Members from a Michigan-based organization, Project Be the Light, joined with thousands of others in February in Washington, D.C., to be a part of the Monk Peace Walk, a 2,300-mile pilgrimage by Buddhist monks from Fort Worth, Texas, who started their walk in October. The monks aimed to spread messages of inner peace, compassion and mindfulness across America, drawing massive crowds.
Project Be the Light members in attendance who met the monks in Washington D.C. were Cydney Idsinga of Hart, Michigan; Joy Underwood of Silver Lake, Michigan; and Michelle Ash and Vicki Manning of Coldwater, Michigan, and all made the journey, thanks to donor support. “We joined the monks on Feb. 11 with thousands of walkers, circling the U.S. Capitol building. Our group led prayers at different memorials throughout our time there with strangers, who were also seeking peace for our country,” said Idsinga, who is the president of Project Be the Light.
Led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, the walk promotes nonviolence and offers quiet inspiration through shared human kindness and culminated in D.C. The walk was described as a spiritual offering. Pannakara delivered the final speech, which focused on personal peace and hope, saying to choose loving kindness, compassion, love, harmony and hope. Also noting that peace, kindness and love are the responsibility of each individual.
There were 19 Buddhist monks along with their beloved dog, Aloka (a 4 year old rescue), who departed from their temple in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26. Their walk, spanning 10 states, took 109 days, with the monks returning to their temple Feb. 14, 2026. While 19 monks made the journey, the members of Project Be the Light observed many additional monks who arrived in D.C. to support the Walk for Peace.
Once the walk concluded and the monks moved on, the team from Project Be the Light spent the next day spreading light and peace to those they encountered. They also brought Project Be the Light promotional items with them to hand out, including mini Jesus figures, bracelets, stickers and special handmade prayer quilt squares with a message and cross inside.
Project Be the Light is a newly formed non-denominational 501(c)(3) working to share the Light and Truth of Jesus Christ with all others by sharing God’s love, grace, mercy, kindness, favor and forgiveness. For more information about Project Be the Light, please visit their Facebook page or TikTok.
