"World Peace Award 2026"

 

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗔 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡

At the World Peace Award ceremony in Stockholm, Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra delivered a powerful acceptance speech centered on one simple but profound message:

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗦.

Receiving the award, he expressed deep gratitude and humility, emphasizing that the recognition does not belong to one person alone, but to every individual who continues to believe that peace is possible and is willing to work for it.

He reflected on the Walk for Peace across the United States, which began on October 29, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. Together with Theravada monks from different countries, he walked approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 km) over 112 days, crossing 10 states before reaching Washington, DC.

But, he explained, the true meaning of the journey was not found in the number of miles.

𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘.

Along the road, they met veterans, police officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers, public officials, families, immigrants, and people of many different faiths and backgrounds.

Some offered flowers.
Some offered food and water.
Some simply stood beside the road.

And many shared tears.

The message was clear: people everywhere may have different beliefs, languages, political views, and cultures, but beneath those differences is the same human heart — a heart that can be wounded, but can also heal.

Venerable Paññākāra reminded the audience that peace cannot simply be handed from one person to another. It cannot be purchased with money, received through an award, or imposed by force.

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗗.

If we want peace in the world, we must first learn to care for the anger, fear, greed and sorrow within ourselves.

He also spoke about how conflict begins long before weapons are used. It can begin when fear grows without understanding, when we stop seeing the humanity of people who are different from us, and when anger becomes stronger than compassion.

Peace, therefore, is not only the responsibility of presidents, diplomats, religious leaders or international organizations.

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘, 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠, 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘.

He challenged everyone to ask themselves:

Can we disagree without humiliating another person?

Can we listen without preparing an attack?

Can we protect our beliefs without treating another human being as an enemy?

He further emphasized that inner peace must become compassionate action — feeding the hungry, comforting the grieving, protecting children, caring for animals, welcoming strangers, and standing beside those who feel forgotten.

And then came one of the simplest practical messages of his speech.

Every morning, instead of allowing the mind to immediately fill itself with anger, hatred, greed and other unwholesome thoughts, begin the day with a wholesome intention.

Write down:

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬.

Read it. Say it aloud. And then live it — mindfully, peacefully, one task at a time.

He reminded the audience that our minds often become distracted because we try to do many things at once. Even during his speech, people could become distracted by something appearing on a screen while no longer truly listening.

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗧 𝗔 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘.

Mindfulness, he explained, is part of the journey toward a peaceful life.

The World Peace Award, he said, is not the end of the work.

𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬.

From Stockholm, his message went beyond the ceremony and beyond borders:

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗟𝗦𝗘’𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬.

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘.

𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘.
𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗪.
𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗦.

May those living in war find safety.
May separated families be reunited.
May those carrying hatred find the courage to put it down.
And may every child inherit a world where differences never become a reason for violence.

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣. 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘. 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗. 

A natural disaster reminds us that we are all connected. When one community suffers, compassion calls us to care, support, and stand together. May relief efforts reach affected communities as quickly as possible, bringing safety, shelter, medical care, food, and hope to those who need them most. 

Compassion Knows No Borders

The devastating floods near the Nepal–Tibet border have brought grief, uncertainty, and hardship to many families and communities. As rescue and relief efforts continue, our hearts and prayers are with everyone affected by this natural disaster.