Report by: Britney Price
The Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond (located in Richmond, Virginia) supports various Buddhist communities in the Richmond area. By hosting these communities’ events, Ekoji promotes a welcoming environment in which many different forms of Buddhism are welcomed and encouraged. The Ekoji Buddhist Sangha was founded in 1986 by Reverend Kennryu Tsuji, a Japanese-American Pure Land priest. Reverend Tsuji was declared the first Nisei Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America,
an organization founded in the early-20th century in San Francisco by two Shin Buddhist ministers. Serving as a successful leader for many years, Reverend Tsuji was called upon to initiate the construction of several American Buddhist temples and spaces, one being the Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond. Since his passing in 2004, there has not been an official leader at Ekoji.
In keeping with Revered Tsuji’s vision, Ekoji is known for embracing several Buddhist traditions, welcoming various communities to use Ekoji Richmond as a practice space. While Ekoji was originally only affiliated with Pure Land Buddhism, they came to welcome Zen in 1991, followed by Tibetan Buddhism in 1993, Vipassana practices in 1994, and a Meditative Inquiry Group in 2005. Reverend Tsuji intended for Ekoji to be a meeting place for a diverse array of Buddhist groups; currently, there are seven Sangha groups (Richmond Zen, Richmond Shambhala, Pure Land, Meditative Inquiry, Ligmincha Richmond, Kagyu Shenpen/Tharchin Palpung Richmond, and Insight Meditation Community of Richmond), each of which hold weekly services at Ekoji. These services alone comprise Ekoji’s weekly practices held year-round. Upon glancing at Ekoji Richmond’s “Events” page, one will find that the single event listed on the page is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course offered by a co-founder of Ekoji’s Meditative Inquiry Group. Other than this event, it is apparent that Ekoji does not host any other events which occur on either a monthly or yearly basis.
The importance of the inclusion of such diverse groups is made explicit on Ekoji’s website, where they state that all forms of Buddhism have the “same taste of truth.” While these Sangha groups meet at and are embraced by Ekoji, being a member of one of them does not mean that one is a member of Ekoji. In fact, the website emphasizes that an Ekoji member enjoys different privileges from those who are exclusively members of one of the Sangha groups. The website goes on to detail the different privileges which associate and participating members are able to enjoy. These privileges include having access to a library of Buddhist books and receiving a newsletter published by the Sangha. Additionally, participating (but not associate) members are able to serve as and vote for directors/trustees of the Sangha. In order to become a member, one must regularly attend programs at Ekoji, be able to offer financial support, and (to become a participating member) to involve oneself in the physical (and perhaps spiritual) maintenance of Ekoji.
In order to gauge the sort of environment as well as type of practice and teachings which Ekoji promotes, one can look at the aforementioned promotion of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course advertised on their website. This course is based on Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s teachings on mindfulness which have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is important to note, as Jon Kabat-Zinn is a European-American professional whose work has its foundations largely in psychology and other sciences more than any Buddhist tradition. Ekoji’s website even gives a brief description of the practice, stating that “the program has become one of the foremost secular trainings in the world to enhance mindfulness.” Here, we can see how this practice is viewed as secular, with participants finding much of its credibility in its scientific foundations. Furthermore, the actual course at Ekoji is taught by a European-American professor of psychology who has done extensive research on the psychological benefits of mindfulness. Again, this is a professional whose area of expertise concerns science, though the website makes it a point to highlight that this instructor “has practiced mindfulness meditation for over 20 years under the guidance of senior Asian and American teachers.”
Another point of interest to discuss are Ekoji’s demographic statistics. As discussed above, the MBSR course is taught by and based on the writings of European-American individuals. Similarly, Ekoji’s constituency consists mostly of European-Americans, according to a 2013 report from Harvard University’s Pluralism Project. This report specifies, however, that 65% of Ekoji’s Pure Land group is Chinese American. While there are many participants who belong to Ekoji’s various Sangha groups, as of 2013 there were only 54 official members of Ekoji. It is reported that, members of the Sangha included, the number of participants is three to four times larger. The majority of Ekoji members are in their 50s and 40s, with only a handful of individuals from younger age groups. While this information is useful, it is important to note that the most recent data found was published in 2013, meaning that the numbers are different today. However, this data is still useful in understanding the type of people Ekoji might attract on a regular basis.
Regardless of demographics, the members of Ekoji are of utmost importance, as they are what ultimately keep the space alive. Part of the way in which participants keep Ekoji afloat is through financial donations. Ekoji does not require its members to pay for services, but donations are strongly encouraged. However, if one would like to enjoy the privileges of an associate and/or participating member, they must donate. Regardless of financial support, Ekoji wishes to create a space where individuals from all walks of life are able to feel safe. Their website emphasizes that there is no expectation that participants know how to meditate; this is meant to be a space where individuals can learn how to practice. Additionally, an emphasis on inclusivity makes Ekoji especially attractive, as they state that: “We welcome all who come to seek the Way, and will work towards supporting our common practice while acknowledging our different experiences.”
Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond began when Reverend Tsuji purchased a house in Richmond, Virginia’s renowned Museum District in 1986. Soon, Tsuji’s “pluralistic view of Buddhism” was revealed when he began to invite groups from various Buddhist sects, aiming to create a safe space for all. A variety of individuals, whether identifying as Buddhist or not, are meant to feel welcomed at Ekoji, to view the facility as a refuge and a place to begin or enhance one’s practice of Buddhism or affiliated practices.
Bibliography
“About BCA.” BCA, 2020. https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/about-bca.
Ekoji Buddhist Sangha, March 25, 2013. https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/ekoji-buddhist-sangha.
“Mindfulness Meditation.” Jon Kabat-Zinn Professional Background – Mindfulness Meditation, 2021. https://www.mindfulnesscds.com/pages/about-the-author.
“Welcome to Ekoji.” Ekoji Buddhist Sangha, 2021. https://ekojirichmond.org/.