Buddhist monks walk 300km across three Sabah districts

KOTA KINABALU: Two Buddhist monks have completed a 300km journey on foot, traversing rugged and mountainous terrain across three Sabah districts on Sunday (May 15).

Bhante Khemmacaro and Phra Cheng Sanjato, monks of the Theravada tradition, started their walk from the state capital to the northern Kudat district last March 24, accompanied by five lay followers.

They ended the three-week journey called the "Walk for Peace and Harmony", concluding their arduous 300km trip on Wesak Day today in Kundasang highlands in the Ranau district.

Led by Bhante, a monk with 15 years' practice, and Phra Cheng, a monk of four years, this tough journey is part of their Dhutanga practices, also called "tudong".

"Our aim is to spread peace and harmony in the beautiful land of Sabah which we are visiting for the first time," he said.

"And we intend to have longer walks in time to come with more monks taking part."

Bhante, the founder of the Boon Raksa Retreat in Penang is no stranger to such walks. He has made many such tudongs in Myanmar, Thailand and in Malaysia, some of them reaching 1,000km.

He explained that these walks help them to practise mindfulness, walking meditation and chanting.

"This is in order to make our minds peaceful as well as help spread peace and harmony wherever we go, in accordance with the teachings of Buddha.

"Such walks do away with the impediments of comfort and luxury and we only depend on food alms called 'pindapata', taking only one meal a day," he said.

The team normally start walking as early as 4am until late afternoon before resting, with evenings spent in meditation and prayer.

"We stayed at whatever shelter is available or just camp out wherever possible, bringing just our robes and travel gear for such journeys," said Bhante.

Sometimes, motorists of various races even stopped and asked if they could give them a lift on seeing the group travelling on foot, he said with a smile.

"We are touched by the beauty of Sabah and the kindness of the people," he added.

Such walks are to remember Buddha who travelled through India on foot 2,500 years ago to preach the Dharma.

This Dhutanga trip was organised by the Buddhist Missionary Society Sabah in collaboration with other Buddhist organisations, temples and well-wishers.

Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia Sabah deputy chairman Johnny Cheah told The Star that the team will visit the beautiful Mitraville Buddhist Meditation Retreat in Kundasang before rounding up their trip at Mount Kinabalu.

"After this, they will survey the route to Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau for next year's trip.