Thai Buddhism's Supreme Patriarch dies at 100

[AyG]

Just announced he died at 7:30 p.m..

Press conference to be held later.

[Lite Beer]

Story here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/676940-thai-buddhisms-supreme-patriarch-dies-at-100/

[sabaijai]

Mourning His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch

The Nation October 25, 2013 1:00 am

His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja passed away Thursday evening at Chulalongkorn Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for various ailments in recent months.

He turned 100 on October 3 and is the longest living Supreme Patriarch in Thai history.

The government has announced that the national flag will fly at half-mast from October 25 to 27 to commemorate his departure. Meanwhile, all civil servants and government employees are ordered to wear unadorned black clothing for 15 days, starting from today, October 25.

From 8am on October 25, Buddhist followers will be allowed to pay respect to His Holiness. At noon, his body is being moved from Chulalongkorn Hospital to Wat Bovoranives, via Rajdamri Road towards the expressway (Rama IV entrance). From the Urupong exit, the motorcade will turn left into Phetchaburi Road, towards Rajadamnoen Klang Avenue, Democracy Monument and Phra Sumain Road where the temple is located.

The departure of the revered 19th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin Kingdom brings great sadness to his devout followers, who have been anxiously monitoring updates on his health.

Chulalongkorn Hospital confirmed that His Holiness passed away at 7.30pm last night.

The late Supreme Patriarch underwent intestinal surgery for a bacterial infection on October 14 at the Hospital.

Phra Nyanasamvara was the mentor of His Majesty the King during his 15-day ordination from October 22 to November 5, 1956. Ordained as a novice when he was 14 and entering the monkhood proper when he turned 20, he held several prominent ecclesiastical positions and was appointed Supreme Patriarch in 1988.

According to his secretariat office, His Holiness always reminded his followers about the "Three Marks of Existence" - impermanence, suffering and non-existence.

Wat Bororanives, which was his official residence, marked the Supreme Patriarch’s centennial with an exhibition of major historical events over the past 100 years.