Born in Malaysia. Master Ji Ru studied Theravada Buddhism and ordained in that tradition in Thailand in 1980. He later studied Chinese Buddhism and ordained in that tradition under the late great Buddhist Master Venerable ZhuMo in 1986.
Master Ji Ru was held several important teaching and administrative positions in the Malaysian Buddhist community, including the vice-chairmanship of the Buddhist Association of Malaysia Youth and religious advisor to the Sabah State Liaison Committee of Malaysia where he helped establish the "Sabah and Labuan Buddhist Educational Foundation."
Shifu came to the United States in 1992 to give a Dharma Talk and shortly thereafter was appointed Abbot of Great Enlightenment Temple in New York. In 1993 he became Secretary of the Buddhist Union of New York." In 1996 he became the vice-chairperson of the Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA). He formed the Youth Buddhist Educational Foundation in the following year. In 1999 he became the Abbot of Mid-America Buddhist Association.
In 2000 he became abbot of the International Buddhism Friendship Associtation in Chicago. In 2002, he was appointed abbot of Chuang Yen Monastery and Great Enlightenment Temple in New York. He held those posts for two years before returning fulltime to MABA, where he now resides.
