Venerable Jiha, Former Speaker of the Jogye Order Central Council and Senior Councilor, Enters Nirvana

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism announced that Jiha Beopyung, Great Patriarch and senior councilor of the Jogye Order, entered Nirvana at 4:40 a.m. on the 14th at Mita Seonwon in Busan. He was 87 years old by secular age and had 66 years in the Buddhist order.

Beopyung, Grand Preceptor and senior councilor of the Jogye Order. Yonhap News

Venerable Jiha received his novice precepts in 1960 at Beopjusa with Venerable Chudam as his preceptor, and took full ordination in 1970 at Tongdosa with Venerable Wolha as his preceptor. He served as abbot of Silsangsa, Ssanggyesa, Gaewunsa, and Jajaeam, among others.

In 1996, he became president of the Central Sangha University, where he devoted himself to upgrading it to a regular university, preparing for the establishment of a graduate school, and expanding academic departments. From 2000 to 2004, he served as speaker of the 12th and 13th Central Council of the Jogye Order.

In 2017, he was appointed as a senior councilor of the Jogye Order, and the following year he was awarded the Great Patriarch rank, the highest Dharma rank in the Jogye Order.

The funeral will be held as a service of the Council of Elders of the Jogye Order, and the memorial service will be solemnly conducted on the 18th at Ssanggyesa in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province.

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