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Penang, Malaysia -- One of Malaysia's most senior and learned monk, Dharma Master Chuk Mor passed away peacefully here this afternoon. He was 89 years old. Dharma Master Chuk Mor had contributed tremendously towards the development of Buddhism in Malaysia. Dharma Master Chuk Mor was an internationally well known Buddhist personality, especially amongst the Chinese speaking Buddhist community in Asia and particularly in Malaysia.

The late Dharma Master was born in China in 1913 and was fully ordained as a monk in 1928. He studied at the Minnan Buddhist Institute founded by the great reformer of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, Dharma Master Tai Hsu. His contemporary in this institute includes Dharma Master Yin Shoon and Dharma Master Dong Chu. From this educational background, he began to establish himself as a prolific writer of Buddhism and his articles were published by various Buddhist publications.

In 1938, he went to Hong Kong to assist the victims of the Sino-Japanese war, which started one year earlier. He met a master of Chinese brush painting, Gao Jen Fu in Macao and learnt to pick up the art there. Over the years Dharma Master Chuk Mor mastered both chinese painting and calligraphy, and became a well regarded purveyor of "ch'an art" or "zen calligrapher". He has held several exhibitions of his works in different parts of the world with the most recent one in January 2002 in Selangor, Malaysia.

He traveled to Bangkok in 1953 and thence to Penang to give Dharma teachings. Once he is in Penang, there was no turning back as he already decided to make Malaysia his adopted home and this is indeed a blessing to the Buddhists in Malaysia. He was the founding President of the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) in 1959 and served in the same position for 12 years. The formation of the MBA was an attempt to unite all Chinese speaking Mahayana temples, organizations, members of the Sangha and laymen under one national umbrella body.

In July 1962, Venerable Chuk Mor founded the Triple Wisdom Hall to teach Ch'an (Chinese Zen) meditation to devotees. This became the first Chinese Buddhist temple in Malaysia where systematic Ch'an meditation was taught.

He was a prime mover in establishing the Malaysian Buddhist Institute in 1971 to provide a more comprehensive training to Chinese Mahayana monks and nuns. He served as the Principal of the MBI until his demise.

Dharma Master Chuk Mor's role in the development of modern Buddhism in Malaysia will be carried forward by many of his disciples spread throughout the country. Some of his foremost disciples are Venerable Chi Chern (the former President of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia); Ven. Chi Chuan (Triple Wisdom Hall); Ven. Chi Huan (Dharma Realm Buddhist Association); Ven. Chi Chan (Teng Wai Koi Buddhist Centre); Ven Chi Teng (Pau Lin Nunnery); Ven. Chi Chun (MBI); Ven. Chi Xing (MBI); Ven. Chi Ru and others.

One of his many disciples, Venerable Chi Chern, became the president of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) for three terms, from 1990-1996, becoming the first monk to head a major lay Buddhist organisation with over 200 affiliate members throughout the country.

For his contribution to Buddhism, Venerable Chuk Mor was conferred one of the highest awards of the State of Penang, the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN). The award carries the title of Datuk, the nearest English equivalent to which might be the title of Sir. He is the first Buddhist monk to be conferred this prestigious award.

The late Dharma Master left a treasure trove of Dharma teachings through his essays, poetries, paintings and calligraphies. Much of these have become priceless legacies which many generations to come will stand to benefit spiritually.

Members of the public who wished to pay their last respects to the late Dharma Master may do so at the Triple Wisdom Hall, Jalan Pangkor, Penang. The funeral procession will be on this Sunday, Feb 10, 2002, followed by a cremation.

Dhamma Times Editor: Panna Youth Centre & The Dhamma Times Editor mourns with the thousand of fellow Buddhists of the demise of Venerable Zhu Mo, may venerable attain supreme bliss ! May we immulate Venerable's spirit of propagating the Buddha-Dhamma for the benefit and welfare of all sentient beings !

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