พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าธุดงค์มีขึ้นเพื่อให้กุลบุตรที่ไม่เคยเผชิญความยากลำบากได้ฝึกขันติธรรมและตบะ ซึ่งจะนำไปสู่สัจจภาวะอันเกิดเฉพาะในปัจจุบันขณะ เมื่อกำลังมนุษย์หมด อานุภาพของพระนิพพานจะเข้ามารับช่วงจนเกิดปาฏิหาริย์ และประโยชน์นี้เกื้อกูลทั้งพระผู้เดินธุดงค์และผู้ที่ไปต้อนรับด้วยจิตอันเป็นกุศลHe explains that thudong began so that monks who had never faced hardship could develop patience and austerity, leading to a state of truth that arises only in the present moment. When human strength runs out, the power of Nibbana takes over, producing what looks like miracles — a benefit shared by both the walking monk and anyone who welcomes them with a wholesome heart.
ผู้ถามเสริมว่า เคยเห็นกิจกรรมเดิน Walk for Peace ในต่างประเทศที่มีผู้คนไปต้อนรับมากมายทั้งที่ไม่ใช่ชาวพุทธ สิ่งเหล่านี้จะเกิดขึ้นที่ศูนย์กลางกายของพวกเขาด้วยหรือไม่ พระอาจารย์ยืนยันว่าใช่ การเผชิญความทุกข์ยากด้วยความไม่ย่อท้อจะทำให้เกิดลักษณะเช่นนี้ได้เสมอ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการเดินธุดงค์หรือกิจกรรมเดินระยะไกลเพื่อการกุศลอื่นๆ เมื่อดำรงอยู่ในขันติธรรมและสัจจภาวะ อานุภาพของพระนิพพานซึ่งเป็นพระเจ้าองค์เดียวกันของทุกคนจะปรากฏขึ้นเสมอ อย่างไรก็ตาม สิ่งที่ทำให้ธุดงค์ต่างจากการวิ่งมาราธอนคือเจตนา ผู้วิ่งมาราธอนมุ่งเอาชนะเป็นหลัก แม้จะอาศัยความอดทนเช่นกัน แต่เจตนาต่างกันว่าเป็นไปเพื่อกุศลหรือเพื่อประโยชน์ส่วนตน ผู้ใดมีความอดทนมากกว่าก็ย่อมประสบความสำเร็จได้มากกว่าตามเจตนานั้น
A student asked about the origins of the walking pilgrimage (thudong) since the time of the Buddha — its purpose, and how it benefits monks, the laypeople who welcome them, and society as a whole.
Thudong began so that monks who had never faced hardship could prove themselves through patience and austerity
He explained that men who ordain come from every social class; some have never faced hardship at all, having lived a comfortable life throughout. Thudong exists precisely so that those who ordain can face real hardship, building and perfections. Among the thirteen ascetic practices, whichever one feels most difficult is worth attempting — someone who has never eaten only one meal a day can try it, and discover it isn't as difficult as imagined. Someone who has never walked long distances can try walking all day under the sun. Even ordinary people who haven't ordained might assume this is impossible, but thudong proves that patience can genuinely be cultivated. Austerity (tapa) is the quality of facing hardship and suffering with endurance; patience builds that austerity into a kind of armor that protects us from being overwhelmed by suffering, and it's precisely this that connects us to capable, powerful presences and to truth itself. Without facing hardship, reaching truth becomes correspondingly harder.
Patience leads to a state of truth; when human strength runs out, the power of Nibbana takes over
The perfections of effort, patience, and truthfulness are interconnected. The ultimate truth is Nibbana itself; reaching it requires patience. As the elder once said, without endurance, one cannot reach Nibbana. Wisdom gives rise to a vision that our life must change for the better, which requires inspiration and effort. But effort has its limits — when facing suffering severe enough that effort alone cannot carry us further, patience takes over, bringing austerity to protect us from being overwhelmed, pushing through hardship to reach the truth. When a human being reaches the absolute limit of endurance — beyond what human strength alone can bear — the task passes to Nibbana itself to take over. This is exactly where what looks like a miracle occurs, because it requires the power of the divine, once the path of patience has reached its end.
A firsthand account, and how the state of truth arises only in the present moment
He shared a personal account: once, decades ago, while walking on pilgrimage to Wat Paknam, he had to carry heavy gear — an umbrella tent, an alms bowl, robes, and much more. Yet partway through the walk, he realized that none of it felt heavy at all — a truly astonishing experience. Once one reaches truth, a state of truth arises in every present moment. A monk on pilgrimage must abide within each present moment; every step becomes a "crystal step" — a step overlaid by Nibbana, with the Triple Gem shining brightly. This is why a monk's walk differs entirely from a soldier's march into battle — their purposes are simply not the same.
A follow-up question asked what exactly this "state of truth" means. He explained that it arises only within each present moment — never in the past or future. The past is merely recorded data from past present-moment experience. Reaching this state of truth requires setting continuous, unforgetting awareness in each present moment. When suffering — a state that must be endured and endured with great difficulty — arises in each moment, noting that suffering is precisely what connects us to the state of truth. This is why the must always be supported by the perfection of truthfulness. He gave another example from his early days ordained at Wat Paknam over forty years ago: he meditated day after day, but his mind wouldn't settle. So he stopped eating for several days in a row, continuing to meditate, until he reached a point where he could no longer bear it — and at that very point, his mind settled automatically at , just enough to let him attend to small necessary tasks. This showed that reaching the state of truth requires patience as its foundation.
Those who welcome a pilgrim monk also receive the stream of merit — and intention is what distinguishes thudong from a marathon
Setting continuous awareness lets the sphere of knowing — , a wholesome — arise at the center of the heart. The Triple Gem, which oversees system, shines brightly within the walking monk. Those who go to welcome him with a wholesome, joyful heart likewise develop a bright sphere of wholesome in their own hearts. Both the monk walking in pilgrimage and the laypeople welcoming him benefit together. This stream of goodness even extends to the devas, and can help resolve crises facing a nation in an era when unwholesome currents dominate the world — protecting at least some areas, keeping them safe and able to support people in need.
The student added that she had seen a Walk for Peace event abroad, welcomed by large crowds who weren't even Buddhist and didn't know of the Triple Gem — would the same thing occur at their center of the body too? He confirmed that yes, absolutely. Facing hardship without giving up always produces this same quality, whether through thudong or other long-distance charitable walks. Abiding in patience and the state of truth, the power of Nibbana — the same divine source for everyone — always manifests. What distinguishes thudong from a marathon, however, is intention. A marathon runner is primarily focused on winning, and though they too rely on endurance, their intention differs — whether it serves the wholesome or merely personal gain. Whoever holds greater endurance achieves correspondingly greater success, according to that intention.