Event: New Year’s Ceremony 2025

Dear friends,

With heartfelt respect, I extend my greetings for the end of the year and the New Year.

I am deeply grateful for your continuous participation in all Three Wheels’ activities throughout 2024 and the sincere support you gave to them. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we successfully held the 30th Anniversary of the founding of Three Wheels and the 7th Memorial Service for Mrs Hiroko Sato on December 8th.

During the anniversary, we were reminded of the profound contributions and dedication of those who created, nurtured, and developed the Three Wheels’ Sangha over the years.

At Shogyoji in Japan, we are often reminded of the importance of awakening to what has been done for us by Amida Buddha, our ancestors, predecessors, family, friends and others.  Apart from my own joy of awakening to what has been done for me, there is nothing I can share and transmit of my faith to future generations. Similarly, there is no other joy in listening to the Dharma than coming to realise the omnipresence of Amida, who saves me.

This taught me that the only thing of true and lasting value that I can share and transmit to future generations is my own joy of awakening to what has been done for me. Similarly, when I listen to the Dharma, there is no other joy than awakening to the omnipresence of Amida, who saves me through his vow of great love and compassion.

Just after the anniversary, one fellow practitioner reflected on himself, saying:

“All the preparations for the 30th Anniversary were carried out by the priests of Shogyoji and Three Wheels. In that sense, the Sangha of Three Wheels is still immature. From now on, I would like to do whatever I can, even if it’s a small contribution.”

In June 2025, we plan to erect a monument for Prof. John White at Brookwood Cemetery. The former head priest of Shogyoji, Venerable Master Chimyo Takehara, intends to travel to England with some Dharma friends of Shogyoji for this occasion.

Let us continue deepening our hearts together in gratitude for what has been done for us, so that each of us can contribute in some way for the coming event in June and beyond.

With gratitude for everyone’s contributions, I take this opportunity to also invite all of you to the New Year’s ceremony to be held on 1st January from 13:00 at Three Wheels.

Please let us know by the 30th December if you will be able to join us on New Year’s day.

We are looking forward to welcoming you.

With deepest gratitude,

Rev. Kenshin ISHII and all the residents of Three Wheels