Master Seongpa, Daejongsa, and head of Yeongchuk linege, elected as the 15^th Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order

Passed the Jongjeong Election Committee unanimously on December 13

Master Seongpa vows to uphold the Great Compassion for all beings and the patriotic tradition of defending the nation

Master Seongpa, the head of Yeongchuk lineage, elected as the 15^thjongjeong of the Jogye Order

Master Seongpa, Daejongsa, and head of Yeongchuk lineage was elected unanimously as the 15th Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism by the Jongjeong (Supreme Patriarch) Election Committee, which was convened on December 13 to choose the successor to Master Jinje, the 14^th Supreme Patriarch, whose term will end in March next year. The Election Committee was attended by 19 members of the Elders Council including the Council’s chair Master Semin, Most Ven. Wonhaeng, the president of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jeongmun, the chair of the Central Council and Ven. Boguang, the head of the Jogye Order’s Tribunals. Master Hyeonho, a member of the Elders Council was currently staying in the United States and unable to attend the Committee.

When the body of electors was assembled to nominate the new jongjeong, Master Semin (the chair of the Elders Council), Master Daewon (the vice-chair of the Elders Council), Master Seongpa (the head of Yeongchuk lineage and the member of the Elders Council) and Master Wolseo (the honorary member of the Elders Council) were known to be considered as the potential candidates. But the Committee elected by a unanimous vote Master Seongpa as the new supreme patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Master Seonpa joined the monastic order under the tutelage of Ven. Wolha (Myeonggeun) and received full monastic precepts from Ven. Wolha at Tongdo-sa Temple in 1960.He entered his first 100-day retreat at Bongam-sa Temple in 1998 and since then he finished 26 retreats. He served as a member of the 5^th, 8^th and 9^th Central Council, the abbot of Tongdo-sa Temple, and the head of the board of directors of the Yeongchuk School Foundation. The status of Daejongsa was conferred on him on January 7, 2014, at Donghwasa Temple.He was appointed as the head of Yoengchuk lineagein March 2018, and has been dedicating himself to teaching disciples ever since.

After the new jongjeong-elect offered three prostrations to the altar, Ven. Jeongmun, the chair of the Central Council stated in prayer to Buddha, “The Jongjeong Election Committee has unanimously elected Master JungbongdangSeongpa, Daejongsa, as the 15^th Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. We hope that the crystalline nectar of wisdom will rain down on the three realms burning in flames that threaten the peace and life of sentient beings. May the blessings of all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and patriarchs be with the new Supreme Patriarch.” After his ascension was proclaimed, Master Seongpa, Daejongsa, made offerings of tea, incense, and flowers to Buddha.

On behalf of the Jogye Order monastics, Most Ven. Wonhaeng, the president of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jeongmun, the chair of the Central Council,Ven. Boguang, the head of the Jogye Order’s Tribunals, Ven. Jinwu, the head of the Education Bureau, and Ven. Beomhae, the head of the Dharma Propagation Bureau presented themselves to the new jongjeong-elect by offering him three prostrations.

Master Seongpa, Daejongsa, in accepting his appointment said, “Thanks to the elders of the Jogye Order, today I was elected to become the next supreme patriarch, although I am lacking in every way. However, the less said the better, since there cannot be two suns in the sky, and we still have the incumbent Supreme Patriarch. But if I may say a few words, I will do my best to live the teachings of the Buddha not just through words, but with actions, putting into practice what we preach. I will do my utmost to uphold the Great Compassion for all beings and the patriotic tradition of defending the nation, as we live in times of great social upheavals.”

Master Seongpa, Daejongsa, also donated 100million Korean won to Most Ven. Wonhaeng, the president of the Jogye Order to be used for the Million Vows Assembly campaigns at the ceremony.

According to the Jogye Order Charters, the supreme patriarch, or jongjeong, is the highest spiritual authority whose office carries the legitimacy of the Jogye lineage from one generation to the next. He is vested with the authority to appoint the Chief Preceptor, bestow awards, grant amnesty and mitigationof the disciplinary actions, and effect reinstatement as stipulated by the Order’s Charters. He also has the power to dissolve the Central Council in case of emergency if more than the two-thirds majority of the Elders Council members vote in favor. The supreme patriarch can serve two five-year terms.