Richard Sayer/Eight & 322
TITUSVILLE, Pa. – Last week a group of orange-robed walkers drew some attention as they passed through Titusville and Hydetown.
The 10 Buddhist monks and four lay people have been on a journey since March 31, traveling from Key West, Florida to Niagara Falls, New York. They are led by Sutham Nateetong, a monk who five years ago walked alone from Santa Monica, California to New York City.
Their mission . . . world peace.
“We can make world peace from inner peace,” Sutham Nateetong said as he walked at the front of the line of six monks near Two Mile County Park in Venango County the day before getting to Titusville. “When we have inner peace we send loving kindness to everybody in family, in community… (if) every family, every community can have peace, the whole world can have peace.”
In his solo journey five years ago, he learned of people’s kindness and willingness to engage. He has also walked across several countries in Europe.
This walk he is not alone. The group of ten don’t typically all walk at the same time. Six or so at a time will cover approximately 30 miles a day on foot, some wearing only sandals. They share the duties as they go, such as carrying flags, taking photographs and videos, and walking at the end of the single-file group.
As they came through the area last week, the region was experiencing the first real heat wave of the summer season. Sweaty and hot, the monks didn’t waver they just kept on moving at a steady pace, looking for areas of shade when possible.
“Sweat out each drop for world peace,” said Kamron Yaemyue, one of the monks on the journey. If sweat could achieve world peace alone these monks have certainly done their part.
Stopping in Foxburg, Two Mile, and Union City, they encountered hundreds of people who came out of their houses to greet and talk with them. Many offered water and food to the travelers. They arrived in Buffalo Tuesday night.
Phra Supalak, one of the monks who handles photographing the journey and communications said “Our group of monks would love to thank you for all your hospitality, warm smiling photos with us, water and snacks and thoughtfully offering things that are beneficial to our walking long distances. Truly thank you.”
Their Facebook group “Walk for World Peace” shares their journey through words and hundreds of photographs of their encounters.
As of June 25, they had walked 1,794.7 miles.
“Walking is meditation,” Sutham Nateetong said. “I send loving kindness for everybody. Peace is not (the) duty of only the president, not only the government … peace is (the ) duty for everybody.”
