Virginia Dharma Alliance - Lunch & Wisdom Walk to the State Capital

Explore advocacy in community, and walk together in silence

When: November 1, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 3:15 PM

Location: Meet at Richmond Hill, 2209 E Grace St. Richmond, VA 23223

"It is wisdom which is seeking for wisdom" ~ Shunryu Suzuki

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond, and Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha invite dharma practitioners from across the Commonwealth (Buddhists, Hindus, and others) for a day of connection, reflection, and public presence.

We with gather at Richmond Hill, share in a vegetarian lunch, then take a silent, meditative walk down to the lawn near the Virginia General Assembly building. The route is about a mile each way. This is not a protest, but a peaceful expression of our shared values.

Our hope is to document the event and inspire future conversations and action around the role of interfaith organizing and statewide advocacy. The purpose is to demonstrate that our dharma communities are present, connected, and committed to building a more just and compassionate Virginia.

Map from Richmond Hill to Virginia State Capitol

Itinerary
10:30 AM – 3:15 PM

10:30 - 11:00 AM  –Welcome & Gathering

• Arrive at Richmond Hill

• Get name tag and settle in meeting room

11:00 – 11:50 AM – Introduction and Why We're Gathering

• Light introductions and opening remarks

• Importance of our gathering

11:50 – 12:15 PM – Break - Transition to Lunch

• Call to prayer at 11:50 AM by Richmond Hill staff

• Collective noon prayer for the city facilitated by Richmond Hill staff, held in chapel

• Call to lunch at 12:15 PM, meet in dining hall/refectory

12:15 – 1:00 PM – Shared Vegetarian Lunch (with Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Dairy-Free Options)

• Community meal in fellowship

• Brief overview of the walk and guideline

1:00 – 2:00 PM – Silent Walk to the Virginia General Assembly Lawn

• Guided meditation and intention setting, lead by Carolyn Stachowski

• Approximately 1 mile (about 45 minutes)

• Participants walk in silence

2:00 – 2:15 PM – Reflection on the Lawn

• Quiet presence & meditation together in public space

2:15 – 3:15 PM – Return Walk to Richmond Hill

• Approximately 1 mile (about 45 minutes)

• Closing remarks upon arrival (in parking lot outside of Richmond Hill)

Registration & Payment: Please register online using a credit card. If you’d prefer to pay by cash or check, kindly reach out to Carolyn or Tania, who can manually add your registration to our system. Please allow a couple of business days to receive your registration confirmation email/receipt.

Overnight Accomdation: If you're traveling from out of town for this event, you may wish to stay overnight at Richmond Hill. Please contact Sam Thomas Arisapogu (sarisapogu@richmondhillva.org) for more details about accommodations on November 1. Overnight fees are sperate from the event ticket price and are payable directly to Richmond Hill.