• TOURISM & CULTURE
  • ADVERTISEMENT

Latest News

  • Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India’s gift of the COVID vaccines
  • ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on “Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train”
  • Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra
  • Japan Expands State Of Emergency as covid 19 cases rise
  • Buddhism contributes to Việt Nam’s socio-economic development
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • BUDDHIST HISTORY
    • BUDDHISM MESSAGES
    • Message by PM Narendra Modi
  • BUDDHIST CIRCUIT
  • BUDDHIST MONKS
  • MONASTRIES
  • BODH GAYA
  • MCLEOD GANJ

Head Monk of South Korea’s Jogye Order Steps Down

Aug 24, 2018 developer3.matrixwebstudio BREAKING NEWS, TOP NEWS Comments Off on Head Monk of South Korea’s Jogye Order Steps Down


By  Shyamal Sinha

Ven. Seoljeong during the executive committee vote last Thursday. From english.hani.co.kr

 

The Jogye Order was thus established as the representative Seon order until the persecution of the Joseon Dynasty. Due to its inclusive nature, and emphasis on continual discipline, the Jogye Order gained considerable support from the military establishment, and developed across monasteries all over the Korean peninsula.

Venerable Seoljeong, the presiding executive of the Jogye Order of South Korea, the country’s largest Buddhist order, announced yesterday that he would step down after a series of allegations and reversals lead to a vote of no confidence on 16 July by the Jogye Order’s executive council.

“I came forward in order to change Korean Buddhism for the better, but now I will return to the mountains with this goal unattained,” Ven. Seoljeong said during a press conference yesterday at the Jogye Order headquarters in central Seoul. (Korea Joogang Daily)

After the press conference, Ven. Seoljeong, 76, said farewell to the monastics and laypeople at Jogye Temple and then left Seoul for Sudeok Temple in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, where he once served as abbot before his election as the president of the Jogye Order in October last year. The executive council of the Jogye Order plans to elect a new president in the coming two months.

Ven. Seoljeong has been at the center of a series of scandals that have shaken the reputation of the Jogye Order and have contributed to a crisis within the order. The allegations against the monk include accusations of him forging his academic credentials, misusing and embezzling the order’s funds, and secretly fathering a daughter out of wedlock against the order’s celibacy rule.

While he originally apologized for the scandals and announced his intent to resign on 2 August following heavy criticism from reformist monks and the public, he reversed this decision on 13 August stating that he would remain in office for the remainder of the year to oversee a reform committee tasked with reorganizing the order’s organization.

Although he has admitted to lying about his college degree, Ven. Seoljeong has denied the other charges throughout the proceedings, dismissing them as “groundless” and meant to do him harm.

His resignation comes five days after the order’s executive council passed a vote of no confidence against the monk, with 56 of 75 members in favor of Ven. Seoljeong’s resignation. The decision to  impeach Ven. Seoljeong is unprecedented in the history of the organization—the current organizational structure of the order dates from 1962—and will need to be approved by the order’s senior members, who are meeting today. Ven. Seoljeong, however, pre-empted his forced removal by resigning yesterday. The council of senior monks will now meet to approve Ven. Seoljeong’s resignation, after which they have to elect a new executive within 60 days. In the meantime, Ven. Jinwoo, Ven. Seoljeong’s deputy, will preside over the order as acting chief.

Ven. Seoljeong after the vote last Thursday. From english.hani.co.kr

 

Ven. Seoljeong began his four-year tenure as the chief executive of the Jogye Order in November last year. As the executive, Ven. Seoljeong controlled all of the order’s financial and administrative decisions, including the right to appoint and dismiss abbots of its 1,900 active temples, which is why the position is often referred to as the “presidency of the Jogye order”. This vast concentration of power is often cited as one of the reasons for the heightened criticism and renewed allegations against the venerable.

Ven. Seoljeong’s resignation, however, will not end the political crisis within the order as reformist monk are demanding a complete overhaul of the organization to increase the transparency. The Jogye Order has requested that the Korean government not intervene in the internal dispute, citing the separation of church and state laid out in South Korea’s constitution.

The Jogye Order is a school of Seon (Zen) Buddhism that traces its roots back 1,200 years to the Unified Silla (also known as the Later Silla) kingdom (668–935). The Jogye school as a distinct entity emerged in the late 11th century when the monk Bojo Jinul, credited as the school’s founder, sought to combine Seon practices with the theological underpinnings of sutra-based Buddhist schools, including Korean Pure Land Buddhism. The order now represents the largest segment of South Korea’s Buddhist population, administering about 1,900 active temples and more than 13,000 monastics nationwide.

