By Ines Min
Ven. Deok-hyun of Gilsang Temple, Seongbuk-dong, resigned from his position as head monk and chairman of the board, it was announced Tuesday.
Deok-hyun left just one week ahead of the anniversary marking his second year in office next Monday, with a note on the famed temple’s website.
``I’m leaving the temple where I have been for the last two years,’’ Deok-hyun wrote online. ``My heart aches even at the thought of having hurt others for quitting in the middle of my term.’’
``It was a grueling atmosphere every time I presided over the board meetings, even though I was led by the Buddha, and the mentality of senior monks who preserved `Purely and Redolently,’’’ he wrote, in reference to the official name of the board.
``I’ve tendered my resignation because it feels too difficult to maintain the purity and redolent character of the board.
``There are almost no words to say to the people who made it difficult for those with the Buddha to be bright and sweet inside and out, or Gilsang Temple to be bright and sweet,’’ the monk wrote.
``There was another reason for the chairman’s resignation, according to his words,’’ the board stated. ``We will discuss how to handle the situation when the board meets after the anniversary commemoration.’’