Buddhist monk Bhante Dam Phommasan took his first steps in four months on Mercer’s campus after receiving a prosthetic leg through Mercer on Mission on Wednesday, March 18. He told the story of how he received the prosthesis, created in part by Professor of Biomedical Engineering Ha Van Vo, in the Presidents Dining Hall.
Phommasan was struck by an escort car while walking in Dayton, Texas during his Walk for Peace and airlifted to a hospital on Nov. 19, 2025. He decided to have his leg amputated Dec. 3, 2025 rather than reconstructed so that he could return to his temple more quickly, he said.
“There is no true happiness other than when you have peace in your heart,” Phommasan said.
The Walk for Peace was a 2,300-mile walk from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington D.C. to promote peace, mindfulness and non-violence over the course of 108 days. After he was injured, members of his community offered to discontinue the walk, but Phommasan said he told them to move forward knowing that “I will always be there in spirit.”
He said that when he was injured, he remained conscious and practiced what he described as “pain meditation,” focusing on his breathing and observing his surroundings. He said he was aware of the reactions of those around him and remained focused despite the severity of his injuries.
After his left leg was amputated below the knee, he and his team searched online for prosthetics programs and found Mercer. He said the university had been one of his dream schools and expressed interest in studying at Mercer.
Mercer alumnus Brandon Tran '17, who previously served on the medical team during the Walk for Peace in D.C., worked with other medical volunteers, including Jenny Lee and Kim Mai, to help connect Phommasan with Mercer’s prosthetics program.
“You give me a lot of opportunities and a lot of dreams to walk again,” Phommasan said.
The prosthetic limb was fitted as part of Mercer’s ongoing work helping amputees around the world. Craig McMahan, the university's minister and a leader of the Mercer on Mission program, said the program has helped approximately 24,000 amputees.
“We’re excited to be able to help him,” McMahan said. “We first met with him last Wednesday.”
Phommasan, who is from Laos, became a monk in 2000 after beginning his journey as a 9-year-old. He studied in Thailand at age 14.
He led attendees in meditation and encouraged mindfulness in daily life during his speech at Mercer. He said practicing mindfulness in every action, including studying, can improve focus and lead to stronger academic performance. He encouraged students to apply these ideas throughout their education and personal growth.
He also said mindfulness helps prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones. When asked what makes him happy, he said, “Gratitude in yourself … it starts from within and radiates out.”
Phommasan plans to return next fall to lead a meditation workshop at Mercer.
Kaylee Grace Buchanan '29 is double majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology with an minor in Religion. When not writing, she enjoys reading, baking and playing tennis. You can also catch her on the pickleball courts jamming out to some music as well.
