BLYTHEWOOD – On Friday, Jan. 9, it was announced that a group of Buddhist Monks and their Peace Dog Aloka would be traveling through Blythewood the following Sunday.
Their first stop in 29016 was at the Transfiguration Catholic Church on Highway 21 southeast of town. It was a rest/lunch stop that lasted from 10:30 a.m. until a little after 1 p.m. During that time, an estimated 3,000 people sat in a grove of trees behind the church to listen to the Monks’ leader, Bhikkhu Pannakara, deliver one of many peace messages that he customarily shared each day during the rest/lunch stop and again in the evening during visiting hours, usually from 6:30–9 p.m.
Starting about 9 a.m. that day, crowds began to gather along Main Street (Hwy. 21) through downtown Blythewood.
It was like a Christmas parade crowd lining the streets, sitting on curbs, and eventually growing to thousands. The atmosphere was unusually quiet as the people waited patiently for hours to see the Monks.
The warm morning sunshine turned chilly and breezy just before the Monks approached Blythewood a little after 3 p.m.
Several Richland County Sheriff’s vehicles drove slowly ahead of the procession as the Monks, their rust- and orange-colored robes glowing in the distant sunshine, rounded the curve.
The excitement grew along the street as the Monks walked briskly into town, receiving and giving flowers to people along the route. The crowd was eager to see the Monks, but orderly and quiet. Mothers held their babies out for the Monks to see and give flowers to.
Everett Renwick, 9, and his brother McLean, 7, students at Langford Elementary School, stood along the roadway holding colorful Peace and Love signs they had made to greet the Monks.
Aloka rode in the Monks’ RV that day, resting his leg instead of walking with the Monks. The question could be heard frequently along the route, “Where’s Aloka?” Considerable disappointment was expressed that he was not in the procession, but there was also understanding of his condition.
As the Monks passed Liz Humphries’ consignment shop, a man and woman beside the road reached out to the Monks and they stopped, gathered around the man, took his hands in their hands and began a chant that lasted several minutes. They smiled and waved as they bid farewell to the couple. The Monks picked up their normally fast pace and they were gone … on their way to Ridgeway where they would overnight.
