Bhikkhu Pannakara Conferred “Aggasanticāriko” Honor in Nepal

Kathmandu, NEPAL — October 9, 2026: Most Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, leader of the Walk for Peace, has been conferred the Pāli honorific “Aggasanticāriko” by the Theravada Buddhist Academy, affiliated with Lumbini Buddhist University, in recognition of his approximately 2,300-mile peace pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.
Bhikkhu Pannakara is currently visiting Nepal with a 20-member team in connection with humanitarian flood relief efforts, with the visit also providing an opportunity to engage with Buddhist institutions and communities in the country.
The Welcome and Felicitation Ceremony, held at Buddha Hall, DAV School, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, brought together representatives of Lumbini Buddhist University and the Theravada Buddhist Academy. The program also included an introductory presentation on Elevate: A Buddhist Journal.

During the ceremony, Lumbini Buddhist University honored Bhikkhu Pannakara with the title of Honorary Professor, while the Theravada Buddhist Academy conferred upon him the Pāli title “Aggasanticāriko,” recognizing his extraordinary journey as a walker for peace.
The Pāli term Aggasanticāriko, meaning foremost peace walker, was presented in connection with Bhikkhu Pannakara’s journey of approximately 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The Walk for Peace was undertaken to share Buddhist values of peace, compassion, loving-kindness, mindfulness, and nonviolence across communities and cultures.
According to the felicitation certificate presented at the ceremony, the recognition honors Bhikkhu Pannakara’s dedication, perseverance, and commitment to the Dhamma. The certificate describes his undertaking as an inspiration to those who cherish harmony and peaceful coexistence.

The Walk for Peace began in Texas and continued across the United States, bringing Buddhist teachings and a message of peace into communities along the route. The journey culminated in Washington, D.C., where the team gathered to emphasize the universal aspiration for peace and peaceful coexistence.
Bhikkhu Pannakara’s current visit to Nepal is also connected to humanitarian flood-relief work. He is traveling with a 20-member team as part of efforts associated with flood relief, adding a humanitarian dimension to the visit beyond the formal recognition and Buddhist programs. The visit has also created opportunities for dialogue and engagement with Buddhist academic and religious institutions in Nepal.
The Lalitpur ceremony further strengthened the connection between the Walk for Peace and Nepal’s Buddhist academic community. For the organizers, the occasion provided an opportunity not only to recognize Bhikkhu Pannakara’s peace pilgrimage but also to highlight the continuing relevance of Buddhist teachings on compassion, nonviolence, mindfulness, and peaceful coexistence.
The program also introduced Elevate: A Buddhist Journal, a publication dedicated to Buddhist scholarship, contemporary Buddhist thought, and the exploration of the Buddha’s teachings across historical and contemporary contexts. The introduction provided an opportunity for the journal to connect with Buddhist scholars, educators, monastics, and institutions in Nepal.
The certificate concluded with a message reflecting the spirit of the Walk for Peace: “May every step taken in the name of peace inspire another step toward peace.”