U Ba khin (1889-1970), Burmese meditation teacher who developed a technique of insight (vipaśyanā) meditation for the laity based on intensive retreats. U Ba khin was Accountant General of Burma from 1948 to 1953, and when about 50 he developed a cancerous growth in the bone and flesh below the right eye. After some years of meditation he cured himself completely. His systematic approach to meditation, which emphasized practice over theory, became popular and has spread to the West. He also founded the International Medical Centre in Rangoon.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)