The 2004 "3 Steps and a Bow" Peace Trek / Saturday - May 8, 2004 - 8 am to 5 pm

On May 7th 1977, Two American born buddhist monks, Heng Sure and Heng Ch'au began an 800 mile pilgrimage from Los Angeles' Gold Wheel Temple to the City of 10,000 Buddhas near Ukiah, California. Their journey lasted 2 years and 9 months.

Heng Sure vowed to bow to the ground in full prostration every 3 steps along the road and to maintain silence the entire journey. Heng Ch'au vowed to accompany him and to protect and assist him in his work...

"We hope to generate a response in the hearts of men and women and among spiritual beings in the universe. If our bowing is sincere, then afflictions, calamities, and suffering will gradually disappear and hatred, hostilities and wars will be reduced."

Excerpts from the - "3 Steps, One Bow - Journals" - of Heng Sure and Heng Ch-au

The monks dedicated their pilgrimage for peace to all beings everywhere. Their journey was as much inward as outward. It was about transforming their own anger into compassion for others and into inner concentration. Heng Sure said that their goal was "to endure a bit of hard work on behalf of others" and with that simple intention the effects of their bowing presence on the streets in the world were indeed profound.

In this same spirit of peace we (University Buddhist Association at UCLA and friends) commemorated their efforts on Saturday May 8th by walking 14 miles in their footsteps from the International Buddhist Meditation Center along Wilshire Blvd. to the campus of UCLA - at Sunset Canyon.

We gathered at UCLA's Sunset Canyon Recreation Center at 8 am Saturday morning where Sukha (Kim G) and friends lead yoga, stretching, and movement meditation. We then carpooled to the International Buddhist Meditation Center for an opening meditation and blessing. The walk began from Wilshire and New Hamphire at 10 am. We walked in silence back to the UCLA campus where we did "3 Steps, One Bow" the last 100 yards at the UCLA - Sunset Canyon Recreation Center.