Buddhist “Walk for Peace” Monks Come to Metro Motor

On a long pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., a group of Buddhist monks known for their nationwide “Walk for Peace” paused at Metro Motor in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood on Monday. On the cusp of culminating their journey to our nation’s capital, the monks took a moment to greet well-wishers and hand out flowers to those gathered in support.

The “Walk for Peace” – a roughly 2,300-mile, 120-day walking meditation – has been drawing attention and support from communities across the eastern United States. The monks, clad in distinctive saffron robes and accompanied by their rescue dog Aloka, are spreading a message of compassion, unity, mindful living, and nonviolence as they walk miles each day through often-quite-frigid towns and cities.

Metro Motor Extends a Hand of Hospitality

A police escort and a phalanx of neighbors ushered the monks down Washington Blvd. and to our Clarendon auto repair shop, where Metro Motor team members greeted our guests with water, fruit snacks, granola bars, and nuts. Offering our facilities for the monks’ refreshment and a brief rest was a small way we could help sustain their momentum.

“The monks brought a quiet but powerful reminder of peace, presence, and connection – values that matter deeply in everyday life and within local communities,” said Lyndon Grey, President of Business Operations at Metro Motor. “Their visit was a meaningful moment for our team and our neighbors, reminding us that peace is something we practice daily through kindness, presence, and how we show up for one another. We were truly honored to welcome and support them on their journey.”

Image: Team member Kamil Ashi joins Buddhist “Walk for Peace” monks at Metro Motor in Clarendon.

The stop at Metro Motor wasn’t a formal event with speeches or fanfare, but it was exactly the sort of quiet, human connection the monks hope to foster through every mile they walk. For Metro Motor team members and hundreds of Arlington residents who gathered to offer warm greetings and silent bows of respect, the brief visit became a chance to pause, reflect, and carry forward a sense of peace into the week ahead.

A Message and a Mission

The “Walk for Peace” began in late October 2025 in Texas and has since made its way through at least eight states en route to D.C., with hundreds to thousands of people turning out at various points to witness and support the procession of walkers. Along the route, the monks have paused for “peace-sharing talks” at lunch breaks and rest points, and have handed out peace bracelets, flowers, and blessings to those who approach them.

In Arlington, onlookers shared stories of how the monks’ journey had touched their hearts and inspired them to live more meaningfully. It was an opportunity to engage with the monks’ mission up close and to see first-hand the unifying potential of compassion, determination, and community spirit.