Silent Peace Walk

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. Before we begin our walk together, I would like to offer a few words to set our intention and explain how we will move as a group.

As conflict touches our country and many parts of our world, we gather to walk for harmony. In a world where many suffer the weight of division and war, we walk to express a singular desire: that all beings may live in peace.

Our path is not one of loud or violent opposition to the systems around us; instead, we seek to cultivate what is gentle and good. We believe that lasting change does not come from simply fighting the old, but from a profound change of minds and hearts. Rather than focusing our energy on opposing the bad, we dedicate ourselves to enhancing the good. We demonstrate a new mindset—one that respects the dignity of every individual and recognizes our capacity to live together in harmony.

We choose to be pro-peace rather than merely anti-war.

Today, we walk in honor of the Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh who inspired us, and reminded us that “The Earth is sacred and we touch her with each step. Therefore, we must walk with reverence and be very respectful, because we are walking in a holy sanctuary.”

We also honor Gandhi and remember his Salt March, a pivotal 24-day nonviolent protest in 1930 against the British monopoly on salt in India. Starting with 78 followers from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gandhi's action sparked nationwide civil disobedience and global attention, demonstrating the power of peaceful organized resistance.

We remember Martin Luther King Jr., and all of those who walked from Selma to Montgomery to demand the right to vote. The Selma to Montgomery marches were organized nonviolent actions that highlighted racial injustice and contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

We also remember Maha Ghosananda who