Buddhist monks on a “Walk for Peace” rest in Pearl, after stop in Jackson
By Brooklyn Joyner
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JACKSON, Miss. (WAPT) — After making a stop in Jackson, several monks on a “Walk for Peace” spent the night resting at the Pearl soccer fields. Thursday morning they will walk from Pearl through Brandon and head to Pelahatchie.
This is their first “Walk for Peace” in the United States sharing messages of peace and resilience with the community.
“They have sacrificed so much — some of them are out walking in sandals, some of them are walking barefoot — so they are making sacrifices,” said Kiffany Dugger from Batesville.
The monks were warmly welcomed in Jackson, where Mississippians listened intently to their words on the Capitol steps.
“If you can do that every single day, you will have peace for the rest of your life,” they shared.
Kiffany Dugger, who has been following the monks’ journey on social media since they began in Texas in October, expressed how their presence brought her peace.
“When I saw them on TikTok, I immediately had a sense of peace. I’m going through a transition — I just moved from Houston back home to Batesville, Mississippi — so there is a lot that goes along with that,” Dugger said.
While Dugger seeks personal peace, others like Zuley Yepez from Meridian, Mississippi, pray for peace in their communities.
“United States citizens who are of Latino descent… are being persecuted right now because the Supreme Court made a ruling where it’s ok for ICE to profile people who look like me,” Yepez said.
I have seen so many problems in different countries and different corners of the world,” Pannakara said.
Venerable Pannakara, one of the 17 monks, emphasized that peace is not something that can be given but must be found within oneself.
He shared that their cause is worth the sacrifices, even recounting how one monk survived being hit by a car during their journey.
“We suffer because we are not willing to let it go. But now, as Buddhist monks, we practice and understand the reason behind it, so it’s not a problem for us,” Panakarra said.
The monks have also been distributing yellow bracelets symbolizing good luck.
They are resting on the Pearl soccer field until they continue on their journey Thursday morning.
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