It was a very sweaty hug, but it wasn’t the sweat that made this a moment one I won’t soon forget.
With wars being waged in very dangerous parts of the world and two out of touch old guys running for president in a country so divided politically, my usually optimistic outlook has been getting pretty dim. Add in social media where we learn more about how our neighbors think about the issues than we ever wanted, it scares me where we are exisingt as a society. Cynicism infiltrates when we aren't paying close attention.
Then a complete stranger extended a hand with a beautiful smile and drew me in for an embrace. Even though temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees and we were in bright sun, it was a soothing moment that was much needed.
It wasn’t a fake gesture. It was an engulfing hug filled with kindness and love that one this man, Sutham Nateetong, a Thai Buddhist monk, has given thousands of times.
With wars being waged in very dangerous parts of the world and two out of touch old guys running for president in a country so divided politically, my usually optimistic outlook has been getting pretty dim. Add in social media where we learn more about how our neighbors think about the issues than we ever wanted, it scares me where we are exisingt as a society. Cynicism infiltrates when we aren't paying close attention.
Then a complete stranger extended a hand with a beautiful smile and drew me in for an embrace. Even though temperatures were hovering around 90 degrees and we were in bright sun, it was a soothing moment that was much needed.
It wasn’t a fake gesture. It was an engulfing hug filled with kindness and love that one this man, Sutham Nateetong, a Thai Buddhist monk, has given thousands of times.
Image courtesy of Phra Supalak
It was a split second, but it was infinite. It was beautiful. It was type of hug that allowed me to hug back and actually feel from within me my ability to give him back my love.
What a gift this was to me.
Sometimes we don’t know what we need until the universe brings it to us.
On Thursday, the universe brought me this.
What a gift this was to me.
Sometimes we don’t know what we need until the universe brings it to us.
On Thursday, the universe brought me this.
This embrace actually began on March 31 in Key West, Florida when Sutham Nateetong and nine other monks and four lay people set out on a walk to Niagara Falls by passing through many big cities, including our nation's capitol, and many more small towns.
Their message is for world peace and they are practicing a discipline of meditation through walking and awareness.
“A walking pilgrimage is my preferred way to meditate,” Sutham Nateetong said five years ago during a Voice of America story of when he walked solo from California to New York. “If I take my pilgrimage walk to promote peace, it will benefit even more people.”
Their message is for world peace and they are practicing a discipline of meditation through walking and awareness.
“A walking pilgrimage is my preferred way to meditate,” Sutham Nateetong said five years ago during a Voice of America story of when he walked solo from California to New York. “If I take my pilgrimage walk to promote peace, it will benefit even more people.”
Though there was a language barrier, we shared a few thoughts when I met up with them on Route 428 in Venango County. I was there to learn about them so I could explain to my readers what they were about and why they came through our area. It was difficult as English isn't fluent for them, though a few have enough of a vocabulary to get their point across.
One monk reached his hand to touch my belly when I didn’t really understand him. He said “walk, walk, walk” and indicated that all the monks were skinny. I looked down at his hand touching what I swear was my dad’s belly and not my own and I began to laugh loudly.
That laugh was a second very nice gift this group of people gave to me.
I also learned my choice of words made it difficult to communicate. I have a slang-riddled, sometimes snarky joke-like communication style. Those not fluent have a very difficult time understanding. But these monks were patient and helped me learn.
One monk reached his hand to touch my belly when I didn’t really understand him. He said “walk, walk, walk” and indicated that all the monks were skinny. I looked down at his hand touching what I swear was my dad’s belly and not my own and I began to laugh loudly.
That laugh was a second very nice gift this group of people gave to me.
I also learned my choice of words made it difficult to communicate. I have a slang-riddled, sometimes snarky joke-like communication style. Those not fluent have a very difficult time understanding. But these monks were patient and helped me learn.
Image courtesy of Phra Supalak
These beautiful kind interactions made it hard for me to later read comments from people on social media saying that they wasting their time and should "get a life," while some thought they were up to no good and possibly dangerous.
One member of our community said we shouldn’t engage with them because “… they are promoting through a false and pagan religion. As Christians we should not support this.”
Really?
These are caring souls on a walking mission of peace and love and kindness. Doesn’t that actually sound like Christ?
One member of our community said we shouldn’t engage with them because “… they are promoting through a false and pagan religion. As Christians we should not support this.”
Really?
These are caring souls on a walking mission of peace and love and kindness. Doesn’t that actually sound like Christ?
I just couldn't fathom such negativity and I caught myself getting angry. During a car ride, I ranted out loud to no one because I was alone, as if I were confronting these people directly. I’m guessing if anyone saw me, they'd think I was either crazy or listening to angry death metal on the radio.
Then I remembered the calmness from a stranger's embrace, and his words of peace and kindness I heard only a few short hours earlier.
"We can make world peace from inner peace. When we have inner peace we send loving kindness to everybody in family, in community... (if) every family, every community can have peace, the whole world can have peace."
Again, what a gift to give me on that day.
Then I remembered the calmness from a stranger's embrace, and his words of peace and kindness I heard only a few short hours earlier.
"We can make world peace from inner peace. When we have inner peace we send loving kindness to everybody in family, in community... (if) every family, every community can have peace, the whole world can have peace."
Again, what a gift to give me on that day.
It is hard not to find disappointment in my fellow humans sometimes, but my feelings of disappointment add to the negativity going around.
I must constantly remind myself of this.
Christ taught us to pray, to reflect and to seek our wisdom through God. Prayer, if done in the way Christ did when he’d go off into the dessert for days, is meditation.
