This Buddhist walking ritual teaches patience and promotes religious acceptance

Bhikkhus at Borobudur Temple during the recent Wesak celebrations. — Photos: InJourney

Every year, many Buddhist monks around the world choose to undertake Thudong, a walking ritual meant to teach patience, which is considered the highest form of dharma, or Buddhist virtue.

When conducting Thudong, an ordained monk, also known as a bhikkhu (for men) or bhikkunni (women), pledges to adhere to certain ascetic practices, or “wills”, such as only eating food that have been offered to them, eating just once a day, refusing second helpings of food, wearing robes made from discarded fabric, living in open spaces, and not lying down, even to sleep.