Jogye Order: "Monk Jaseung's Self-Immolation as 'Soshin Gongyang'"... Five-Day Funeral Ceremony

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism announced on the 30th that former Chief Executive Monk Jaseung was found dead at the Chiljangsa fire site on the 29th and that he self-immolated.

At a briefing held on the 30th at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Monk Ubong, head of the Planning Office of the General Affairs Office, stated, "(Monk Jaseung) made a vow for the stability of the order and the propagation of the Dharma, leaving a warning to all monks through his self-immolation and self-cremation." Self-immolation (燒身供養) is a Buddhist ritual of offering one's body to the Buddha by burning it.

Monk Jaseung [Photo by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism]

He added that Monk Jaseung left a Nirvana verse saying, "They say there is no life and death, but there is no place without life and death. Since there is nothing more to seek, the karmic ties also disappear." Nirvana verses refer to words or writings left before passing away to convey the enlightenment attained throughout one's life to future generations.

Nirvana Song Left by Monk Jaseung [Photo by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism]

The funeral will be held as a state funeral of the order at Jogyesa, the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, from the 30th to December 3rd. Monk Jinwoo, the current Chief Executive Monk, will serve as the funeral committee chairman. A condolence altar is scheduled to be set up around 3 p.m. on the 30th.

The farewell ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the last day of the funeral, December 3rd. The cremation will be held at Yeonhwadae of Yongjusa, Monk Jaseung’s home temple. In addition to Jogyesa and Yongjusa, the Jogye Order plans to set up regional condolence altars at the main temples of each district and directly managed temples such as Bongeunsa and Bomunsa.

The temple lodging within Chiljangsa, completely burned down in the fire that occurred on the 29th [Image source=Yonhap News]

Monk Jaseung was found dead around 6:50 p.m. on the 29th at the fire site in the monks’ quarters at Chiljangsa located in Chiljang-ri, Juksan-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. A note believed to be a suicide letter was found in Monk Jaseung’s vehicle. The police have requested DNA analysis from the National Forensic Service and will conduct handwriting analysis on the note to determine the exact cause of the fire and the cause of death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.