Japan temple abbot shares wisdom, cat photos, compares people to cola to promote hope
Thought-provoking posts on social media by abbot attract big online following, actual visits to Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple in Japan with more than 400 years of history has found a way to attract young followers by posting original wise mottos on Instagram.
On a daily basis, the temple in Western Japan’s Osaka, Sennenji, has been posting life philosophies handwritten by its abbot, Masahiro Yabumoto, on its Instagram account with 225,000 followers, along with photos of the stray cats living in its area.
In a recent post, published on October 31, the abbot used a cola analogy to cheer up those who thought they were born under an unlucky star.
“One cola is priced at 400 yen (US$2.6) on the mountain, 300 yen at festivals, 150 yen in vending machines, and 85 yen in supermarkets.
“If you feel unappreciated, do not force yourself to cater to the environment, but find the environment right for you,” the abbot wrote.
