Medieval Buddhist of the Day

[Twitter, 6/12/19] Medieval Buddhists of the Day: Fawen 法文 and Falong 法隆, a pair of nuns. In 509 they sponsored a very small niche containing an image of Maitreya, near the Guyang Cave at Longmen. Their dedication is pretty conventional, but the content of their vow caught me out with its poetry. It reads 願使過見者普沾法雨 之潤，禮拜者同無上之樂。”May those who pass by and see it be watered with the freshening dharma-rain; and may those who pay it obeisance share in unsurpassed joy.” The image of the dharma as a saving rain isn’t unique here, and I’m not a Buddhist, but still its expansive, generous kindness stays with me. Thank you, Fawen and Falong.