[2013.07.30] MASTER LAU KAR LEUNG IS CREMATED

courtesy of on.cc

Mary Jean Reimer sobs next to the cremator

Master Lau Kar Leung

Master Lau's remains turn into smoke

Yung Jing Jing carries her late husband's spiritual tablet with her daughters

Yung Jing Jing speaks to the press in the company of disciples Sin Kwok Lam, Adam Cheng and Mark

12 plain lions await cremation
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Grand Master of a generation Lau Kar Leung passed away from illness last month. After his family completed his funeral last Wednesday (the 24th), his remains temporarily rested in the Tung Wah coffin home. Lau Kar Lung's coffin yesterday was transported to the Po Lin Monastery for cremation. His widow Mary Jean Reimer (Yung Jing Jing) watched the coffin went to the cremator and insisted on watching Master Lau turned into smoke. She collapsed from crying. At Master Lau's funeral, Yung Jing Jing "asked for donation" from Sir Run Run Shaw (Siu Yat Fu) when she asked Shaw to give Master Lau his share of the bonus to support the establishment of the Lau Kar Leung charity fund. Yesterday she revealed that they have made contact and Shaw needed to have meetings before making further decision. More details will come on Master Lau's "final seven" (August 10). Reporters called Shaw executive Wong Ka Hei to ask if they were meeting, he said that for now he had no comment.

Yesterday around 9AM, dressed in white mourning clothes Yung Jing Jing held Lau Kar Leung's spiritual tablet with both hands. Her daughters Man Yi and Hung Yi carried their father's photo and a large incense candle respectively and got in the hearse to reach the Po Lin Monastery's Hoi Wui Ling Tap Crematorium and Columbarium. Chief disciple Adam Cheng Siu Chau, disciple Sin Kwok Lam followed. They welcomed the coffin from the hearse outside the gates then entered the monastery for the ceremony. The coffin was sent into the cremator. The abbot consulted Yung Jing Jing to confirmed that the coffin was placed properly.

The workers cleared the venue to conduct the ceremony as the media waited outside. Around 12PM, Yung Jing Jing spoke to the press with Sin Kwok Lam and Cheng Siu Chau. She said, "Thank you everyone for sending Master on his final journey here. Today the weather is great, no rain. You can say it is perfect as Master Lau's cremation process is completed. Thank you Po Lin Monastery and the abbot for the most complete end for a Buddhist. Master Lau was honored and mourned, we will always remember him. Two disciples have opened up halls to instruct kung fu, Mark and Sin Kwok Lam will continue to spread Master Lau's Chinese kung fu and Hong Kong film. I will temporarily serve as the head for awhile, when the time is right they will take over."

As for the progress of the Shaw bonus, Yung Jing Jing said, "I have to maintain the Eight Precepts, so the less I talk the better it is. I have spoken with them once over the phone, they said that they had to have meetings to make a decision. Give them a little time! Maybe wait until Master's seven seven forty ninth day, August 10, for more details." Sin Kwok Lam added that the "head" Si Mo referred to meant head of the family. Disciples will always treat Si Mo like the head of the family.

Yung Jing Jing revealed that famous metaphysics expert Cai Bo Lai was Master Lau's good friend and calculated that the soonest would be the end of the year before the ashes could be placed in Po Fook Hill. "Master Lau's tombstone was being made. Hopefully it will merge kung fu and film elements. In addition the (Andy) Lau Tak Wa's 'Grand Master of A Generation' calligraphy will be hand carved. However Hong Kong lacked such resources in this area, it might have to been done in the Mainland. The photo will be shadow carved for a 3D effect."

After the interview, the monastery opened for media pictures. Master Lau's photo was next to the cremator. On the other side 12 plain lions lined up for cremation. In the pavilion Yung Jing Jing saw the smoke from the cremator and shed tears sentimentally. Sin Kwok Lam invited Yung Jing Jing to lead everyone to lunch. Yung Jing Jing, "I won't go, I don't want to eat, I want to stay here to keep him company!" She could not hold back her tears as she buried her head in her hands and cried. Later holding back her tears she bid reporters farewell, "I am fine, you can go!"