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Maitreya (
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
) or Metteyya (
Pali Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
), is a
bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, '' bodhi'' ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or ''bodhi'' in ...
who is regarded as the future
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
of this world in all schools of
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, prophesied to become Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha.Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations 2nd edition.'' Routledge, 2009, p. 218. In some
Buddhist literature Buddhist texts are religious texts that belong to, or are associated with, Buddhism and Schools of Buddhism, its traditions. There is no single textual collection for all of Buddhism. Instead, there are three main Buddhist Canons: the Pāli C ...
, such as the '' Amitabha Sutra'' and the ''
Lotus Sutra The ''Lotus Sūtra'' (Sanskrit: ''Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram'', ''Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma'', zh, p=Fǎhuá jīng, l=Dharma Flower Sutra) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. ...
'', he is also referred to as Ajitā (Invincible, Unconquerable). In
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...
he is known as the "Lord of Love" or the "Noble Loving One" (Pakpa Jampa). The root of his name is the Sanskrit word ''
maitrī (Sanskrit; Pali: ) means benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, amity, good will, and active interest in others. It is the first of the four sublime states () and one of the ten of the Theravāda school of Buddhism. The cultivation o ...
'' (Pali: ''metta''; meaning friendliness, loving-kindness). The name Maitreya is also related to the Indo-Iranian name
Mitra ''Mitra'' (Proto-Indo-Iranian language, Proto-Indo-Iranian: wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/mitrás, ''*mitrás'') is the name of an Indo-Iranians#Religion, Indo-Iranian divinity that predates the Rigveda, Rigvedic Mitra (Hindu god), Mitrá ...
.Jayarava, Visible Mantra: Visualising & Writing Buddhist Mantras, pp. 142-43. 2011 In
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
, Maitreya is prophesied to be the king of
Shambala Shambhala (, ),Śambhala m. (also written Sambhala): Name of a town (situated between the Rathaprā and Ganges, and identified by some with Sambhal in Moradabad; the town or district of Śambhala is fabled to be the place where Kalki, the last ...
, which is also the birthplace of the
Kalki Avatar Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages in the cycle of existenc ...
. In all branches of Buddhism, Maitreya is viewed as the direct successor of
Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
. As the fifth and final Buddha of the current
kalpa Kalevan Pallo (KalPa) is a professional ice hockey team which competes in the Finnish Liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu, Olvi Areena. Team history Established in 1929 as ''Sortavalan Palloseura'' in Sortavala, the club r ...
(eon), Maitreya's teachings will be focused around re-establishing the Buddha's
Dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
on Earth. According to scriptures, Maitreya's teachings will be similar to those of Gautama (Śākyamuni). Horner (1975), ''The minor anthologies of the Pali canon'', p. 97. Regarding Metteyya, Bv XXVII, 19: "I autama Buddhaat the present time am the Self-Awakened One, and there will be Metteyya...." The arrival of Maitreya is prophesied to occur during an era of decline when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been disregarded or obliviated. Despite many religious figures and spiritual leaders claiming to be Maitreya throughout history, diverse Buddhist sects insist that these are false claims, while underscoring that Maitreya has yet to appear as a
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
on the grounds that the Buddha's teachings have not been disregarded. Traditional Buddhists believe that Maitreya currently resides in
Tushita Tuṣita (Sanskrit and Pāli) or Tushita is one of the six deva-worlds of the Buddhist Desire realm (Kāmadhātu), located between the Yāma heaven and the heaven. Like the other heavens, Tuṣita is said to be reachable through meditation. It ...
heaven. However, Maitreya is not inaccessible, and various Buddhists throughout history have also claimed to have been visited by Maitreya, to have had visions of him, and to have received teachings by him. As such, Mahayana Buddhists traditionally consider Maitreya to be the founder of the
Yogacara Yogachara (, IAST: ') is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through the interior lens of meditation, as well as philosophical reasoning (hetuvidyā). ...
tradition through his revelation of various scriptures like the '' Mahāyānasūtrālamkārakā,'' and the '' Madhyāntavibhāga''.Ruegg, D.S. ''La Theorie du Tathagatagarbha et du Gotra''. Paris: Ecole d'Extreme Orient, 1969, p. 35.Brunnholzl, Karl'', When the Clouds Part: The Uttaratantra and Its Meditative Tradition as a Bridge between Sutra and Tantra,'' Shambhala Publications, 2015, p. 81.Ford, James L. (2006). ''Jokei and Buddhist Devotion in Early Medieval Japan.'' Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 69-71.


