Mahakasyapa

Categories: Disciples of the Buddha | Patriarchs of Early Buddhism

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Chinese :  摩訶迦葉 mohejiashe
• Pali :&nbspp; mahakassapa
• Sanskrit :  mahākāśyapa

Mahakasyapa was a brahman of Magadha, who became one of the principal disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha and who convened and directed the first council. Mahakasyapa is one of the most revered of the Buddha's early disciples. He is often depicted in statuary together with Ananda, each standing to one side of the Buddha.

Mahakasyapa received the Dharma directly from Buddha at the flower sermon on Vulture Peak, where Buddha silently held a flower before his students. Mahakasyapa smiled. The Buddha remarked that Mahakasyapa alone of all his students had received his teaching for that day.