02/23/2026
Many people have voiced concerns that they won’t be able to maintain their anchoring of peace now that the Buddhist monks have finished their walk from Texas to Washington, D.C. I admit, I will miss the tremendous grounding from the Monks. But if every person who has been meditating for peace takes responsibility for anchoring it each day, that grounding can continue.
So what might a responsible peace-person look like? Personally, I am going to write down my daily task list. And if I have any negative feelings about the people I’m going to be working with, or against the task itself, I will breathe out those feelings. In fact, I will continue deep breathing until my heart’s intent to bring peace is all that exists around living that day.
The Monks have given us a huge opportunity to change our lives and our country. To drop the ball would be such a waste. I must say, the power I experienced the day I meditated with them, and all of you, was life-changing. My feeling of helplessness has been replaced with a sense of unity. There can be so much power generated when thousands of people join around an intent to bring peace to our world.
Having a common intent is supportive, but living it is what makes it powerful. Living life with the intent to bring peace changes priorities and adds purpose. But even more powerful than those two additions is the change it will make in how each individual will view themselves. Their core of realness will be uncovered.
As we have united around peace, our petty differences that have separated us are already beginning to lose their focus. Such things as religious differences, monetary worth, political preferences, race, and gender--these differences are being pushed into the background of importance. Peace will continue to underscore what is of real importance in relationships as well as in daily living.
Having a common goal of peace will change us in ways we have never even dreamed of. And all for the better. I know this is sounding “pie in the sky,” but if we can see beyond the divisive walls we have built, and be open to change, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that peace will happen.
Jackie Woods is the founder and director of the Adawehi Community located in Columbus, N.C. She can be contacted at jackiewoods.org or at adawehi.com
