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Monks spread mindfulness message in long, challenging walk
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
A message of peace and compassion reached the hearts of people of Sri Lanka when a delegation of monks led by Ven. Pannakara Thera began a much-anticipated walk in Sri Lanka.
The monks who arrived in Sri Lanka from the United States along with peace dog “Aloka” are spreading the word of the Buddha and teachings of kindness and compassion.
Our photographer M.A. Pushpa Kumara captured this picture of Ven Pannakara Thera greeting the crowds, and other moments in Kandy (bottom) as the walk proceeded to Mawanella
With deep respect and kindness, Sri Lankans are supporting the visiting monks and their popular four-legged companion.
The walk for peace drew kind gestures and thoughtful acts from Sri Lankans, irrespective of religion and race, showing the world the true meaning of peace.
The monks arrived in Colombo with their faithful companion Aloka (see story on Aloka) on board the flight as a service dog.
The monks first travelled to Anuradhapura by bus and were presented with a sapling of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi.
Ven. Pannakara Thera accepted the sacred sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi to mark the global peace mission and said merit would be gained from the walk. He expressed gratitude to Sri Lanka, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Maha Sangha.
The monks walked to the Ruwanweli Maha Seya carrying the sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi and thereafter reached the Dambulla temple to spend the night.
The Walk for Peace began from the Dambulla temple, covering 47 kilometres to Matale.
Before the walk began, Ven Pannakara Thera told those who gathered that offering dana is a good deed, yet mindfulness is more important. It is Buddha’s teaching. People have learned about mindfulness, generation after generation, from the Maha Sangha.
He added that mindfulness can be practised in everyday life. People should be mindful when eating, drinking and walking and be mindful of everything that is done throughout the day.
He said the more the people become unmindful, the worse the world could be if people react with hate, anger and vengeance. To practise peace, mindfulness has to be practised diligently.
During the walk to Matale, people gathered alongside the road offering flowers to the monks. As the sun baked the road, volunteers sprayed water and created a path of banana leaves to soften the impact.
In some areas of the road, flower petals were sprinkled, while people also used white cloth carpets to help monks avoid suffering from the hot road surface.
Throughout the journey people offered flowers and water to the monks and even offered habarala leaves to be used as shelter from the rains. The monks occasionally stopped to pray for people who are unwell and children in need.
Aloka the peace dog joined the walk with rest breaks in between.
During the journey from Matale to Kandy, school children lined up to worship the monks. The monks were also hosted by a Hindu temple and a mosque, where the community in the area provided food and beverages, illustrating the true meaning of peace, harmony and togetherness of the different ethnic and religious groups of Sri Lanka.
Some monks walked wearing bandages on their feet as they reached Kandy.
In Kandy, the monks visited both Malwatta and Asgiri viharas, obtained the blessings of the Mahanayaka Theros, and worshipped the Dalada.
Ven Pannakara Thera politely urged people to be patient and calm, adding that even the peace dog Aloka was disturbed by people pushing and shoving trying to reach out to the monks. People are trying to show their love towards the monks, but it is a bad habit people need to overcome.
The monks met with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya besides the Temple of the Sacred Tooth.
They said that Sri Lanka has great weather, as they experienced two seasons on the same day. “It was hot during the noon time, and afterwards we experienced rain,” Ven. Pannakara Thera said.
By Friday they reached the Beligammana Raja Maha Viharaya to spend the night. Yesterday, they reached Tholangamuwa. The monks will proceed to Yakkala today. And tomorrow, the monks will reach Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, where they will engage with the people.
On Tuesday, the walk will end in Colombo, where the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling and the sacred relics will be formally handed over to the monks by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The monks will go in procession to Colombo’s Gangaramaya temple, where they will remain for the next two days. The sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi will be taken to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre in Fort Worth, Texas.
| Constant care for monks’ companionAloka, the peace dog, was well looked after and given 24-hour medical attention throughout the walk, said the secretary of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association, Dr Uditha Wijesinghe.He said Aloka accompanied the monks as a service animal and passed health checks. Dr Wijesinghe said the dog was in good health on arrival. The Animal Production and Health Department is responsible for the animal’s health and has given guidelines for the walk.  Aloka the peace dog is seen seeking shade as the walk proceeded He said the two veterinary surgeons are available free along with an ambulance. Veterinary surgeons would check the condition of the animal and ensure the dog is well-rested and in good condition even during the night. Soldiers were assigned to walk Aloka on a leash. There were several instances where stray dogs barked at Aloka, but there was no danger.  Dambulla: Where the walk began. Pic by Kanchana Kumara
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| Peace walk monks visit Maligawa inner shrine room; call for world peaceBy L.B. SenaratneVisiting Buddhist monks taking part in the peace walk were led to the inner shrine room of the Dalada Maligawa on Friday to pray for world peace. The monks were welcomed at the Maligawa by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela after they completed the walk between Matale and Kandy. Venerable Tobbotuwawe Medankara, the Nayake Thera in charge of the inner shrine room, granted the visiting delegation the rare honour of praying within it for world peace.  The delegation also visited the new shrine room of the Sri Dalada Maligawa with the Diyawadana Nilame and joined devotees in prayers for peace. |
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