Photos and words by Sean Rayford

*The venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara with Aloka the dog in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (All photos made January 10, 2026)*

“If our mind is empty, it will pick up all those bad things to think over — and over. And when we have all those thoughts popping up, one after another, we are overwhelmed and we shut down,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara on Saturday afternoon at the South Carolina Statehouse.

“The mind picks up all the trash — to chew it over like a cow. The cow, after chewing and eating, the grass is vomited and then chewed over and over. Our mind is doing the same thing.”

Pannakara had just led 17 monks and the Walk for Peace, with thousands joining the procession crossing the Congaree River and up Gervias St. to the statehouse. Their journey began on Oct. 26, 2025 in Texas and is scheduled to end in mid-February in Washington, D.C.

From the statehouse steps Pannakara offered wisdom on mindfulness and conflict, especially conflict with oneself.

“The first place to go, which is hospital. The second place we will go, which is jail. And the third place to go after a fight, is funeral. These are the three places for all of us to go after we encounter a fight. And this is what we've been going through for so long in our family, our friends, our workplace, our neighbors.

We've been separating ourselves with each other for so long. And then so whenever things happen, we always, always react and suffer. So our message is not to ask all of us to stand up for another fight. We have a lot of fight already.

It's not necessary for us to go for another fight. Instead, we should fight one thing.

Our mind.”

With the help of their trusty sidekick, a dog named Aloka, the monks mobilzed an enormous crowd on Saturday, following in their footsteps with a message of peace.

After participating in several Walks for Peace in South Asia, this is Pannakara’s first Walk in the United States.

At the conclusion of their 2300 mile walk, the monks will ask Congress to recognize Buddha’s day of birth and enlightenment as a federal holiday.