Sources

11th century Maitreya, Bihar, India The name ''Maitreya'' is derived from the Sanskrit word "friendship", which is in turn derived from the noun ''
mitra ''Mitra'' (Proto-Indo-Iranian language, Proto-Indo-Iranian: wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/mitrás, ''*mitrás'') is the name of an Indo-Iranians#Religion, Indo-Iranian divinity that predates the Rigveda, Rigvedic Mitra (Hindu god), Mitrá ...
,'' signifying "friend". The Pali form ''Metteyya'' is mentioned in the ''Cakkavatti-Sīhanāda Sutta'' (
Digha Nikaya Digha (), is a seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in Purba Medinipur district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. The town has a low gradient with a shallow sand beach. It is a popular sea resort in India. ...
26) of the
Pāli Canon The Pāḷi Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant Early Buddhist texts, early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from t ...
, and also in chapter 28 of the Buddhavamsa. Maitreya's prophecy also appears in other texts like the ''Māhavastu'', '' Lalitavistara'', the ''
Mūlasarvāstivāda The Mūlasarvāstivāda (; ) was one of the early Buddhist schools of India. The origins of the Mūlasarvāstivāda school and their relationship to the Sarvāstivāda remain largely unknown, although various theories exist. The continuity of t ...
-vinaya'' and the ''Divyāvadāna''. Due to their similar names, some modern scholars like Przyluski, Lamotte and
Levi Levi ( ; ) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the third of the six sons of Jacob and Leah (Jacob's third son), and the founder of the Israelites, Israelite Tribe of Levi (the Levites, including the Kohanim) and the great-grandfather of Aaron ...
have speculated that inspiration for Maitreya may have come from ancient Indo-Iranian deities like
Mithra Mithra ( ; ) is an ancient Iranian deity ('' yazata'') of covenants, light, oaths, justice, the Sun, contracts, and friendship. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth ( ...
and the future
Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, Zoroaster ( ). Among the wo ...
savior figure of the
Saoshyant Saoshyant ( ) is an Avestan-language term that literally means "one who brings benefit", and which is used in several different ways in Zoroastrian scripture and tradition. In particular, the expression is the proper name of ''the'' Saoshyant, an ...
.David Alan Scott (1990). "The Iranian Face of Buddhism.''" East and West,'' 40(1-4), 43–77. doi:10.2307/29756924 However, David Alan Scott points out numerous differences in their artistic portrayals (even in the same geographic region) and discrepancies which make this direct link unlikely. He specifically points out the very ancient Buddhist roots of Maitreya in the earliest Buddhist texts. Scott does point out that both deities are personifications of the virtue of
friendship Friendship is a Interpersonal relationship, relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an "acquaintance" or an "association", such as a classmate, neighbor, coworker, or colleague. Althoug ...
, so they do have that in common (''
maitrī (Sanskrit; Pali: ) means benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, amity, good will, and active interest in others. It is the first of the four sublime states () and one of the ten of the Theravāda school of Buddhism. The cultivation o ...
'').


Mahayana sutras

There are many
Mahāyāna sūtras The Mahayana sutras are Buddhist texts that are accepted as wikt:canon, canonical and authentic Buddhist texts, ''buddhavacana'' in Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhist sanghas. These include three types of sutras: Those spoken by the Buddha; those spoke ...
which describe and discuss the bodhisattva Maitreya. He appears as a supporting character in several important Mahāyāna sūtras such as the ''
Lotus Sutra The ''Lotus Sūtra'' (Sanskrit: ''Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram'', ''Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma'', zh, p=Fǎhuá jīng, l=Dharma Flower Sutra) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. ...
,'' ''
Vimalakirti Sutra The ''Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa'' (Devanagari: विमलकीर्तिनिर्देश) (sometimes referred to as the ''Vimalakīrti Sūtra'' or ''Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra'') is a Buddhist text which centers on a lay Buddhist medita ...
'', the '' Golden Light'', the '' King of Samadhis Sutra'', and the '' Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines.'' In the '' Gaṇḍavyūha Sutra'' meanwhile, Maitreya has an entire chapter in which he preaches the Dharma to the pilgrim
Sudhana Sudhanakumāra (), mainly known as Sudhana and Shancai or Shancai Tongzi in Chinese, and translated as ''Child of Wealth'', along with Longnü "Dragon Girl" are considered acolytes of the bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) in Chinese Buddhis ...
in one hundred and twenty one verses.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 69. Cambridge University Press, 1988. Then Sudhana is allowed to enter Maitreya's palace (Vairocanakutalamkara-garbha), where he has a grand vision of the entirety of Maitreya's bodhisattva career. In addition, there are also several Mahāyāna sūtras which focus specifically on Maitreya, his teachings and future activity. Some key Maitreya sutras in the Chinese canon are the following: * ''Sutra on the Descending Birth of Maitreya'' (T.453:421a:421a–423c), translated by
Dharmarakṣa (; J. Jiku Hōgo; K. Ch'uk Pŏpho; c. 233-310) was one of the most important early translators of Mahayana sutras into Chinese. Several of his translations had profound effects on East Asian Buddhism. He is described in scriptural catalogues ...
(230?–316); * ''Sutra on the Descending Birth of Maitreya'' (T.454:423c– 425c), translated by Kumārajīva (344–413); * ''Sutra on Maitreya Becoming Buddha'' (T.456:428b–434b), translated by Kumārajīva (344–413); * ''The Great Vehicle Sūtra Called "Petitioned by Noble Maitreya"'' (ārya maitriya paripṛhccha nāma mahāyāna sūtra), translated by Bodhiruci * ''Sutra on Maitreya's Descending Birth and Becoming Buddha'' (T.455:426a–428b), translated by
Yijing The ''I Ching'' or ''Yijing'' ( ), usually translated ''Book of Changes'' or ''Classic of Changes'', is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. The ''I Ching'' was originally a divination manual in ...
(635– 713); * ''Sutra on the Time of Maitreya's Arrival'' (T.457:434b–435a), translator unknown * ''Sutra on the Visualization of Maitreya Bodhisattva's Ascending Birth in Tuṣita Heaven'' (T.452:418b–420c), translated by Juqu Jing- sheng (?–464) The
Tibetan Buddhist canon The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a compilation of the Buddhist sacred texts recognized by various schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Canon includes the Kangyur, which is the Buddha's recorded teachings, and the Tengyur, which is commentaries by gr ...
meanwhile contains the following Maitreya sutras:
Maitreya-mahāsiṃhanāda
(''Great Lion's Roar of Maitreya)''

