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Mahākāśyapa showed deep compassion and concern for the welfare of others, especially the impoverished. Though He lived an austere life, He actively sought out those in need and favored underprivileged donors over wealthy or supernatural ones, giving them opportunities to improve their karma and earn merit. The following verses from Mahākāśyapa demonstrate His profound compassion: “Down from my mountain-lodge I came one day And made my round for alms about the streets. A leper there I saw eating his meal And courteously I halted at his side. He with his hand all leprous and diseased Put in my bowl a morsel; as he threw, A finger broke off and fell into my food. At a wall nearby I ate my share, Not at the time nor after felt disgust. For only he who takes as they come The scraps of food, cow’s urine for medicine, Lodging beneath a tree, the patchwork robe, Truly is a man contented everywhere.” Mahākāśyapa strictly followed the 13 austere practices permitted by the Worshipped Shakyamuni Buddha. They included living under the open sky, eating only alms’ food, staying in one place for no more than three days, having just one meal daily, accepting alms from anyone without preference, owning only three robes, meditating under a tree or in the open air, wearing rag robes, and living and meditating in burial grounds, etc. Although these rules were optional for monks, Mahākāśyapa strictly adhered to these practices to cultivate contentedness, renunciation, and energy. Shakyamuni Buddha praised Mahākāśyapa’s boundless virtues, noting that He could attain enlightenment and reach the stage of Pratyeka Arahant even without His assistance. He advised Mahākāśyapa to abandon extreme asceticism, but Mahākāśyapa respectfully declined. […]The deep spiritual connection between Mahākāśyapa and Shakyamuni Buddha was not merely a bond formed in Their present lives, but had its roots in countless past existences. According to the “Jātaka Tales,” Mahākāśyapa and the Bodhisattva crossed paths in at least 19 lifetimes, often sharing a close familial or mentor-student relationship. In six of these lives, Mahākāśyapa took on the role of the Buddha’s father, while in two others, He was His brother. At other times, He was a loyal friend or wise teacher, illustrating Their long-standing karmic connection and shared spiritual journey across many rebirths. Mahākāśyapa was the only one who truly grasped the meaning of the “Flower Sermon.” During a gathering with His disciples, Shakyamuni Buddha decided to communicate a silent sermon by simply holding up a flower. While the other disciples were puzzled, Mahākāśyapa smiled, signifying His comprehension of the unspoken lesson. This moment is seen as the direct transmission of enlightened insight wisdom, prajñā, from the Shakyamuni Buddha to Mahākāśyapa.
