Nomadic no more, they have found stillness and stability in a small zendo, or mediation hall, tucked on the edge of two neighborhoods in Alaska’s most populous city and epicenter of urban culture.

On a recent day, Zeedyk walked into the zendo, bowed at a wooden statue of the Buddha, then at members of the community, before she took a seat on a round pillow.

Their work goes beyond the zendo’s walls.

As the meditation ended on the recent day at the Anchorage zendo, she waved goodbye to others.

Back at the zendo, several minutes passed by until some zen clappers clicked, and the dozen or so people around her in the zendo rose to their feet and began to slowly walk in circles.