(''Questions of Maitreya'', Ratnakuta section)

(''Questions of Maitreya on eight dharmas'')

(''Questions of Maitreya,'' General sutra section)

(''Maitreya's Setting Out'')
Maitreya-vyākaraṇa
(''Prophecy of Maitreya'') * ''Ārya-maitri-pratijñā-nāma-dhāraṇī''


Other literature

Maitreya also appears in other literary works. The ''
Maitreyasamitināṭaka ''Maitreyasamitināṭaka'' is a Buddhist drama in the language known as Tocharian A. It dates to the eighth century and survives only in fragments. The drama revolves around the Buddhahood, Buddha Maitreya, the future saviour of the world.Peyrot ...
'' was an extensive Buddhist play in pre-Islamic Central Asia (c. 8th century). The ''Maitreyavyakarana'' (a poem in ''śatakam'' form) in Central Asia and the ''Anagatavamsa'' of
South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
also mention him.


Archeology and art

In the
Greco-Buddhist art The Greco-Buddhist art or Gandhara art is the artistic manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, a cultural syncretism between Ancient Greek art and Buddhism. It had mainly evolved in the ancient region of Gandhara, located in the northwestern fringe of t ...
of
Gandhara Gandhara () was an ancient Indo-Aryan people, Indo-Aryan civilization in present-day northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan. The core of the region of Gandhara was the Peshawar valley, Peshawar (Pushkalawati) and Swat valleys extending ...
, in the first centuries CE in northern India, Maitreya was the most popular figure to be represented along with
Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
. Numerous sculptures of Maitreya have been found in Greater
Gandhara Gandhara () was an ancient Indo-Aryan people, Indo-Aryan civilization in present-day northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan. The core of the region of Gandhara was the Peshawar valley, Peshawar (Pushkalawati) and Swat valleys extending ...
from the
Kushan Empire The Kushan Empire (– CE) was a Syncretism, syncretic empire formed by the Yuezhi in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century. It spread to encompass much of what is now Afghanistan, Eastern Iran, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbe ...
period (30–375 CE). He also appears in Mathura to a lesser extent.Behrendt, Kurt; Brancaccio, Pia. ''Gandharan Buddhism: Archaeology, Art, and Texts,'' pp. 17-20. UBC Press, Nov 1, 2011. Maitreya is already depicted at
Sanchi Sanchi Stupa is a Buddhist art, Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the States and territories of India, State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located, about 23 kilometers from Raisen ...
before the Kushan period. But art depicting him becomes much more numerous during the Kushan era, when his cult seems to have grown in popularity. In 4th- to 6th-century China, Buddhist artisans saw Shakyamuni and Maitreya as interchangeable, which indicates that the iconography of the two figures were not fully established at an early date. An example is the stone sculpture found in the
Qingzhou Qingzhou () Wade–Giles: Tsing-chou, sometimes written as Ching-chow-fu, formerly Yidu County (Yitu) (), is a county-level city, which is located in the west of the prefecture-level city of Weifang, in the central part of Shandong Province, Chin ...
cache dedicated to Maitreya in 529 CE as recorded in the inscription (currently in the Qingzhou Museum,
Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...
). The religious belief of Maitreya apparently developed around the same time as that of
Amitābha Amitābha (, "Measureless" or "Limitless" Light), also known as Amituofo in Chinese language, Chinese, Amida in Japanese language, Japanese and Öpakmé in Tibetan script, Tibetan, is one of the main Buddhahood, Buddhas of Mahayana, Mahayana Buddh ...
, as early as the 3rd century CE.


