Houston, December 4, 2025 — A Buddhist monk leading a cross-country peace pilgrimage underwent leg amputation surgery Wednesday morning, two weeks after a vehicle collision in East Texas left him with devastating injuries that would have required multiple reconstructive procedures.
Bhante Dam Phommasan, the 58-year-old abbot of Wat Buddha Khanti temple in Atlanta, was among a group of monks struck on Nov. 19 along U.S. Highway 90 near Dayton, Texas. The monks were on the 25th day of an ambitious 110-day, 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” from Fort Worth to Washington when a vehicle hit their escort car, propelling it into the walking procession.
The accident forced an agonizing decision: undergo a series of complex surgeries to save the leg, or choose amputation and begin healing immediately. In a video message shared with supporters before the operation, Phommasan spoke with the calm acceptance that has defined his response to the tragedy.
“Don't feel bad for me. It is my decision,” he said from his hospital bed at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where he has been receiving care. “I accept everything that happened.”
His words reflected a Buddhist philosophy of impermanence and non-attachment that the monks had set out to share with Americans along their route. The journey was conceived as a spiritual offering to a nation grappling with division and uncertainty, with planned stops at state capitols, historic landmarks, and small-town communities.
The pilgrimage is meant to be, in the words of organizers, “a journey to bring blessings to countless lives in a world filled with uncertainty and restlessness.” The monks walk in traditional saffron robes, stopping to meditate and share teachings with those they encounter.
Despite the loss of their leader, the remaining monks have chosen to honor the mission. After pausing to ensure Phommasan received proper medical care, the group resumed their trek and are currently making their way through Jonesville, Louisiana. They walk daily, carrying with them prayers for their injured teacher and a renewed determination to complete the journey.
The accident has drawn an outpouring of support from Buddhist communities across the country and from strangers moved by the monks' dedication. Messages of encouragement have flooded social media, and local residents along the route have offered food, shelter, and protection.
Hospital officials reported Wednesday afternoon that Phommasan's surgery was successful and that he is now beginning the long process of recovery and rehabilitation. The Walk for Peace community expressed gratitude for the medical team's care and for the thousands of well-wishers who have sent prayers and donations.
The monks are expected to reach Washington in early 2026, where they plan to hold ceremonies at the National Mall. Whether Phommasan will be able to join them for that final leg remains uncertain, but those who know him say his spirit will be with the walkers every step of the way.
“This is what we teach,” said one of the continuing walkers in a brief statement. “That suffering is part of life, but so is compassion, resilience, and the path forward.”
