Playful
and free of inhibitions,
The lion cub leaps with joy.
Easily alternating tension with relaxation,
Rejoicing with all living things.
Vajraputra
literally means "man of cats." He was a lion
hunter before he was converted to Buddhism. After he had
attained enlightenment, a little lion came playfully to
his side. The animal seemed to be grateful to him for
giving up the life of killing lions, thus sparing its
parents and brothers. Since then, Vajraputra and the little
lion have become inseparable. The
lion, with its earth-shaking roar, symbolizes the invincible
might of Buddhism. Therefore, it is very common to find
a pair of lions standing guard at the front gate of a
Buddhist temple or monastery in China.
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