Artistic depictions

200px, Greco-Buddhist standing Maitreya Maitreya is often depicted standing or sitting on a throne. He is often represented as a northern Indian nobleman or prince with a full head of hair, fine flowing robes and jewels. Gandharan style images present him with a distinctive long hair loop folded at the top of the head.Behrendt, Kurt; Brancaccio, Pia. ''Gandharan Buddhism: Archaeology, Art, and Texts,'' pp. 30-31, 152. UBC Press, Nov 1, 2011. Maitreya is often depicted carrying a vase or bottle ('' kamaṇḍalu''), an element which goes back to the Gandharan sculptures and which he shares with depictions of the deity
Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
(along with the hair loop).Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations 2nd edition.'' Routledge, 2009, p. 220. Because of this, some scholars argue that the water bottle and hair loop are symbols of his brahminical origins, and indeed, some stories depict Maitreya as being born to a Human family during his last life. Maitreya is also often shown in a heaven realm, indicating his current location (Tushita). In Indian symbolism, the ''kamaṇḍalu'' pot symbolizes immortality (
amrita ''Amrita'' (, IAST: ''amṛta''), ''Amrit'' or ''Amata'' in Pali language, Pali, (also called ''Sudha'', ''Amiy'', ''Ami'') is a Sanskrit word that means "immortality". It is a central concept within Indian religions and is often referred to i ...
), fertility, life and wealth. p.52 In Buddhism, the similar pūrṇa-
kumbha A kumbha () is a type of pottery in India. Traditionally, it is made by Kumbhars, also known as ''Prajapati''s. In the context of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology, the kumbha symbolises the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative ...
(full bottle) also symbolizes "auspicious abundance", wisdom, health, longevity, wealth, prosperity, and the Buddha's infinite quality of teaching the Dharma. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is termed a ''
bumpa The bumpa (), or ''pumpa, is a ritual ewer or vase with a spout used in Tibetan Buddhist rituals and empowerment. It is believed in some contexts to be the vessel for the expanse of the universe. There are two kinds of ''bumpa'': the ''tso bum' ...
'' (wisdom urn, ritual vase).


Buddhist Maitreya beliefs

Nepalese Maitreya sculpture, c. 11th century


Types of Maitreya myths

According to
Jan Nattier Jan Nattier is an American scholar of Mahāyana Buddhism. Early life and education She earned her PhD in Inner Asian and Altaic Studies from Harvard University (1988), and subsequently taught at the University of Hawaii (1988-1990), Stanford Unive ...
, there are four main types of the Maitreya myth which we find throughout the
history of Buddhism The history of Buddhism can be traced back to the 5th century BCE. Buddhism originated from Ancient India, in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (Mahajanapada), Magadha, and is based on the teachings of the renunciate Siddhartha Gautama, ...
. The typology is based around when and how a devotee expected to encounter the figure of Maitreya: # Here/now: In this version, a devotee expected to meet Maitreya on earth, during their present lifetime. # Here/later: A devotee expected to meet Maitreya on earth at some point after their death, during a future lifetime, perhaps when Maitreya attains Buddhahood and founds a new community. This is the most common and standard myth in which Maitreya's enlightenment is a future event devotees hope to be present for. # There/now: In visionary forms of the Maitreya myth, devotees attempted to encounter Maitreya in a vision of his court in Tushita heaven, or to literally travel there by some means (e.g. the story of Asanga's encounter). # There/later: A common wish among Maitreya devotees was to be reborn in Maitreya's Tushita palace or "inner court", which is his current
Pure land Pure Land is a Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhist concept referring to a transcendent realm emanated by a buddhahood, buddha or bodhisattva which has been purified by their activity and Other power, sustaining power. Pure lands are said to be places ...
.


