Three Wheels has copies of the following books which can be purchased when you visit the temple. If you live in the UK, are unable to visit Three Wheels, and would like to order any of these titles please email us for more details.
‘LIVING IN NENBUTSU’
Translation and Commentary on The Shōshinge by Shinran
by Kemmyo Taira Sato
The Shoshinge is a core text in the Shin Buddhist tradition which summarises the essence of its faith and practice. It is recited daily in Shin Buddhist temples throughout the world and in the homes of lay-people. This book is a new translation of, and detailed commentary on, each line of The Shoshinge that draws upon the profound religious philosophy with underlies the text as well as Rev. Kemmyo Taira Sato’s encounters with his own teachers and Dharma-friends throughout his life.
‘Living with Thanks’ – The Five Fascicle Version of Rennyo Shōnin’s Letters
by Kemmyo Taira Sato
This is Rev. Kemmyo Taira Sato’s new translation and commentary on the formal collection, known as the Gojo Ofumi in Japanese, of eighty letters by the great 15th century restorer of the Shin Buddhist tradition Rennyo Shōnin who spent his entire life making its teachings understandable and accessible to ordinary people. Rev. Sato began giving talks on the Letters at Three Wheels in 2002 and continued for over ten years, imparting many great insights into the contents of Rennyo Shōnin’s letters. This hardback illustrated volume is a profound treasury of the teaching of Shin Buddhism.
‘Great Living’ – In the Pure Encounter Between Master and Disciple’
by Kemmyo Taira Sato.
A volume of essays and commentaries on the Japanese spiritual classic, the Tannisho by the Director of Three Wheels Temple, Rev. Kemmyo Taira Sato. The Tannisho is one of the most famous texts in the Shin Buddhist tradition and formed the basis of a long series of study meetings led by Rev. Sato at Three Wheels Temple. Rev. Sato’s new English translation of the text of the Tannisho, which has been praised for its clearness and accuracy, together with his meticulously detailed commentary is a unique and profound appreciation of the Tannisho from the perspective of the living encounter between teacher and student that lies at the heart of the Shin Buddhist teaching of Shinran Shonin.
‘5-7-5 The Haiku of Bashō’
by John White and Kemmyo Taira Sato
This is a ground-breaking translation of a selection of three hundred haiku poems by Matsuo Bashō into English following the same the 5-7-5 syllable verse form of which Bashō was the foremost master. This masterly translation captures both the poetic rhythm and subtle essence of these haiku in fresh English translations that breathe new life into the poems. This richly illustrated volume, like the next two in the series, is a treasure to own.
‘5-7-5 The Haiku of Buson’
by John White and Kemmyo Taira Sato
A second volume in the series of haiku translations this time by the 18th century haiku master Yosa Buson. Buson, who was also a well renowned painter and master of brush drawing, brought the same eye for pictorial detail to his haiku, which evoke lively scenes of the human and natural world in their full religious significance. White and Sato’s translations cast a refreshing new light on these timeless haiku.
‘5-7-5 The Haiku of Issa’
by John White and Kemmyo Taira Sato
This is the third volume of haiku translations bringing together another 300 poems rendered into English in the traditional seventeen syllable 5-7-5 format of the originals. Kobayashi Issa was a Shin Buddhist and his haiku, often concentrating on very simple and humble themes, reflect his profound religious understanding of the world. White and Sato’s sensitive translations bring out the subtleties and shades of meaning in Issa’s haiku that are often sadly overlooked.
‘ALEXANDER WILLIAMSON’ – A Victorian Chemist and the Making of Modern Japan
by Takaaki Inuzuka
This biography traces the remarkable life of Professor Alexander William Williamson who, together with his wife Emma Catherine, taught and cared for the first Japanese students who travelled to England in the mid-nineteenth at the risk of their lives to study new fields of education with the aim of modernising Japan. A group of these students know as the Choshu Five returned to Japan and became great leaders in both the political and social spheres. Some died whilst living in England and were personally cared for at the end of their lives by Professor Williamson and his wife. Their selfless love for these Japanese students who endured such great hardships shines to us as a light from history.
‘The making of the Zen Garden’ by John White
Beautifully illustrated guide to the Three Wheels Zen Garden with colour photos and detailed commentary by its designer Professor John White. This booklet takes us on a journey through the design and creation of the garden guided by John White’s unique insights on the influences of the profound philosophy of ‘Harmony with Diversity’ which inspired it.
‘Unity, Paradox and Art’ by John White
Limited edition publication of a talk given by former art historian and pro-provost of University College London Professor John White on the striking relevance between art and core Buddhist concepts of the ‘unity of all that is and is not’, ‘emptiness’ and ‘interdependent-origination’.
‘Buddhist Roles in Peacemaking’
Edited by Chanju Mun and Ronald S Green
Anthology of essays on the theme of peace and peacemaking complied by the Korean Buddhist leader Ven. Chanju Mun. This volume includes the essay by the Shogyoji Archives Committee “How Faith Inspired the Save the Bell Movement” which is essential reading for those interested in exploring the spiritual background to the meetings to pray for World Peace and Reconciliation held every year at Three Wheels.
‘Breath in the Flute’
by John White with Japanese translation by Kemmyo Taira Sato
Hardback anthology of some of the most appreciated waka and haiku poems by John White on themes including love, life, paradox, emptiness and illusion; each with Kemmyo Taira Sato’s skilful rendering into Japanese.
Various volumes of poetry by John White
Beautifully bound hardback volumes of haiku and waka verse poetry published over the last 20 years.
‘Epitaph for Young Samurai Students and Professor Alexander Williamson’
by Setsuko Koga
A poignant reflection written by the great-niece of one of the pioneering Japanese students who, over 150 years ago, who made the perilous journey from Japan to study at University College London, and together with three other Japanese students whose lives were cut tragically short by tuberculosis, found his final resting place in Brookwood Cemetery. Setsuka Koga retraces their steps in history and, through a special set of occurrences, is led to their newly re-discovered graves in Brookwood Cemetery.