Under a clear blue sky and golden sun, the Deer Park Monastics led a Peace Walk in Los Angeles on June 23, 2024, nineteen years after our teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, led a Peace Walk in this city in 2005.
Continuing the tradition of generating collective, peaceful steps in response to the violence of war, BIPOC sangha members in the UK, Washington DC, and Los Angeles invited the monastics of the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism to lead Peace Walks simultaneously on June 23rd, 2024.
More than 200 lay sangha members gathered in peace at Grand Park to meditate and walk silently with more than 40 monastics from Deer Park Monastery.
The event opened with a guided meditation and Dharma talk reminding all of our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh’s words, “There is no path to peace, the Path is peace. If we want peace, we have to be Peace. It is a practice and not a hope.”
Generating the energy of compassion through chanting Namo Avalokiteshvara, the monastics led a silent mindful walk to the lawn City Hall, pausing again for silent sitting meditation. Regathered on the Performance Lawn of Grand Park after the walk, lay and monastic sangha members enjoyed eating meditation and joyful community sharing. The event embodied a powerful energy of peace at the heart of city government.
Many expressed how they had longed for a way to express their deep suffering and were grateful for the opportunity to walk together as a community in peace.
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Peace Walk Photo Gallery
