and clothes for Aloka. Aloka has a natural heart mark on her forehead. Which makes the dog look very amazing. Aloka underwent surgery on his leg after sustaining an injury while traveling in South Carolina.