A group of Buddhist monks has finally reached Washington after completing a 15-week trek from Texas that captivated the country. The monks say their aim is to promote mindfulness and inner peace. Their simple message has resonated in the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political division. On Tuesday, nearly 3,500 people packed American University's Bender Arena for the monks' first public stop in the nation's capital. The spectators remained silent as the saffron-robed monks walked into the arena in a sign of respect for them and their quest for peace.