As you may know,
without the generous support of the followers of Shogyoji in Japan, Three Wheels would never have been founded and would rapidly cease to exist.
The fundamental purpose of that support is to provide in Britain an opportunity to come into contact with the true spirit of Shin Buddhism.
Unfortunately, many religious organizations which owed their original success to being fountains of spirituality, rapidly turn into business that are very largely concerned with making money.
The Trustees of the London Shogyoji Trust are determined that this shall not be allowed to happen at Three Wheels.
A token of this determination is the fact a recent bequest by Zenko-sama, a Zen Buddhist priest, the first such gift in its short history, was used as the seed corn for the erection of a Stupa at Brookwood to receive the ashes of departed followers and fellow Buddhists.
Early in that same year, the next door house at 57 Carbery Avenue had been purchased to serve as another Taya House to be known as Tenrin (Turning Wheel) Taya. At the time of this acquisition, the financial situation of Shogyoji itself needed to be carefully considered because of the necessity of re-roofing a number of the ancillary buildings surrounding the Temple itself in preparation for the celebration of the 750th Anniversary of the death of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Shin Buddhism, together with the 13th Anniversary of that of Ekai-sama, who did so much during the war, and in the post-war years, to secure the future of the Temple.
There was, in addition, a pressing need to expand the Tokyo Dojo to house thirteen new young priests and to enable them to continue their religious and linguistic education.
The Responsible Trustees of the Religious Corporation Shogyoji therefore considered whether 43 Carbery Avenue should be sold or leased, and it is significant that the proposed Contract, should it be let, stipulated that any monies which accrued could only be used by Three Wheels to furher its essential religious purposes.
Finally, however, in 2009, the house still being on the market, it was decided that No. 43 should be retained as a second Taya House to be called Gyosen (Ferryboat) Taya and used in connection with such major events as the annual Spring School and the twice-yearly Shokai Retreats, as well as to house what would, in all probability, be the increasing number of Japanese followers of Shogyoji who would welcome the opportunity to visit Three Wheels and stay in true Shin Buddhist surroundings.
Again it is notable that it was religious and not financial considerations which led to what, in the prevailing circumstances, was a remarkable decision, and one which will have a major impact on the future development of Three Wheels.
As with Shogyoji itself, it is with spirituality that Three Wheels is concerned, and I hope that what is said here, on behalf of its Trustees and of the Director himself, will act as a reassurance that any Donations which it has received in the past, or which may come to it in the future, will solely be used for the purpose of enabling it to carry on and to expand its spiritual work.
John White
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Dharma Words
Shakyamuni Buddha abandoned his ascetic practices with the words, 'Even
when the dust and grime that had accumulated on my body for so many
years began to resemble a coating of moss, still I did not care to
