Buddhist Monks Continue Cross-Country Walk for Peace, Share Mindfulness in Greensboro

Buddhist monks continuing a cross-country Walk for Peace stopped outside Chua Quan Am Temple in Greensboro on January 20, drawing hundreds who gathered to hear a message of mindfulness and unity. The visit served as a public demonstration of walking meditation and intentional living, with neighbors responding to a simple, nonpolitical call for peace.

Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara told the crowd that mindfulness is essential as people move through daily life, stressing the need to recognize and manage emotional ups and downs. "We have good days and bad days, but we have to know how to manage it," Pannakara said, adding that self-awareness and purpose are central to lasting peace. "Nobody in this world will love you more than yourself, and in order for you to love yourself, you have to find the purpose in life," he said.

Greensboro resident Brian Hoskins said he was moved by the monks’ tranquility and hopes the community is inspired by their message of thoughtfulness and peace. Kuku Naing described the gathering as unifying. “This is very simple, not political, not religion, just for the peace,” Kuku Naing said.

The Walk for Peace began in Texas and is expected to end in Washington, D.C., making Greensboro one of several stops where local communities can witness and practice elements of Buddhist contemplative training. For people curious about mindfulness, the event offered immediate, practical value: an accessible model of walking meditation, the reminder to set daily intentions, and an example of metta or loving-kindness expressed through community presence.

For local practitioners and newcomers alike, the monks’ visit highlights low-friction ways to incorporate practice. A brief sitting practice in the morning, mindful breathing during commute times, or a short walking meditation around a neighborhood block can reproduce the calming effects that visitors observed at Chua Quan Am Temple. Community groups and faith centers can use similar public gatherings to model compassion and focused attention without imposing doctrine.

As the pilgrimage continues toward Washington, D.C., Greensboro’s stop leaves behind a clear takeaway: mindfulness can be a community glue, not just a private practice. Those moved by the monks’ message can translate that inspiration into small, consistent habits that reduce reactivity and increase intentional living in daily routines.