Dharma practitioners gather at state capitol in silence

Overhead, trucks noisily zoomed by on Interstate 95. Below on the ground, a group of almost 40 dharma practitioners from across Virginia walked in silence. Their destination: the State Capitol. 

They moved slowly. Couples held hands. People paused to read historical markers. Many tried to shield their faces from the intense afternoon sun. Pedestrians and cyclists bustled around them as they walked. Drivers stared out their windows, confused and intrigued. In the thick of the downtown activity, not a word is spoken. 

The  “Lunch and Wisdom Walk”, held Saturday, Nov. 1, was the first official gathering of the Virginia Dharma Alliance, a new partnership between the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and dharmic communities across the state, including the Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond and Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha.

Dharama practitioners were invited for a day of reflection and connection. As they learned more about the role of interfaith organizing and statewide advocacy from speakers, they also fellowshiped with one another. 

“This is not a protest, but a peaceful expression of our shared values,” the Alliance wrote in a press release. “The purpose is to demonstrate that our dharma communities are present, connected and committed to building a more just and compassionate Virginia.”

The group met at Richmond Hill at 10:30 a.m. before embarking on their mile-long trek. Participants were greeted with nametags and iridescent goodie bags stuffed with a candle and pieces of Green Tea Candy. 

Carolyn Stachowski, the event’s co-organizer, opened the program with a guided meditation. 

Stachowski, who volunteers and teaches at the Insight Meditation Community of Richmond, said the event came from her desire to get more involved in policy and social justice work.

 She met with Tania Doles, VICPP’s Development Manager, and together they were able to form a Buddhist coalition within VICPP with the intent to do faith-based advocacy. She said a mindful meditative walk seemed like the best way to pilot the newly formed Alliance. 

“Silence is really nice,” she said. “I feel like we’ve tried talking and arguing, and that only gets us so far, and maybe if we could just try silence, we could see what would emerge.” 

Silence was a common theme of the day. 

Anni Sherman, a secular Buddhist who has been practicing for over 30 years, explained the importance of silence in the Buddhist tradition. 

“[Buddhists] find that in the silence, we can become more present with our breath and with our body, " she said. “It calms our minds, and actually doing that with a group of other people, builds this amazing closeness.”

After 12 pm, following introductions by representatives from VICPP and Ekoji, the group shared a cellphone-free vegetarian lunch. Over lentil potato soup and salad with gluten-free croutons, participants chatted about their latest meditative practices and favorite shows to watch before bed. 

Scott Oates has lived in Richmond for 15 years and is an active member of IMCR. He said he viewed the event and the efforts of the Alliance in connection with his own community engagement.

“Part of it is tapping into a larger community that shares the same sensibilities about how to be engaged and present in a world that constantly wants us to take up arms against the other,” he said. 

Oates said the Buddhist tradition discusses concepts like suffering and injustice. He said he was motivated to attend the event because he wrestles with how he participates in systems that help create and perpetuate inequities like structural racism and economic inequality. 

Around 1 p.m., participants gathered outside in the Richmond Hill courtyard to prepare for their journey. 

Event leaders suited up in bright lime vests and positioned themselves in the front, middle and back of the group. Once the walk instructions were given, the group fell into complete silence. The wind overpowered the sound of their footsteps as they descended North 23rd Street. 

Gretchen Rau has been practicing at Ekoji since she moved to Richmond three years ago from San Francisco. She said she thought the event would be a good way to make connections with people across the community who are interested in social justice. 

“For my practice, whenever people get together with an intention that has an effect in the world,” she said. 

Rau said the walk and collective silence allowed her to manage her “monkey mind” and mindfully sit with heavy thoughts. 

“As we came up to the street and started walking amongst these big concrete buildings, I was reflecting on how we make agreements with each other,” she said. “These buildings are formidable, and they feel like that’s where the power is, but then I was thinking of this group, and this is actually where the power is.” 

While Stachowski said that the Virginia Dharma Alliance’s next steps are unknown, she’s hopeful it will keep walking. 

Contact features editor Grace Randolph at grace.randolph@richmond.edu