Hong Kong Elder Yi Zhao Passes Away, the Loss of a Great Master in the Buddhist Community
January 16, 2013, 11:27, Source: Ta Kung Pao
Recently, news of the passing of the venerable Chinese monk Elder Yi Zhao has spread from Taiwan to mainland China and Hong Kong. After confirming with multiple sources, it has been learned that Elder Yi Zhao passed away on January 5, 2013, at 5:20 pm at Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. Reporters also went to the Bamboo Forest Zen Monastery in Tsuen Wan to verify the news and indeed saw the shrine of Elder Yi Zhao in the Guanyin Hall in the backyard, confirming that the elder has passed away.
Elder Yi Zhao was a disciple of the renowned modern monk Master Xu Yun and inherited his teachings. His departure marks another loss in the Linji Zen lineage of the Xu Yun School, following the passing of the venerable Master Ben Huan, a prominent figure in the Chinese Buddhist community, last year.
Elder Yi Zhao became a monk in 1941 and received ordination at the Nanhua Temple in Guangdong in 1944. He had followed Master Xu Yun closely, listened to his teachings, and gained much benefit. The master and disciple left behind many inspiring stories, which have become well-known. Later, Elder Yi Zhao went to Hong Kong, first serving as the abbot of the Ancient Rock Monastery in Sha Tin, and then taking over as the abbot of the Bamboo Forest Zen Monastery, a position he held until his passing. Elder Yi Zhao inherited the Linji Zen lineage from Master Xu Yun and was regarded as a virtuous and enlightened figure in the Zen community. In order to alleviate the suffering of sentient beings in the six realms, the elder took Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha as his role model and vowed, "I will not attain Buddhahood until all sentient beings in the Saha world are liberated." He was also praised as the incarnation of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. It is reported that Elder Yi Zhao received the empowerment and blessings from the Third Dzogchen Rinpoche and was recognized by him as a rare and accomplished monk in terms of precepts and realization.
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