Mahākāśyapa

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Mahākāśyapa (Skt.; Pāli, [Mahā]kassapa). Prominent follower of the Buddha. He was rigorous in self-discipline, and took over the leadership of the saṅgha (community of monks) after the Buddha's death. He is the first of the Zen patriarchs (Ānanda being the second), and his image usually stands beside that of the Buddha in Chin. monasteries.

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