Saint Bashyashita

Twenty Fifth Reverend Zen Buddhist Monk

Nov 5, 2008

The late Abbess Jiyu Kennett of the Shasta Abbey Zen Buddhist Monastery made a decision to share some of the deeper teachings of Zen with the lay public.

The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light was translated into English by the late Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett of the Shasta Abbey Zen Buddhist Monastery from the original writings of Master Keizan Zenji. Master Kennett, a late twentieth century Buddhist Master, felt that the long sentences of Buddhist writings would be difficult and annoying for many English readers, but she refused to apologize for these insisting that it was within those long sentences that the many facets and degrees of stillness could be found.

The Preservation of the Lineage

It was the Great Master Keizan Zenji who realized that the lineage of the Zen Ancestors could be lost if it were not recorded. He began writing The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light in the 14th century with a special emphasis on preserving the moment that each of the Zen Ancestors received enlightenment.

Master Keizan Zenji entered the monastery Eiheiji at a very young age. He was born in Fukui Prefecture in 1267 and entered as a young boy. Learning from two great contemporaries of his time – Koun Ejyo and Tettsu Gikai, he has become one of the most beloved Zen Masters.

Writing many works in his life, he is best known for having originated and written most of the religious ceremonies utilized today in Soto Zen Buddhism, but he is also credited with the Sankon-Zazen-Setsu and Denkoroku.

Fifty Two Patriarchs

It was not an easy task to do, but Master Keizan Zenji recorded the moment of transmission between Master and Disciple for each of the Fifty Two Patriarchs. These Patriarchs are most often referred to as the Ancestors of Zen, and in Buddhism there is a great deal of respect accorded to the sequence of the teachings. It is not unlike the Apostolic Succession in Catholic Christianity.

Saint Bashyashita, The Twenty Fifth Ancestor

“Shishobodai ssaid to Bashyashita, ‘I am now Transmitting the EYE AND TREASURY OF THE TATHAGATA’S TRUE LAW to you; guard IT well that you may be able to make IT flourish everywhere in the future.’ Having had his inherent karmic cause from a past life revealed to him, Bashyashita received, unseen, the SEAL.” The Denkoroku: The Record of the Transmission of Light.

Bashyashita was a Brahman from Kashmir. Shishobodai was preaching in a village when approached by Bashyashita’s father. Bashyashita’s name at that time was Shita, which means ‘The Pure Bright One.’ His father said, ‘My son’s name is Shita. He was born with his left hand clenched in a fist and even now, when he has grown to boyhood, he still cannot open it. I beg you to reveal the karmic cause of this.’ Shishobodai had been looking upon Shita, and now ordered him to ‘Give me back the jewel!’ Opening his hands, Shita gave the monk a pearl. Shishobodai went on to explain that he had been a monk in a previous life and had a child attendant. He’d received the pearl as an alms gift which had been entrusted to the boy attendant. Because he had now returned the jewel to Shishobodai, he said, it would only be right for him to be given the Precepts which he proceeded to do immediately. He named him Bashyashita because of this karmic tie between the two of them.

The copyright of the article Saint Bashyashita in Buddhist History is owned by Marilynn Hughes. Permission to republish Saint Bashyashita in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.