The Walk for Peace, a procession of Buddhist monks making their way from Texas to Washington, D.C., took over U.S. Highway 64 in Chatham County on Thursday.
Thursday's route took the group from Siler City to Pittsboro, where they greeted visitors from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Chatham County fairgrounds (191 Fairgrounds Road in Pittsboro).
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"I feel very touched that people that people do this," said Liam Meza, who saw the monks at the fairgrounds. "We came because we thought it was cool that people are doing this for peace."
Sky 5 flew over the monks preparing to continue their walk after their lunch stop east of Pittsboro. Footage saw that their dog Aloka was with the monks before they started moving. Aloka will not be joining them on the walk as he recovers from surgery, but he is expected to appear at their stops.
The monks and their message have drawn admirers along the 120-day, 2,300-mile journey from the start in October.
"I think it's amazing that they have so much dedication to walk across such a long distance," said Saul Meza, who was also at the fairgrounds.
"Honestly, I am surprised they are not crawling right now," said Phoenix Christianson.
The monks will enter Wake County for a lunch stop around 10 a.m. at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on State Park Road in Apex.
They are expected to arrive in Raleigh on Saturday, but specifics of where and when have yet to be released.
How to interact with the monks
Beyond promoting peace, their highest priority is connecting with people along the way.
The “Walk For Peace” Facebook page states the proper way to greet the monks is by placing your palms together and bowing to them.
People are asked to avoid physical contact with monks like a hug or a handshake unless a monk extends an invitation to do so. “Walk For Peace” added it is a sign of respect to avoid eye contact or respond.
The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha himself as core for attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection — observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.
When given flowers by the bystanders watching their journey, the monks regift them to others. They posted to Instagram, "the flowers remained the same— but the peace and happiness multiplied with each giving."
The post continued, "This is the beautiful truth about peace: when you give it away, it doesn’t diminish — it multiplies. When you share joy, you don’t lose it — you create more of it."
In Siler City, hundreds filled the football stadium at Jordan-Matthews High School to greet them.
Zack Roberson said, “They’re spreading peace, light, harmony. Look at all these beautiful people... We need that in this world!”
Evangela Oates, who cheered the monks as they passed through Guilford County on Tuesday, said her takeaway was to be more mindful in her daily life.
She said, "Multitasking is a part of what many of us do. I do it all the time. I don't know if I'm gonna stop multitasking completely, but being more mindful about taking time to enjoy life and be mindful that our next moment is not promised to us."
Winter weather worries
By the time they make their way to Raleigh the monks — some of whom walk in bare feet by choice — could face another challenge. WRAL Severe Weather Center is tracking a system expected to bring freezing rain and ice to the Triangle.
The Walk for Peace will proceed regardless of the weather, a representative told WRAL News.
When, where the monks are going in North Carolina
Jan. 14: Arrived in Charlotte
Jan. 15: Traveled to Concord, visited Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Concord
Jan. 16: Left Concord and China Grove
Jan. 17: From China Grove, visited Salisbury, Spencer and Linwood
Jan. 18: From Linwood to Lexington and Thomasville
Jan. 19: From Thomasville to High Point and Greensboro
Jan. 20: From Greensboro to Climax
Jan. 21-22: Along U.S. Highway 64 through Chatham County
Jan. 23-24: The monks are estimated to arrive in Raleigh
Jan. 25-27: Estimated arrival in Louisburg
A months-long journey
The monks' slow march began Oct. 26, 2025, at a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Texas, and is scheduled to end in mid-February in Washington, D.C.
Hailing from Theravada Buddhist monasteries across the globe, the 19 monks began their 2,300-mile (3,700 kilometer) trek at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth.
Lee McCorkle saw the monks in Concord and Kannapolis. McCorkle has a doctorate degree in anthropology, and has studied Buddhist tradition, history and culture for years.
"I'm just completely saturated with how just how special it was," McCorkle said.
The journey has not been without peril.
On Nov. 19, as the monks were walking along U.S. Highway 90 near Dayton, Texas, their escort vehicle was hit by a distracted truck driver, injuring two monks. One of them lost his leg, reducing the group to 18.
Preferring to sleep each night in tents pitched outdoors, the monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies, drawing huge crowds into churchyards, city halls and town squares across six states.
Documenting their journey on social media, they — and their dog, Aloka — have racked up millions of followers online.