On March 1, Jotipalo Bhikkhu and Austin Stewart began a months-long walk from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Arrow River Forest Hermitage on Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. The walk is in the age-old tradition of pilgrimage, with an emphasis on living simply, meditation and dependence on the kindness and generosity of those that wish to see them succeed.

Following are excerpts from their ongoing online journal, available via the “News” menu at http://www.abhayagiri.org. To contact the pilgrims or to offer your support, write to .

Day 1: We’ve decided to walk along the levee at first. We've walked three miles so far, and we're going to try to walk about nine miles a day. We have no idea where we’re going to stay tonight, but we did see a couple of plantations up the way with some long, beautiful lawns. —Jotipalo Bhikkhu

Day 2: It feels like we’re pushing the envelope—what are we doing disrupting these people’s lives, this Buddhist monk walking into a beauty salon to get a gallon of water?! —JB

Day 4: Though we have met much generosity so far, it is not enough to sustain us day to day, so we have begun to use money that others donated to the monastery for this walk. At first I felt like we were cheating, but then I realized that we are still living on the kindness of others. —Austin Stewart

Day 7: If anybody says they have no fear of death, I challenge them to walk through Mississippi the way that we are dressed. —AS

Day 8: The Natchez Trace Parkway is not a heavily traveled Page 2 of 3

highway right now.We’ve begun waving at every car that passes. People don’t know who, even what, we are; but as soon as they see us smile and wave, they realize, “Okay, they can’t be too bad.” I think that’s creating a positive energy around us. And we feel happier, too. —JB

Day 11: Last night ants and spiders were crawling on me as I slept, but all I found myself worrying about was not crushing them when I rolled over. I’ve been tickled (or not!) at how such things aren’t bothering me now. These creatures are just part of what belongs here.We put ourselves out here in their place—what do we expect? —JB

Day 13: At night we didn’t have any water and a large thunderstorm was brewing. So Austin and I decided to set up my poncho as a rain catcher. Austin and I are actually starting to have some fun with this survival stuff! —JB

Day 14: Tami Rose drove us to her home in Jackson.This evening I also made contact with Luke Lundemo, who asked if we would meet with a meditation group that gathers on Wednesday evenings. . . . It is a bit strange sleeping in a bed tonight, but I remember how to do it. —JB

Day 16: I started an email conversation with Father William Skudlarek, a Benedictine monk. He gave me some advice and contacts to call in Jackson to see about developing a relationship with Catholic churches along the way. I like the idea of starting to see how this new twist of the walk will unfold. Part of me wants to resist planning anything, but at this point I think we need all the help and generosity we can get. –JB

Day 19: We have been at this for nineteen days now, and if I look to the future, it seems that Canada is an impossible distance away. We have both let go of the idea of walking the whole distance.We are finding that this trip really is taking us. We have so little control. —AS
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Day 20: Here we met our second hard-selling Southern
Baptist! I could have kicked Austin when he freely offered up
that we were Buddhist. Didn’t he see the
large painting of the Last Supper right in
front of him? —JB

Day 22: I’ve carried this belief that you only learn through suffering. No pain, no gain. But this last week I’m finding that I can also learn from joy and happiness.—JB

Day 23: Austin and I have noticed that the goodwill coming our way, even just smiles and waves, seem to be coming more frequently and at closer time intervals. I don't think I will ever cease to be humbled by people’s generosity. It makes us feel so good, and those that give tell us they feel such joy in making the offerings. What will tomorrow bring? —JB

Jotipalo Bhikkhu and Austin Stewart