The incident occurred on March 21 on a peace walk from Bluff to Wellington. The self-proclaimed pacifist, conscientious objector, world citizen, and human rights and environmental activist had his tibia broken in two places. However, he managed to find something positive in the situation.
"In a way it is a blessing because if it had been in a Third World country it would have been much more difficult to get the medical care and repairs needed to recover."
A 32cm rod and five screws were inserted into the upper part of his leg. The rod could be removed in about a year's time, he said.
However, he wanted to be completely recovered by November to take part in a three-year pilgrimage walk from Bethlehem to India to celebrate Maha Khumbha Mela, the "biggest religious gathering on the planet".
Mr Burton was released from hospital yesterday and travelled, by car, to Christchurch where he is living with friends.
Inspired by peace activist Mahatma Ghandi and Russian author Leo Tolstoy, Mr Burton made his first "long walk" in 1992. He, along with about 100 other people, took eight and a-half months to walk from New York to a nuclear testing site in Nevada to protest against nuclear testing.
In 1995, he walked across Europe for a nuclear-free world. In 1996, he began a peace walk through three countries.
He walked from Bluff to Cape Reinga in New Zealand, then up the east coast of Australia before reaching his end point in 1998 after walking the length of Japan.
Human rights, the environment, peace, love and truth were among the reasons he walked.
Walking was the most immediate, natural way to connect with everything, wherever he was.
"It is slow. It's like a meditation and prayer for life of the whole world for the coming generations."
All of his journeys were funded through the kindness of others.
He walked an average of 1000km in a month, which equated to about 40km a day, he said.
He was often offered food or shelter. If he was not offered food, he fasted.
"It's the way of the pilgrims," he said.
Shoes and clothing were donated. Second-hand shoes were better because they did not give him blisters, he said.
Since 2004, he has been based in New Zealand and hoped to get citizenship soon.
After escaping from his homeland, Bulgaria, in 1979, he became a refugee in America.
His first visit to New Zealand was in 1990 and he stayed for six months.
For more information about Mr Burton, email him at satyagrahabogomil@hotmail.com; or visit www.geocities.com/satyaspirit.
