In the last couple of weeks we have made some interesting visits. Sundari went accompanied Willemien to the Three Wheels temple in Acton, and from there, with Hiroko-san, wife of Rev Sato who is a patron of the Amida Trust, to Brookwood cemetery. In the summer of 2007, under the supervision of Masayuki Ogawa, a Stupa to contain the ashes of departed Buddhists was constructed iat the cemetery. The scheme originated in a bequest by Reverend Zenko, a Zen Priest who died on 19th February. Venerable Chimyo Takehara decided that, as the best way to use the bequest, it should go towards building a Stupa, and this idea was warmly welcomed by Reverend Zenko before he died.

We tended the stupa area, removing debris and cutting the grass, and discovered the versatility of chop sticks as cleaning tools! Brookwood, near Woking, is an amazing and huge cemetery - very beautiful - where there are areas designated for a range of faiths and peoples e.g. Serbian Orthodox, Ahmadiyya, Zoroastrian, and many more. 
 
The short visit to Three Wheels was very delightful. It is truly a household life based on faith, and a religious community. The house looks like any other semi-detached house in North London, except there is some interesting stone in the front garden. But then inside, after the shoes and the children and the kitchen - all the features of ordinary domestic life - the huge carpeted lounge is a shrine room, and in the back there is a garden, which was designed by an Englishman, Professor John White, based upon his many admiring visits to the Zen gardens of Kyoto; and the construction work was supervised by a highly respected master gardener from Kyoto; Mr. Masayuki Ogawa. All the materials involved in constructing the garden originated in the UK.

 Back in Sheffield, Bhaktika and Sundari visited the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue with members of the Faiths Forum and faith leaders. The importance of human connection was very evident, and of course the importance of scriptures.
 
A member of the Faiths Forum came to 118 for lunch, and found our lives and practice also very fascinating - so exchange is much in the air. This is being developed also now by Sally. A methodist minister had made it known that he would welcome the involvement of volunteers from other faiths in the city centre Sunday drop -in, and Sally has begun to volunteer there, giving time to people who probably don’t get listened to enough.
 
City of Sanctuary is going well. Today is the press launch of Sheffield City Council’s official endorsement of the idea, and we have been involved with Craig Barnett in getting support from Sheffield University for the consultation process that now needs to happen to make this a substantial change that affects people’s lives.
 
It’s not all sweetness and light here though. There have been some serious disturbances between ethnic groups in one part of Sheffield, and Bhaktika is very involved in supporting MESH to bring some dialogue and help ease the situation. 

Amida Sheffield continues to meet on a Monday, and there have been quite a few new people coming to the lunchtime meditation at the Cathedral recently.