Bopjong


Bŏpjŏng was a Buddhist monk and writer of South Korea.

Biography

Born in 1932 in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, Bŏpjŏng graduated from Mokpo Commercial High School, and entered Chonnam National University. In his junior year in 1954, he left school and decided to become a Buddhist monk as a follower of Hyobong, a Korean Jogye Seon master.
Bŏpjŏng was widely known for the musoyu spirit and he propagated his philosophy through many of his publications, which have been loved by many Koreans. The following is a representative passage of his direct, poignant style:
On December 14, 1997, Cardinal Kim Su-hwan from Korean Catholic Church attended and congratulated on the opening of Gilsangsa located in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul. In return, he visited Myeong-dong Cathedral on February 24, 1998 and held a special speech, which showed the harmony between religions.
On March 11, 2010, at the age of 77, in the 55th year of his monkhood, he died from chronic lung cancer in Gilsangsa in Seoul.
He said in his will: "Don't hold a funeral for me. Don't make a coffin. Dress me in cotton, which I used to wear. Scatter my ashes on the flower garden of the hut where I used to live." In accordance with his will, a simple cremation rite was held at Songgwangsa in Suncheon on March 13, 2010. There was no decorated bier or elegies, and thousands of people from all over the country attended.