Step by Step (Dhammayietra)

Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda

Maha Ghosananda (full title Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda - សម្ដេចព្រះមហាឃោសានន្ទ) (1929 – March 12, 2007) was a highly revered Cambodian Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition, who served as the Patriarch (Sangharaja) of Cambodian Buddhism during the Khmer Rouge period and post-communist transition period of Cambodian history. His Pali monastic name, 'Maha Ghosananda', means "great joyful proclaimer". He was well known in Cambodia for his annual peace marches.
In 1992, during the first year of the United Nations sponsored peace agreement, Maha Ghosananda led the first nationwide Dhammayietra, a peace march or pilgrimage, across Cambodia in an effort to begin restoring the hope and spirit of the Cambodian people.

The 16-day, 125-mile peace walk passed through territory still littered with landmines from the Khmer Rouge. The Dhammayietra became an annual walk which Maha Ghosananda led a number of times, despite the danger during the Khmer Rouge years. In 1995, the Dhammayietra consisted of almost 500 Cambodian Buddhist monks, nuns and precept-taking lay people. They were joined by The Interfaith Pilgrimage for Peace and Life. Together the two groups crossed Cambodia from the Thai border all the way to Vietnam, spending several days walking through Khmer Rouge-controlled territory along the way.

He had been called "the Gandhi of Cambodia."  Maha Ghosananda was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Claiborne Pell. He was again nominated in 1995, 1996, and 1997 for his work in bringing peace to Cambodia.^[3] He also acted as an adviser to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and resided part-time in the Palelai Buddhist Temple and Monastery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

He died in Northampton, Massachusetts on March 12, 2007.

To promote peace following the teaching of the Venerable Maha Ghosananda as expressed in his peace prayer: 
• The suffering of Cambodia has been deep. 
• From this suffering comes Great Compassion. 
• Great Compassion makes a Peaceful Heart. 
• A Peaceful Heart makes a Peaceful Person. 
• A Peaceful Person makes a Peaceful Family. 
• A Peaceful Family makes a Peaceful Community. 
• A Peaceful Community makes a Peaceful Nation. 
•A Peaceful Nation makes a Peaceful World. 
• May all beings live in Happiness and Peace.