Mahakasyapa was one of the chief five disciples of Gautama Buddha. He was a Brahaman of Magadha. He was famous for conveying and directing the first council. Mahakasyapa was one of the most venerated disciples of Buddha. He is often narrated to be the statuary together with Ananda, each siding on one side of Lord Buddha.

According to Zen Buddhism Mahakasyapa was mentioned by Sakyamuni Buddha in his flower sermon in which he held up a white flower and just admired it in his hand. Mahakasyapa smiled faintly and Sakyamuni Buddha chose him as his worthy successor. Sakyamuni Buddha addressed to Mahakasyapa as follows-" I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvelous mind of Nirvana, the true form of the formless, the subtle dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahakasyapa."

It is told that Zen is a method of meditative religion which aims at enlighten people in the same way that Mahakasyapa experienced. Thus a method developed within Buddhism depending on the direct experience, rather than on rational creeds or revealed structure.

According to Chinese legend, monk Ji Gong is the reincarnation of Mahakasyapa.