The Zen Studies Podcast 317 – Keizan's Denkoroku Chapter 1: Mahakashyapa's Smile
Oct 31, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of Zen with a puzzling koan involving a flower and a silent smile. Discover who Mahakashyapa was and his pivotal role as the Buddha's heir. Reflect on what his subtle grin reveals about awakening and the nature of self. Explore the contrasts between austerity and the middle way, encouraging personal inquiry into daily actions and their deeper meanings. Unpack the relationship between vigor and clarity in practice, questioning what it means for one to embody the essence of the Buddha.
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Gesture As Recognition
- The Buddha's simple gesture and Mahakashyapa's slight smile point to seeing reality itself, not secret knowledge.
- Domyo Burk says the Dharma eye is recognizing reality with a capital R rather than acquiring special facts.
Mahakashyapa's Miraculous Birth
- Domyo Burk recounts traditional birth omens about Mahakashyapa absorbing golden light at birth and having Buddha marks.
- This origin story illustrates how the ancients framed some ancestors as pre-disposed to awakening.
Diligence Over Appearance
- Domyo Burk notes Mahakashyapa's ascetic image made other monks suspicious despite Buddha's endorsement.
- This shows awakening is independent of pleasing social appearance and depends on sincere practice.
