Charlie Vázquez (@charlievazquez.bsky.social)

Buddhist monks stop in Opelika on peace walk across the United States - The Auburn Plainsman On Dec. 25, 2025, roughly two dozen Buddhist monks passed through Auburn and Opelika on their 2,300-mile peace walk across the United States. Hundreds of community members welcomed the monks into town on Christmas Day. Foundry Opelika Church housed the group on Dec. 25, while community members volunteered and prayed with the monks throughout the day and into the night. On Dec. 26, the group began their trek from Opelika to Cusseta, Alabama, where they were greeted with a large variety of home cooked food, curious eyes and wide smiles from over 100 onlookers. Supporters are able to keep track of the monks through a live map found on their social media.  https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2025/12/buddhist-monks-stop-in-opelika-on-peace-walk-across-the-united-states