A group of Buddhist monks undertaking a 3,700-kilometer peace walk across the United States have continued their journey after two members were injured in a traffic accident near Houston on the evening of 19 November.

The Walk for Peace, organized by about 24 monks from Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, began on 26 October with the stated intention to raise awareness about peace, loving-kindness, and compassion across the US and around the world. The monks aim to pass through 10 states before arriving in Washington, DC, in February 2026.

On their Facebook page, the group has invited global citizens to join them in spirit, writing: “Walk with Us Mentally! As we take physical steps for peace, we invite everyone to join our journey in spirit. Peace and unity begin within each of us. Today, practice kindness in your own life to walk with us mentally!” (Facebook)

The monastics have already passed through several Texas cities, including Austin and Houston, often traveling on foot along major roads, accompanied either by local law enforcement personnel or an escort vehicle with hazard lights. Their dog, Aloka, has also accompanied them.

According to Dayton Interim Police Chief Shane Burleigh, an accident occurred at 6:13 p.m. on 20 November, along the side of US Highway 90 near the city of Dayton, 64 kilometers northeast of Houston. “The truck didn’t notice how slow the vehicle was going, tried to make an evasive maneuver to drive around the vehicle, and didn’t do it in time,” Burleigh said. “It struck the escort vehicle in the rear left, pushed the escort into two of the monks.” (WXXV 25)

One of the monks sustained substantial leg injuries and was airlifted to a Houston hospital for emergency care. The second monk, who suffered less severe injuries, was transported by ambulance to another hospital in the Houston metropolitan area.

The driver of the truck was reported to be cooperating with the investigation. “Right now, we’re looking at this as driver inattention,” Burleigh said, noting that investigators would determine whether charges would be filed once the inquiry concluded. (WXXV 25)

In a video sent out on 20 November, an unnamed spokeswoman for the monastics reported that the most seriously injured monk had undergone the first of several planned surgeries. “He’s in good spirits. He’s giving us thumbs-up,” she said. (WXXV 25) The group later added that the surgery went well, although the condition of the second monk had not been publicly updated.

Despite the accident, the monks camped overnight near Dayton and this week resumed their walk “with steadfast determination.” (WXXV 25)

A statement from the monks added: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of concern, prayers, and compassionate messages from communities near and far.” (Houston Public Media)

A spokesperson for the Walk for Peace, Long Si Dong, said the monks did not plan to change the overall structure of their pilgrimage. While they regularly walk along highways, they also pass through open land, side roads, and rural areas. Dong emphasized that the group would continue coordinating with local law enforcement in every jurisdiction to ensure the monks’ safety. “Right now, everything is still as planned,” he said. (WXXV 25)

The Walk for Peace reflects a long tradition of Buddhist mendicant journeys undertaken to cultivate inner transformation while promoting collective well-being. Although the majority of Buddhists in the US come from East Asian and Southeast Asian immigrant communities, the country’s Buddhist presence has grown steadily over the last several decades. Public acts of spiritual witness—such as peace walks, meditation vigils, and interfaith ceremonies—have become increasingly visible expressions of this diverse Buddhist landscape.

See more

Walk For Peace USA (Facebook)
Buddhist monks resume 2,300-mile walk for peace after accident near Houston (WXXV 250)
Buddhist Peace Walk shaken, but not broken after road accident (MSN)
Buddhist monks on ‘Walk for Peace’ hospitalized after traffic crash in Liberty County (Houston Public Media)
2 Buddhist Monks hit by car during peace walk on US 90 in Dayton, police say (ABC 13)

Related news reports from BDG

Buddhist Monks on 3,000-Kilometer “Walk for Peace” Stop in Houston to Promote Unity and Compassion
Buddhist Monks Begin Pilgrimage for Peace from Texas to Washington, DC
Buddhist Temples in Houston, Texas, Report Burglaries
Texas Professor Earns Fulbright Grant to Research Buddhism in Taiwan