Final answer:
Mahakasyapa was chosen by Buddha as his successor due to his deep understanding and realization of the Buddha's teachings, embodying the essence of Buddhism and enlightenment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, chose Mahakasyapa as his successor because Mahakasyapa had shown great understanding and realization of the Buddha's teachings. This understanding is what truly embodies the spirit of Buddhism and the profound nature of enlightenment that Buddha preached. Mahakasyapa was not chosen based purely on knowledge, number of followers, or age but rather on the depth of his insight and his embodiment of the teachings that Buddha spent his life sharing and cultivating after achieving bodhi, or enlightenment, under the sacred fig tree.