When Robes Meet the Road-Sample 1
DAY 1
BURLESON, TEXAS
October 26, 2025
Kickoff Ceremony at Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center
Midday alms in Fort Worth.
The morning air is cool,
the sky pale with the first light of autumn.
At Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center,
monks gather in saffron robes,
their palms pressed together,
their breaths steady.
Families fill the courtyard—
Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, Cambodian, American—
a tapestry of cultures woven together
by the simple wish for peace.
Aloka, still young and bright‑eyed,
circles the monks with excitement,
tail wagging like a small banner of joy.
The walk begins.
In Fort Worth,
their first alms are offered—
warm rice, warm soup,
warm hands extending blessings.
The monks bow.
The road stretches ahead.
