A workaholic-turned Buddhist priest is using his sense of humor to support the aged, according to Buddhist teachings that call on believers to help reduce suffering caused by the four immutable facts of human life — birth, aging, illness and death.

"I'll get Buddha to call me while I am asleep, and then you'll pray for me, won't you?" a woman in her 90s recently said to Norio Miura, a 49-year-old priest who belongs to one of the True Pure Land sects of Buddhism.

"I'm glad and have no regrets about my life," the woman said.