禅，并不是佛教所独有的，世尊未出世以前，印度就有了禅。古印度非常重视禅定的修习，不仅外道、俗人修习禅定，出家追求解脱之道的各种沙门团体，也重视禅定的修习。这与中国人注重现实生活的习惯大有不同，中国人重视传宗接代、养子防老，享受天伦之乐。
Meditation is not something unique to Buddhism. It had been practiced in India before Shakyamuni was born. The ancient Indians, not only nonBuddhist practitioners and ordinary people, but also sramana groups seeking spiritual freedom, were very fond of meditative practice, which was different from the Chinese who considered family ethics, such as producing children and supporting elders, the most important things in life.
佛教的出世禅与世间禅有本质区别。佛教的禅是与智慧相结合的，修禅的目的是为了开启智慧，世间人和外道修禅更多是为了享受人天福报。
What's fundamentally different in the supermundane Buddhist meditative concentration from mundane meditative concentration is that the former aims to reveal wisdom based on meditative concentration, while the latter is more a way to seek secular and celestial blessings and rewards.
世尊成道后，有一天，在灵山会上为众弟子说法，大梵天王手捧金色优钵罗花供养世尊，世尊观察到弟子们的根机已经成熟，就随手拈来一根，举起示众。智慧第一的舍利弗等诸大弟子都不会意，唯独头陀第一的摩诃迦叶微微一笑。这时，世尊点头称是，并郑重地对摩诃迦叶说：“我有正法眼藏，涅槃妙心，实相无相，微妙法门，付之于汝。”佛教中也曾记载世尊让半座给迦叶尊者，以示对其禅悟境界的肯定。
One day after his enlightenment, as recorded in the Sutra of Mahabrahma Deva Enquiring for Buddha (Da Fan Tian Wang Wen Fo Jue Yi Jing) the Buddha was preaching to his disciples at the Vulture Peak assembly. Observing that it was the right time to inspire them, he drew a flower from the bouquet offered by Mahabrahma Deva and showed it to the assembly. Surprisingly, none of his most intelligent disciples including Shariputra understood what the Buddha meant, but Mahakassapa, the most ascetic one, smiled knowingly. The Buddha nodded and promised to Mahakassapa, “I know all the dharmas as formless being their nature, and I have a mind of nirvana. All the subtle ways to the dharmas I shall convey to you.” There is also written evidence of Shakyamuni Buddha sharing half of his seat with Mahakassapa to show recognition for his ability of awakening.
这段故事出自《大梵天王问佛决疑经》。乍听起来，非常的简单而不可理解，其实这是一种禅意，一种以心印心的高超境界。
The story might sound too simple to be reasonable, but it conveys the very profound meaning of mind to mind transmission of Chan.
