Walking for Peace: Embodied Compassion in Contemporary Buddhist Practice

Authors

  • Ven. Anil Sakya Author

Keywords:

Walking Meditation, carika, compassion, mindfulness, peace, engaged buddhism

Abstract

In a contemporary era characterized by systemic conflict, the pursuit of peace has shifted from a distant ideal to an urgent global imperative. This article examines the Buddhist paradigm of "walking for peace" not merely as a symbolic gesture, but as a physical enactment of compassion. Rooted in the primordial mandate of the Buddha—who exhorted his first sixty disciples to walk (cārika) for the welfare of the world—modern peace walks represent a vital continuity of engaged Buddhist tradition. By synthesizing canonical texts with contemporary practice, this article explores how internal contemplative discipline and outward social responsibility converge. Ultimately, walking for peace offers a transformative model of "embodied compassion," providing a practical path for global citizens and a pedagogical framework for students of Buddhist studies to integrate Dhamma into the modern world.

Author Biography

  • Ven. Anil Sakya

    Anil Sakya, Assistant Abbot Wat Bovoranives Vihara in Bangkok, Thailand; former rector of the World Buddhist University under the World Fellowship of Buddhists and former Vice President for Foreign Affairs of the Mahamakut Buddhist University; Fellow of the Caux Round Table for Moral Capitalism

    Venerable Anil was born Nepalese in the Buddha's clan of Sakya. He received his MPhil from Cambridge University and later obtained a PhD in Social Anthropology from Brunel University in the UK with a royal scholarship from the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Since 2000, he has been lecturing in various capacities. While serving as a Vice-President and lecturer at Mahamakut Buddhist University, he was also a visiting professor at numerous leading universities in Thailand, as well as at Santa Clara University in the USA and Oxford University in the UK and at leading universities in Thailand. In addition to his university lectures, he has been frequently invited to speak to top Thai government administrators and the business community, and to address global issues at UN organizations. He directs a prison ministry in Bangkok. His sermons and articles have been widely circulated.

References

Additional Files

Published

2026-04-23

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): Buddhist Publications

Section

Articles