Abstract

"The Cat Temple Master's Guide to Easy Living": This popular book was written by the abbot of a trending "Cat Temple". Known as the "Lazy Monk", the abbot, who traditionally should adhere to rigorous training and discipline, raises the intriguing question of why he identifies himself as lazy. Perhaps, by mastering the way of the "Lazy", one can reach a state of contentment where it's fine to be ordinary, and every day can be experienced as the best day. The book imparts ways of living a more relaxed life, as guided by the unconventional monk of this unique "Cat Temple", not a traditional mountain temple.

Author’s Information

Kosho Itabashi
Born as the eldest son of a farming family in Tagajo Village, Miyagi Prefecture (now Tagajo City) in 1927 (Showa 2), he is now 89 years old. In 1953 (Showa 28), after graduating from the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, Tohoku University, he was drawn to Zen meditation, which he encountered through his "idleness disease", and became a Zen monk. After eight years of wandering and training, he became the head priest of a temple, but his "idleness disease" recurred. To overcome it, he returned to the head temple and restarted his training from zero. He then unexpectedly assumed the position of Abbot of Sojiji, the head temple. During his tenure, he served twice as the Chief Administrator of the Soto School, but resigned mid-term to focus on the restoration of Ontanji Temple (Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture). Currently, he is the head priest of Ontanji Temple, also known as the "Cat Temple". He has written many books, including "Ryokan-san and Dogen Zenji - The Essence of Life", "Life Questions of Master Kosho", "Living Like a Cat", "Walking with the Soles of Your Feet", etc. He is a 76th class graduate of the Naval Academy and is known as a leading Zen monk of this era, not the "idle monk".