Foremost in Ascetic Practices: The Austerity and Legacy of Venerable Mahākāśyapa – From a Wealthy Son to the First Patriarch of Zen
Venerable Mahākāśyapa, one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, was known as "Foremost in Ascetic Practices." This article tells the legendary story of his journey from a wealthy son to an ascetic practitioner and then to the first patriarch of Zen, exploring his strict asceticism, profound understanding of the Dharma, and his important role in the Buddhist tradition.