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Why We’re Obsessed With the Monks Walking Across America

55 15
16.01.2026

There's a highly unusual phenomenon happening in the United States, and it's having a huge impact.

A dozen Buddhist monks are walking across the United States. Along the way, they have gathered millions of followers online, and thousands of people are showing up every day simply to see them, to stand near them, and to watch them walk. People gather from morning to evening, often in tears of gratitude.

This raises an interesting question: Why?

Most Americans are not Buddhist.

Most Americans are unfamiliar with the culture these monks come from.

And yet something about this moment is resonating deeply.

What people are witnessing feels more meaningful than the endless stream of

© Psychology Today