Future coming of Maitreya

In all Buddhist traditions, Maitreya is prophesied to be the next Buddha who will arise in this world. He will attain Buddhahood far in the future (5,670,000,000 years from now). Since attaining enlightenment is thought to be much more likely while studying under a living Buddha, many Buddhists have hoped to meet Maitreya and train under him. As Buddhist studies scholar Alan Spongberg writes, Maitreya "came to represent a hope for the future, a time when all human beings could once again enjoy the spiritual and physical environment most favorable to enlightenment and the release from worldly suffering". The Maitreya legend has provided a positive view of the future for all Buddhist cultures, who have adapted and expressed the prophetic myth in different ways. According to Buddhist tradition, each
kalpa Kalevan Pallo (KalPa) is a professional ice hockey team which competes in the Finnish Liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu, Olvi Areena. Team history Established in 1929 as ''Sortavalan Palloseura'' in Sortavala, the club r ...
(a cosmic period lasting millions of years) has several
Buddhas In Buddhism, Buddha (, which in classic Indic languages means "awakened one") is a title for those who are spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the supreme goal of Buddhism, variously described as awakening or enlighten ...
. The previous kalpa was the ''vyuhakalpa'' (glorious aeon), and the present kalpa is called the '' bhadrakalpa'' (auspicious aeon). The Seven Buddhas of Antiquity (''saptatathāgata'') are seven Buddhas which bridge the last kalpa and the present kalpa, they begin with
Vipassī In Buddhism, Buddhist tradition, Vipassī (Pali, Pāli) is the twenty-second of List of the twenty-eight Buddhas, twenty-eight Buddhas described in Chapter 27 of the ''Buddhavaṃsa''. The ''Buddhavamsa'' is a Buddhist texts, Buddhist text which ...
and end (so far) with
Gautama Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
(Shakyamuni). Maitreya is thus the eighth Buddha in this line. According to traditional Buddhist sources Maitreya's advent is not imminent and instead will happen millions of years in the future. In spite of this, Buddhist believers can hope to accumulate good karma so that when the time comes, they will be reborn to meet the future Buddha Maitreya and reach enlightenment under him.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 26. Cambridge University Press, 1988. Scriptures which describe the future coming of Maitreya also describe the paradise like conditions of the world during Maitreya's time. His coming is said to usher in a "golden age" of religion and civilization. Buddhist scriptures do not exhort believers to work to bring about this golden age (what Nattier calls "active
apocalypticism Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the Eschatology, end of the world is imminent, even within one's own lifetime. This belief is usually accompanied by the idea that civilization will soon come to a tumultuous end due to some sort of ...
"). This might be due to the Buddhist view of the cyclical nature of time and history. The cyclical nature of history is thus part of the Maitreya myth. Buddhists believe that there will come a time of Dharma decline in which social order and morality will decline and the human lifespan will also decline. There will be war, sickness and famine.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 27. Cambridge University Press, 1988. The Buddha's Dharma will then be lost. After some time, the world will begin to improve again, and human lifespans will begin to increase. It is at the peak of this rise in goodness in the far future that Maitreya will arrive. As such, in the traditional Buddhist view, first there will be a period of decline, followed by a period of moral and social betterment. It is only then that Maitreya is expected to come. To be able to take part in this golden age, Buddhist devotees hoped to make enough good merit (through good deeds like giving and compassionate acts) which would condition their future rebirth.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 28. Cambridge University Press, 1988.One mention of the prophecy in the ' states that gods, men and other beings: Thus, many Buddhists throughout history have sought to develop the necessary merit to meet Maitreya on Earth during the life of his final Buddhahood.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 17. Cambridge University Press, 1988. This includes many
Theravada ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' (anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or ''Dharma (Buddhi ...
Buddhists. One famous Theravadin who expressed this wish was the Sinhalese king Duṭṭhagāmaṇī. In Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhas preside over
pure land Pure Land is a Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhist concept referring to a transcendent realm emanated by a buddhahood, buddha or bodhisattva which has been purified by their activity and Other power, sustaining power. Pure lands are said to be places ...
s, such as
Sukhavati Sukhavati ( IAST: ''Sukhāvatī''; "Blissful"; Chinese: 極樂世界, lit. "realm of ultimate bliss") is the pure land (or buddhafield) of the Buddha Amitābha in Mahayana Buddhism. Sukhavati is also called the Land of Bliss or Western Pure L ...
. Once Maitreya becomes a Buddha, he will rule over the Ketumati pure land, an earthly paradise sometimes associated with the city of
Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
(also known as Benares) in
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
, India, and in other descriptions, the kingdom of
Shambhala Shambhala (, ),Śambhala m. (also written Sambhala): Name of a town (situated between the Rathaprā and Ganges, and identified by some with Sambhal in Moradabad; the town or district of Śambhala is fabled to be the place where Kalki, the last ...
.


Foretold biography

Various Buddhist sources give details about Maitreya's birth, family and country. According to the '' Cakkavatti Sutta: The Wheel-turning Emperor'' (
Digha Nikaya Digha (), is a seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in Purba Medinipur district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. The town has a low gradient with a shallow sand beach. It is a popular sea resort in India. ...
26), Maitreya Buddha will be born in a time when humans will live to an age of eighty thousand years, in the city of Ketumatī, whose king will be the Cakkavattī (wheel-turning emperor) Sankha. Sankha will live in the palace where once dwelt King Mahāpanadā, but later he will give the palace away and will himself become a follower of Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya will be born to the chief priest of Sankha, Brahmayu, and his wife Brahmavati. In some sources his family name is Maitreya and his first name is Ajita.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 74. Cambridge University Press, 1988. Maitreya will live as a householder, have a son, and then renounce the world and achieve Buddhahood like Shakyamuni. In some accounts, Maitreya will meet Mahakasyapa, who has been in samadhi on top of mount Kukkutapada since the passing of Shakyamuni. According to some accounts, Mahakasyapa will then hand Shayamuni's robe to Maitreya. Buddhist texts from several traditions say that beings in Maitreya's time will be much bigger than during the time of Sakyamuni. To these gigantic beings, Buddha's robe barely covers two fingers and a modern human appears insect sized. Some sources state that Maitreya will be 88
cubits The cubit is an ancient unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It was primarily associated with the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Israelites. The term ''cubit'' is found in the Bible regarding Noa ...
(132 feet, 40 meters) tall and will live for 88,000 years. Like
Maṅgala Buddha Maṅgala Buddha is the sixth of twenty-seven Buddhas who preceded Gotama Buddha according to the Buddhavamsa, a text from the Theravada Pali canon, and its commentary. He was also the first Buddha of the Sāramaṇḍa kalpa. In the Buddhava ...
, his rays will make people hard to distinguish between day and night. His teachings will preserve for the next 180,000 years. According to the commentary of Anāgatavamsa, his teaching will last for 360,000 years.


