02/07/2026
Breathing and smiling in peace. Last night we received many updates about the monks' plans in the DC area, and we met again to finalize our plans.
All DMV area Plum Village sanghas are still planning to meet for the Wednesday, February 11th 2:30 PM event at the Lincoln Memorial for the Peace Gathering and Concluding Ceremony.
Our plan is:
1:30 PM - meet outside Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station in the adjacent small park area. Enjoy singing and listening to the bell
1:45 PM - begin walking meditation to Lincoln Memorial / reflecting pool
2:05 PM - arrive in the vicinity of Lincoln Memorial; friends are invited to meet us here too if you would like to go directly there (exact location TBD). Continue practicing together.
2:30 PM - approximate time for monks to arrive. The event will not last longer than two hours. Everyone is welcome to stay as long as they would like.
4:00 PM - friends can depart after ceremony conclusion or remain and join the monks' meditation practice at GWU (more info below)
Safety considerations:
- Dress for the weather: expect cold temps & possibility of rain.
- Bring water and some snacks if you like.
- Hazards of ice and snow remain in much of the DC area. We will together walk slowly and mindfully to the event.
We will send out a digital map around Sunday showing our initial meeting location (Foggy Bottom metro station), our intended route to Lincoln Memorial, our subsequent meeting location (somewhere near the memorial/reflecting pool), and the locations of bathrooms, medical facilities, etc.
This link will give you information about the monks' additional planned activities while they are in DC: Washington DC & Maryland Schedule – Walk for Peace – Dhammacetiya – The Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas.
Please let me know if you plan to join us on Wednesday afternoon so that we know how many folks to expect. And please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
In gratitude,
Nigel
Plum Village Walk for Peace Welcome Committee
🙏 Join Us in Washington, D.C. and Maryland | Feb 10–12, 2026
We are deeply honored to invite everyone to join us in Washington, D.C. and Maryland as we approach the final destination of this 2,300-mile Walk for Peace. After more than 108 days and countless steps through many states, we will arrive in our nation's capital with hearts full of gratitude. We warmly welcome all who wish to be part of these final, sacred moments of our journey.
📅 Confirmed Schedule (Updated on February 8, 2026. All times listed are in EST):
* Monday, February 9 (Day 107):
Night Rest Stop: Marymount University (Private Event)
* Tuesday, February 10 (Day 108):
- 7:00 AM: Walk begins
- 9:30–10:45 AM: Public Event at Bender Arena
- Lunch stop: National United Methodist Church (Invitees only)
- 1:00–2:30 PM: Interfaith Ceremony at Washington National Cathedral
- 2:30 PM: Unity Walk on Embassy Row
- Night Stop: George Washington University (Private Event)
* Wednesday, February 11 (Day 109):
- 9:30 AM: Walk to Peace Monument / Capitol Hill begins
- Lunch stop: St. Mark’s Capitol Hill Church (Invitees only)
- 1:30 PM: Walk to Lincoln Memorial begins
- 2:30–4:00 PM: Peace Gathering and Concluding Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial
- 4:30–7:30 PM: Meditation Session with Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara at George Washington University Smith Center
* Thursday, February 12 (Day 110):
- 9:00 AM: Walk for Peace continues in Maryland (The walk starts from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
- 10:00–10:45 AM: Peace Gathering at the steps of the Maryland State Capitol
- 12:30 PM: Departure for Fort Worth, TX
📌 We also cordially invite all venerable monks and nuns from all traditions to join us on this path of peace. If you are able to join, please visit our website to sign up so we may prepare for your arrival.
🎥 We will have live streams on our page for most of the events listed above so that everyone can join us in spirit from anywhere.
🗺️We will also provide daily updates on our walking route. Please check the Live Map pinned at the top of our page to track the journey in near real-time. We still post nightly updates every day for the following day on our page and our website. We encourage you to stay tuned to both platforms to ensure you have the most current information. The website link is pinned at the top of our page or in the comment section below this post.
We look forward to welcoming you with open hearts. Your presence would be a blessing and a gift to us all.
May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏
