Buddhist Monks Walking for Right Symbolism… 

Now that Buddhist monks walking long distances for peace and mindfulness have taken the world by storm and surprise, it’s time to not only sit up and take notice, but to ask what it all means. To me it means no less than the dawning of a new age, hopefully for the world, but definitely for Buddhism, and possibly Christianity, too. Because this is a form of Buddhism that is quite compatible with the Christianity espoused by the followers of A Course in Miracles, who are also looking for ‘Enlightenment’ and for whom Heaven is NOW. Sound familiar?   

First, it must present a unified face for Buddhism, though, and that is not difficult with plentiful access to such pioneers as Ajahn Chah in Theravada, Thich Nhat Hanh in Zen, and Pema Chodren in Vajrayana, each about as equally Buddhist ‘New Age’ yet still traditional enough, without causing any alarm while generally avoiding such tried and tired subjects as karma, rebirth, and the number of Heaven and Hell realms to which a non-self might ultimately be consigned, while waiting for a better rebirth, ho hum.  

So, if the current long walks are not the traditional pilgrimages common in many, if not all, religions, wherein traditional sites of religious significance are visited for inspiration and blessings, then are a vaguely defined ‘peace’ and mindfulness enough to justify the allocation of resources and expectations? I imagine a ninth addition to the traditional Eightfold Path (or is it already Ninefold)? I’m thinking of Right Symbolism. Because Peace and Mindfulness are certainly symbols of what Buddhism can bring to the table, if not necessarily the thing itself. And that symbol is nothing if not change, positive change, with many credits already in its balance sheet of blessings.