In Tushita heaven

Maitreya depicted as the founder of the Hosso (Japanese Yogacara) school, c. 16th century Buddhists believe that Maitreya is currently a spiritually advanced
bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, '' bodhi'' ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or ''bodhi'' in ...
(a being who is practicing the path towards full
Buddhahood In Buddhism, Buddha (, which in classic Indo-Aryan languages, Indic languages means "awakened one") is a title for those who are Enlightenment in Buddhism, spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the Buddhist paths to liberat ...
) in
Tuṣita Tuṣita (Sanskrit and Pāli) or Tushita is one of the six Deva (Buddhism), deva-worlds of the Buddhist Desire realm (Kāmadhātu), located between the Yāma heaven and the heaven. Like the other heavens, Tuṣita is said to be reachable throu ...
heaven where he will remain until it is the right time for him to descend to earth to attain Buddhahood. Maitreya currently resides in a palace at the center of ' Heaven (Pāli: ''Tusita''). Gautama Buddha also lived here before he was born into the world as all bodhisattvas live in the Heaven before they descend to the human realm to become Buddhas. Though the concept of the bodhisattva is different in Theravada and
Mahayana Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main ex ...
Buddhism, both traditions of Buddhism share a belief in Maitreya bodhisattva as the current regent of the Buddha's Dharma in Tusita. Many Buddhists throughout history have cultivated merit through good deeds in order to be reborn in Tusita and meet Maitreya bodhisattva there in their next life. This may be combined with the wish to descend back down to earth as part of Maitreya's future entourage. Mahayana Buddhists such as
Dao'an Dao'an (; 312–385) was a Buddhist monk, author and bibliographer, during the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was from what is now Hebei. His main importance was that of overseer of translation of Buddhist texts into Chinese, organizer of the Chinese s ...
,
Xuanzang Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...
, Yjing, and other masters of East Asian Yogacara, have expressed devotion for Maitreya and have sought to be reborn in his
pure land Pure Land is a Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhist concept referring to a transcendent realm emanated by a buddhahood, buddha or bodhisattva which has been purified by their activity and Other power, sustaining power. Pure lands are said to be places ...
, the palace at the center of Tuṣita. One Theravada example is the legend of the monk Malaya-Mahadeva, who is said to have traveled to Tushita and met Maitreya according to the 11th century ''Rasavāhinī''. Modern figures like
Xuyun Xuyun or Hsu Yun (; 5 September 1840? – 13 October 1959) was a renowned Chinese Chan Buddhist master and an influential Buddhist teacher of the 19th and 20th centuries. Early life Xuyun was purportedly born on 5 September 1840 in Fujian, Qing ...
, and
Taixu Taixu (Tai-hsu, ; January 8, 1890 – March 17, 1947) was a Buddhist modernist, activist and thinker who advocated for a reformation and revival of Chinese Buddhism by drawing upon eclectic domestic and foreign sources and ideologies. Biograph ...
 have also expressed the wish to meet Maitreya in Tushita.


