GREAT FALLS, S.C. — A group of Buddhist monks on a walk for peace across the country were in Chester County on Monday. They are expected to reach Charlotte Thursday.
They left Fort Worth, Texas, in October for a 2,300-mile journey to Washington, D.C.
The monks and their dog, Aloka, have garnered national attention as they walk to promote peace and unity.
The monks walked through Fairfield County, South Carolina, and into Chester County on Highway 21.
Dozens listened to the monks talk about mindfulness and unity during their lunch break.
Helen Lacombe and her husband drove from Fort Mill.
“My husband his friend, they’ve been following it all along waiting for the first time we could really see them, and it wouldn’t be packed, like in Columbia. It was a lot of people,” Lacombe said.
They will spend the night in Great Falls and continue north.
The group also made a stop in Columbia, South Carolina, and addressed a crowd at the South Carolina State House Saturday.
“We should live and love each other, show compassion with each other, so that peace can begin within each and every one of us,” one of the monks said.
[ READ MORE >> Monks promote unity on cross-country walk, stop in SC ]
Supporters gathered at Middle James Brewing in Pineville to make signs and peace bracelets to use when the monks arrive in the Queen City area later this week.
“I’m hoping to see that we stay together as a community and continue to promote peace and awareness,” one supporter, Jasmine Sharpe, said. “We can’t have community without unity and keeping everyone together because everyone needs someone, and peace is very important in the world we live in.”
You can follow the monks’ journey with a live map here.
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