Praying for our own actions of kindness and love instead of praying for forgiveness seems to be a better pathway towards positivity and progress in the world. That has always been what I got out of Christ’s teaching. That is what I've gotten from casual study of other religions and philosophies from Black Elk's teachings, reading about the Zen practices and understanding that nirvana or heaven must be sought individually through personal inner goodness.
It is easy to loose this in a society when negativity and judgement become a collective.
I must constantly remind myself of this.
Christ taught us to pray, to reflect and to seek our wisdom through God. Prayer, if done in the way Christ did when he’d go off into the dessert for days, is meditation.
Praying for our own actions of kindness and love instead of praying for forgiveness seems to be a better pathway towards positivity and progress in the world. That has always been what I got out of Christ’s teaching. That is what I've gotten from casual study of other religions and philosophies from Black Elk's teachings, reading about the Zen practices and understanding that nirvana or heaven must be sought individually through personal inner goodness.
It is easy to loose this in a society when negativity and judgement become a collective.
Image courtesy of Phra Supalak
This group of strangers has given me hope that maybe if I can catch myself before my negative thoughts turn to actions, maybe I can get closer to achieving a lasting peace. If I can achieve this then maybe so can my neighbor and so on.
The monks are very nearly at the end of their trek - their Facebook group page says they are in Buffalo, but they are not even close to the end of their journey. With tensions rising steadily all over the world these monks could really use our help. What they are saying and doing in this walk isn't some novelty act - it is a prayer, it is a plea, it is an unwavering energy to react a positive and lasting peace.
Sutham Nateetong said, “Peace is not (the) duty of only the president, not only the government ... peace is (the) duty for everybody.”
I will try to dig deep to find the strength to do my part. I hope I remember that sweaty hug and the lessons it contained when confronted with negativity and I hope I can find the inner peace to remain within the realm of hope.
The monks are very nearly at the end of their trek - their Facebook group page says they are in Buffalo, but they are not even close to the end of their journey. With tensions rising steadily all over the world these monks could really use our help. What they are saying and doing in this walk isn't some novelty act - it is a prayer, it is a plea, it is an unwavering energy to react a positive and lasting peace.
Sutham Nateetong said, “Peace is not (the) duty of only the president, not only the government ... peace is (the) duty for everybody.”
I will try to dig deep to find the strength to do my part. I hope I remember that sweaty hug and the lessons it contained when confronted with negativity and I hope I can find the inner peace to remain within the realm of hope.
Below is an updated version of a story written for the June 28 edition of Titusville News-Journal.
A message of world peace came through the area last week
   | Last week a group of orange robed walkers drew some attention as they passed through Titusville and Hydetown. The 10 Buddhist monks and four lay people have been on a journey since March 31, traveling from Key West, Florida to Niagara Falls, New York. They are led by Sutham Nateetong, a monk who five years ago walked alone from Santa Monica, California to New York City. Their mission… world peace. "We can make world peace from inner peace,” Sutham Nateetong said as he walked at the front of the line of six monks near Two Mile County Park in Venango County the day before getting to Titusville. “When we have inner peace we send loving kindness to everybody in family, in community... (if) every family, every community can have peace, the whole world can have peace." |
In his solo journey five years ago, he learned of people’s kindness and willingness to engage. He has also walked across several countries in Europe.
This walk he is not alone. The group of ten don’t typically all walk at the same time. Six or so at a time will cover approximately 30 miles a day on foot, some wearing only sandals. They share the duties as they go, such as carrying flags, taking photographs and videos and walking at the end of the single-file group.
As they came through the area last week, the region was experiencing the first real heat wave of the summer season. Sweaty and hot, the monks didn't waver they just kept on moving at a steady pace, looking for areas of shade when possible.
This walk he is not alone. The group of ten don’t typically all walk at the same time. Six or so at a time will cover approximately 30 miles a day on foot, some wearing only sandals. They share the duties as they go, such as carrying flags, taking photographs and videos and walking at the end of the single-file group.
As they came through the area last week, the region was experiencing the first real heat wave of the summer season. Sweaty and hot, the monks didn't waver they just kept on moving at a steady pace, looking for areas of shade when possible.
“Sweat out each drop for world peace,” said Kamron Yaemyue, one of the monks on the journey. If sweat could achieve world peace alone these monks have certainly done their part.
Stopping in Foxburg, Two Mile and Union City, they encountered hundreds of people who came out of their houses to greet and talk with them. Many offered water and food to the travelers. They arrived in Buffalo Tuesday night.
Phra Supalak, one of the monks who handles photographing the journey and communications said “Our group of monks would love to thank you for all your hospitality, warm smiling photos with us, water and snacks and thoughtfully offering things that are beneficial to our walking long distances. Truly thank you.”
Their Facebook group “Walk for World Peace” shares their journey through words and hundreds of photographs of their encounters.
As of June 25, they had walked 1,794.7 miles.
"Walking is meditation," Sutham Nateetong said. "I send loving kindness for everybody. Peace is not (the) duty of only the president, not only the government ... peace is (the ) duty for everybody.”
Stopping in Foxburg, Two Mile and Union City, they encountered hundreds of people who came out of their houses to greet and talk with them. Many offered water and food to the travelers. They arrived in Buffalo Tuesday night.
Phra Supalak, one of the monks who handles photographing the journey and communications said “Our group of monks would love to thank you for all your hospitality, warm smiling photos with us, water and snacks and thoughtfully offering things that are beneficial to our walking long distances. Truly thank you.”
Their Facebook group “Walk for World Peace” shares their journey through words and hundreds of photographs of their encounters.
As of June 25, they had walked 1,794.7 miles.
"Walking is meditation," Sutham Nateetong said. "I send loving kindness for everybody. Peace is not (the) duty of only the president, not only the government ... peace is (the ) duty for everybody.”
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