Revelations and manifestations

file:Boddhisatva Maitreya, Gandhara, 2nd-3rd cents., National Museum of Korea, Seoul (1) (41088563922).jpg, Bodhisattva Maitreya,
Gandhara Gandhara () was an ancient Indo-Aryan people, Indo-Aryan civilization in present-day northwest Pakistan and northeast Afghanistan. The core of the region of Gandhara was the Peshawar valley, Peshawar (Pushkalawati) and Swat valleys extending ...
, 2nd-3rd cents., National Museum of Korea, Seoul Maitreya is also believed by Buddhists to manifest "emanation bodies" (Nirmāṇakāya, nirmanakayas) on earth in order to aid living beings and teach the Dharma.Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations 2nd edition.'' Routledge, 2009, pp. 219-220. Chinese Buddhists consider the rotund monk
Budai Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddh ...
as an emanation of Maitreya in China. Buddhist yogis and scholars, like
Dao'an Dao'an (; 312–385) was a Buddhist monk, author and bibliographer, during the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was from what is now Hebei. His main importance was that of overseer of translation of Buddhist texts into Chinese, organizer of the Chinese s ...
, have also sought to receive visions, teachings, or guidance from Maitreya in this present life.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 29. Cambridge University Press, 1988. Various stories are recorded of individuals ascending to meet Maitreya (through meditation and
samadhi Statue of a meditating Rishikesh.html" ;"title="Shiva, Rishikesh">Shiva, Rishikesh ''Samādhi'' (Pali and ), in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, is a state of meditative consciousness. In many Indian religious traditions, the cultivati ...
) or of Maitreya descending to meet them here on earth. 11th century CE, Basalt sculpture, Bihar The most famous of these revelations in
Mahayana Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main ex ...
Buddhism are five scriptures Maitreya is traditionally said to have revealed to the 4th century Indian Buddhist master
Asanga Asaṅga (Sanskrit: असंग, , ; Romaji: ''Mujaku'') (fl. 4th century C.E.) was one of the most important spiritual figures of Mahayana Buddhism and the founder of the Yogachara school.Engle, Artemus (translator), Asanga, ''The Bodhisattva P ...
. These texts are important in the
Yogacara Yogachara (, IAST: ') is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through the interior lens of meditation, as well as philosophical reasoning (hetuvidyā). ...
tradition and are considered to be part of the third turning within the
Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma Buddhist Doctrinal Classification refers to various systems used by Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions to classify and organize the numerous texts and teachings that have developed over the history of Buddhism. According to Buddhist studies ...
. They teach the "consciousness-only" idealist philosophy of Yogacara Buddhism. Buddhist tradition associates
Asanga Asaṅga (Sanskrit: असंग, , ; Romaji: ''Mujaku'') (fl. 4th century C.E.) was one of the most important spiritual figures of Mahayana Buddhism and the founder of the Yogachara school.Engle, Artemus (translator), Asanga, ''The Bodhisattva P ...
(c. 4th century), one of the founders of the
Yogacara Yogachara (, IAST: ') is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through the interior lens of meditation, as well as philosophical reasoning (hetuvidyā). ...
school, with the bodhisattva Maitreya. According to traditional accounts, after twelve years of retreat and meditation, Asanga encountered a dying dog and treated his wounds by removing the maggots from the wounds to a piece of Asanga's own flesh. It was only after his act of love and compassion that Asanga had a vision of Maitreya, who turned out to be that very dying dog. Maitreya then took Asanga to the celestial realm of
Tushita Tuṣita (Sanskrit and Pāli) or Tushita is one of the six deva-worlds of the Buddhist Desire realm (Kāmadhātu), located between the Yāma heaven and the heaven. Like the other heavens, Tuṣita is said to be reachable through meditation. It ...
and transmitted to him several Buddhist scriptures (the so called "five dharmas of Maitreya"). The Chinese and Tibetan traditions disagree on which scriptures are included in the "Five Dharmas of Maitreya". In the Tibetan tradition, the five texts are: ''Mahāyānasūtrālamkārakārikā'', ("The Adornment of Mahayana sutras"), ''Dharmadharmatāvibhāga'' ("Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being"), ''Madhyāntavibhāgakārikā'' ("Distinguishing the Middle and the Extremes"), ''
Abhisamayalankara The "Ornament of/for Realization , abbreviated AA, is one of five Sanskrit-language Mahayana sutras, Mahayana śastras which, according to Tibetan tradition, Maitreya revealed to Asanga, Asaṅga in northwest India circa the 4th century AD. ...
'' ( "Ornament for clear realization"), and the ''Ratnagotravibhaga'' (Exposition of the Jeweled lineage). The Chinese tradition meanwhile maintains that the five revealed scriptures are: the '' Yogācārabhūmi, *Yogavibhāga'' ow lost', Mahāyānasūtrālamkārakā, Madhyāntavibhāga'' and the ''Vajracchedikākāvyākhyā.''


Mantras and dharanis

Close-up of a statue depicting Maitreya Bodhisattva at the Thikse Monastery in Ladakh, India">Ladakh.html" ;"title="Thikse Monastery in Ladakh">Thikse Monastery in Ladakh, India file:2016 Singapur, Chinatown, Świątynia i Muzeum Relikwi Zęba Buddy (09).jpg">Maitreya centered altar,
Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...
, Singapore. Mahayana sources contain various mantras and dharanis of Maitreya. His common name mantra (as taught in Shingon Buddhism) is:
oṃ maitreya svāhā
Another Maitreya mantra taught in the Tibetan tradition is:
oṃ āḥ maitrī sarva siddhi hūṃ
Two other mantras from the Chinese canon (in a text translated by
Kūkai , born posthumously called , was a Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the Vajrayana, esoteric Shingon Buddhism, Shingon school of Buddhism. He travelled to China, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayana Buddhism) und ...
) include:
Namaḥ samanta-buddhānāṃ aparājite jayanti svāhā
Namaḥ samanta-buddhānāṃ ajitaṃjaya sarva-sattva-āśaya-anugata svāhā


