This marked the beginning of the Ch'an school's doctrine of "a tradition outside the dogma, one that is not written down, which points directly to the human heart, so that one may obtain enlightenment by beholding the Buddha-nature within oneself."
這便是標榜「教外別傳，不立文字，直指人心，見性成佛」的禪宗法門的開端，大迦葉是第一代的祖師。