The Eighteen Arhats (8)

The Arhat Who Plays With a Lion
(Xiàoshī Luóhàn 笑狮罗汉)

Luófú-duō 罗弗多 was a very good hunter and killed many animals so people could eat their meat and make things from their fur and bones and skin.

But it troubled him to take life, and he reflected often on what it would be like if others hunted him to eat his meat or to make things from his bones or skin or fur (for he was extremely hairy).

Troubled as he was by such thoughts he did not know what to do except to continue hunting. When Luófú-duō learned of the message of the Buddha, he was greatly relieved and eager to abandon his old profession and become a follower.

After Luófú-duō became a follower of the Buddha, he of course stopped hunting, and when the animals of the forest knew that he would harm them to longer, they often approached him to thank him for his decision, and they hoped that other hunters would follow him in this decision.

Two lion cubs came often to play with him as he sat meditating in the forest, and in time they became his constant companions. Today when he is shown in painting or sculpture, he is usually accompanied by a baby lion. Or sometimes two.

And so he is named “The Arhat Who Plays With a Lion.”

He is said to have had 1,100 lesser arhats under his authority.

Indian Names: Vājraputra or Vajraputra

Fádū-luófú-duōluó 伐阇罗弗多罗

also written Fáluófú-duōluó 伐罗弗多罗

also shortened to Fótuó-luó 佛陀罗

also shortened to Luófú-duō 罗弗多 (commonest)

also shortened to Fúduō-luó 弗多罗

Chinese Names:

Xiàoshī Luóhàn 笑狮罗汉, the Arhat Who Plays With a Lion (commonest)

Wǔshī Luóhàn 舞狮罗汉, the Arhat Who Plays With a Lion

Xìshī Luóhàn 戏狮罗汉, the Arhat Who Plays With a Lion

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