ReplyForward

 

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

  • tweet
Sixth International Buddhist Conclave Begins in New Delhi Khyentse Foundation Plans Ambitious Undertaking to Translate Tibetan Buddhist Canon into Chinese

Related articles
  • Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India’s gift of the COVID vaccines
    Bhutan is the first country to receive...

    Jan 20, 2021 Comments Off on Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India’s gift of the COVID vaccines

  • ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on “Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train”
    ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on...

    Jan 18, 2021 Comments Off on ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on “Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train”

  • Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra
    Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra

    Jan 15, 2021 Comments Off on Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra

  • Japan Expands State Of Emergency as covid 19 cases rise
    Japan Expands State Of Emergency as...

    Jan 14, 2021 Comments Off on Japan Expands State Of Emergency as covid 19 cases rise

More in this category
  • Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India’s gift of the COVID vaccines
    Bhutan is the first country to receive...

    Jan 20, 2021 Comments Off on Bhutan is the first country to receive the Government of India’s gift of the COVID vaccines

  • ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on “Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train”
    ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on...

    Jan 18, 2021 Comments Off on ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ Webinar on “Exploring Buddhist Circuit by Train”

  • Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra
    Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra

    Jan 15, 2021 Comments Off on Buddhist stupa in Kurukshetra

  • Japan Expands State Of Emergency as covid 19 cases rise
    Japan Expands State Of Emergency as...

    Jan 14, 2021 Comments Off on Japan Expands State Of Emergency as covid 19 cases rise


VIDEO NEWS

WEEK IN VIDEO

BUDDHIST CUISINE

  • Buddhist Cuisine-5

    Buddhist Cuisine-5

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-4

    Buddhist Cuisine-4

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-3

    Buddhist Cuisine-3

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-2

    Buddhist Cuisine-2

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-1

    Buddhist Cuisine-1

    Aug 01, 2019

Mantra Om Mani Padme Hum

Intl Chanting Ceremony Bodhgaya 2019

gallery img (60)
gallery img (47)
gallery img (35)
gallery img (15)
gallery img (38)
gallery img (49)
gallery img (41)
gallery img (27)
gallery img (58)
gallery img (55)
gallery img (53)
gallery img (51)
gallery img (50)
gallery img (46)
gallery img (44)
gallery img (43)
gallery img (42)
gallery img (40)
gallery img (37)
gallery img (33)
gallery img (32)
gallery img (31)
gallery img (30)
gallery img (29)
gallery img (26)
gallery img (24)
gallery img (23)
gallery img (22)
gallery img (21)
gallery img (20)
gallery img (19)
gallery img (18)
gallery img (17)
gallery img (16)
gallery img (14)
gallery img (13)
gallery img (12)
gallery img (11)
gallery img (8)
gallery img (6)
gallery img (5)
gallery img (4)
gallery img (2)
gallery img (1)
gallery img (62)
gallery img (28)
DSC_0180
DSCF7503
DSCF7483
DSCF7475
DSC_0077
DSC_0130

GALLERY

  • Ven. Lama Lobzang -15 January 2016

    Ven. Lama Lobzang -15 January 2016

    Jan 16, 2016
  • Launch buddhisttimes.news at Greater Noida

    Launch buddhisttimes.news at Greater Noida

    Jan 16, 2016
  • Buddhism in Japan

    Buddhism in Japan

    Jan 15, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015

Weather

+39
°
C

+39°
+27°

Bodh Gaya
Saturday, 30

See 7-Day Forecast

NOTICE

  • Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai Lama, Dies
    Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai...

    Nov 27, 2019 Comments Off on Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai Lama, Dies

    By  Staff writer Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, 1927–2019....
  • Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand
    Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand

    Aug 29, 2019 Comments Off on Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand

    By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...
  • Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned
    Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned

    Feb 07, 2018 Comments Off on Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned

    By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...
  • Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies
    Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies

    Feb 17, 2017 Comments Off on Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies

    Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche On behalf...
  • Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero
    Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri...

    Jun 27, 2016 Comments Off on Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero

    Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero General...

Inauguration

  • Inauguration 7

    Inauguration 7

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 6

    Inauguration 6

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 5

    Inauguration 5

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 4

    Inauguration 4

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 3

    Inauguration 3

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 2

    Inauguration 2

    Aug 01, 2019
Copyright budhisttimes.news 2019-20 | All Rights Reserved
Developed & Maintained By Shyamal Sinha Web Design Delhi Web Design Agency in Delhi Web Desinging Services in India Best Website Portfolio Creative Website Desinging Agency in Delhi Web Desinging Comapny India Custom Web Application Development Comapny Wordpress Website Designing Logo Desinging in Delhi Internet Marketing Company Mobile Application Development
  • TECH & SCIENCE
  • BUDDHIST ART/MUSIC
  • UPCOMING PROGRAM