Mahakashyapa
c. 500 BCE
c. 500 BCE
disciple of Gautam Buddha
famous for laughing (or smiling) when Buddha held a
flower in silence, thereby becoming the 1st Zen
Master.
came from the Kashyap clan of Bihar, India. Kashyap
means "big turtle", or "light drinking". Maha means
"great".
married, his wife became a follower of Buddha at the
same time Mahakashyap did.
never became a formal disciple of Buddha, just
stayed close and listened in his own way.
given name of Pippala--his mother supposedly gave
birth to him under a pippala tree (Bodhi tree).
famous for laughing (or smiling) when Buddha held a
flower in silence, thereby becoming the 1st Zen
Master.
came from the Kashyap clan of Bihar, India. Kashyap
means "big turtle", or "light drinking". Maha means
"great".
married, his wife became a follower of Buddha at the
same time Mahakashyap did.
never became a formal disciple of Buddha, just
stayed close and listened in his own way.
given name of Pippala--his mother supposedly gave
birth to him under a pippala tree (Bodhi tree).
aka: Mahakashyap, Mahakasyap,
Kashyap (original surname),
Pippala (original given name)
Kashyap (original surname),
Pippala (original given name)
| So Zen tradition has been asking again and again, "But what was transmitted to Mahakashyap?" – a transmission without words. What has Buddha said? What has Mahakashyapa heard? And whenever there is someone who knows, he laughs again, and the story remains a mystery. When someone understands, he laughs again. Wherever there are persons who are scholars, who know much and who know nothing, they will discuss what has been told, they will decide about what has been heard. But someone who knows will laugh... --Osho I am the Gate, ch. 2 |
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