The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (353 page)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Baso D
itsu
(leader of Ch'an/Zen school)
:

see
MA-TSU TAO-I
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Bassevi, Joseph
(prominent Jew allied to ruler in Prague)
:

see
COURT JEWS
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(1327–87).
Jap. Zen teacher of the
Rinzai
school. When he was 7, his father died, and this prompted him into
dai-gidan
, probing questions based on doubt which form one of the three foundation pillars of
zazen
, especially after
Hakuin
. This led to a number of enlightenment experiences, and to monastic ordination. He eventually consented to become abbot of a monastery, and died sitting in the lotus position (see
PADM
SANA
), saying, ‘Do not be deceived: Look closely: what is this?’ His letters and some of his
dharma
instruction have been preserved: see P. Kapleau,
The Three Pillars of Zen
(1980).

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Arab., ‘expand’, cf. Qur'
n 2. 245). In
S
f
Islam, a technical term describing a state of exalted joy.