Eric Reece
I was fascinated by the response of crowds of people who came out to support the recent Buddhists monk’s Walk for Peace.
From Fort Worth, Texas, they walked through North Carolina heading to Washington. Events of their walk for peace was covered by the news media.
The Walk for Peace started with nineteen monks walking 2,300 miles. It took them fifteen weeks to reach DC. With this act of walking, they were drawing attention to the hope for peace in our world.
The basis of Buddhism came from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Born a wealthy prince, he renounced this lifestyle to wander – seeking to overcome suffering. He taught suffering was caused by desires and the only way to end suffering was to overcome desires by meditation, lovingkindness, non-violence and showing compassion for all people. He taught this led to enlightenment.
Traditional Christian understanding of suffering comes from the Biblical story of the fall of humankind. Human suffering is not God’s desire, but is the result of a fallen, sinful world. Yet, we do not suffer alone because the Lord Jesus – the suffering servant – suffers with us, helping us bear our burdens.
Thousands came out in support of the monks’ walk and attended their peace gatherings. The monks were supported, given medical care, prayed for and fed their daily meal. People listen to the monk devotions and receive blessing cords as a reminder to seek peace.
The monks were accompanied on the walk by their dog Aloka, which means “divine light.” He is a rescue from India. The peace dog became a celebrity and has his own Facebook and Instagram pages. He was injured during the walk and had to limit his walking, but was faithful and would not leave the monk’s side.
I asked myself why there was such an interest in monks walking for peace in our country? I believe human beings are spiritual. As St. Augustine is often quoted, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Some refer to this as a God-shaped hole that can only be filled by a relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe another reason is the message of peace the monks brought. People desire peace, inner peace and peace for others.
The monks urged people to put their phones down and seek peace within. One of their messages said, “We do not walk alone. We walk together with every person whose heart has opened to peace, whose spirit has chosen kindness, whose daily life has become a garden where understanding grows,”
The prophet Isaiah gave one of the titles we use for Jesus, Prince of Peace. The Apostle Paul wrote In Ephesians 2, “For he is our peace.”
The Lord Jesus himself said words of blessing in his farewell discourse, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Whether you walk for peace – or pray for peace – the greatest thing is to have the peace given by Jesus Christ and share it.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.