Dharanis

A popular dharani taught in Tibetan Buddhism is the ''Incantation of'' ''Noble Maitreya's Promise'' ''(Ārya-maitri-pratijñā-nāma-dhāraṇī''):Lama Yeshe. ''Universal Love: The Yoga Method of Buddha Maitreya,'' pp. 127-128. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. 2008.
Namo ratnatrayāya namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāyārhate samyaksaṃbuddhāya. Tadyathā: oṃ ajite ajite aparājite ajitañjaya hara hara maitri avalokite kara kara mahāsamayasiddhe bhara bhara mahābodhimaṇḍabīje smara smara asmākaṃ samaya bodhi bodhi mahābodhi svāhā oṃ mohi mohi mahāmohi svāhā oṃ muni muni smara svāhā
English translation:
omageHomage to the Three Jewels. Homage to the Lord Shakyamuni, Tathagata, Arhat, Completely Perfect Buddha. As follows: oot mantraOm Invincible, Invincible, Unconquered Conquer the Unconquered, take, take t You Who Look Down with Friendliness, act, act, Bring, bring the fulfillment of your great pledge, Shake the seat of great awakening, Remember, remember
our Our or OUR may refer to: * The possessive form of " we" Places * Our (river), in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany * Our, Belgium, a village in Belgium * Our, Jura, a commune in France Other uses * Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), a governm ...
pledge for us, Awakening, awakening, great awakening, svaha. eart mantraOm fascinating, fascinating, greatly fascinating, svaha. lose Heart mantraOm sage, sage, remember, svaha.
Another version of the dharani can be found in Toh 890 of the
Kangyur The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a defined collection of sacred texts recognized by various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, comprising the Kangyur and the Tengyur. The ''Kangyur'' or ''Kanjur'' is Buddha's recorded teachings (or the 'Translation of ...
alongside the benefits of reciting it:
Homage to the Three Jewels. Homage to Maitreya the Victorious One. ''namo ratna trayāya namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāya arhate samyaksaṃ­buddhāya tadyathā oṃ ajite ajite aparājite ajitaṃ jaya hara hara maitri avalokite kara kara mahā­samayasiddhe bhara bhara mahābodhimaṇḍabīje smara smara asmakaṃ samaya bodhi bodhi mahābodhi svāhā'' This was the root mantra. ''oṃ mohi mohi mahāmohi svāhā'' This was the heart mantra. ''oṃ muni muni smara svāhā'' This was the auxiliary heart mantra. “Once I have fully awakened to unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment, I will be certain to search out any being who simply hears, recites, chants, correctly contemplates, or meditates on this dhāraṇī and offer them a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment. Even if this dhāraṇī is recited into the ear of a deer or bird from the animal realm, they will also receive a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment. Whoever merely hears this will never go to the lower realms, nor will they be stained by the dirt of the lower realms. They will not be reborn in a mother’s womb. They will become a universal monarch for a thousand divine eons. They will inhabit the path of the ten virtuous actions. Whichever material enjoyments they wish for and seek will appear for them. I, a blessed one, will never forget that being. Having reached the seat of awakening, I will absolutely provide them, no matter who they are, a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment.”
The Chinese canon contains the following:
namo ratna-trayāya, nama āryāvalokiteśvarāya bodhi-sattvāya mahāsatvāya mahākāruṇikāya tad-yathā, oṃ, maitre maitre maitra-manasi maitra-sambhave maitra-udbhave mahāsamaye svāhā


Maitreya in East Asia

Statue of Maitreya (Mile Pusa) with the Baoshan Temple, Shanghai">Baoshan_Temple_(Shanghai).html" ;"title="Four Heavenly Kings, Baoshan Temple (Shanghai)">Baoshan Temple, Shanghai.


Maitreya devotion

Maitreya devotion (Chinese: 彌勒信仰) has been a part of East Asian Buddhism since the time of
Dao'an Dao'an (; 312–385) was a Buddhist monk, author and bibliographer, during the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was from what is now Hebei. His main importance was that of overseer of translation of Buddhist texts into Chinese, organizer of the Chinese s ...
(312–85), who is known to have founded a Maitreya devotionalism in China. Maitreya devotion was popular during the Northern Wei period (386–534). During the Sui Dynasty, three separate people declared themselves to be incarnations of Maitreya, attempting to bolster their authority, lead insurrections, and overthrow the Sui Dynasty (each attempted overthrow was ultimately unsuccessful). Devotional practices to Maitreya were an important part of the East Asian Yogacara school. A key element of Maitreya devotion in East Asia is the intention to be reborn in Maitreya's Inner Court of
Tushita Tuṣita (Sanskrit and Pāli) or Tushita is one of the six deva-worlds of the Buddhist Desire realm (Kāmadhātu), located between the Yāma heaven and the heaven. Like the other heavens, Tuṣita is said to be reachable through meditation. It ...
Heaven (兜率內院). Some Buddhist scriptures have noted that Maitreya is currently teaching at the Inner Court of Tushita, and some East Asian masters who were Maitreya devotees, such as
Xuanzang Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...
(7th century),
Kuiji Kuiji (; 632–682), also known as Ji (), an exponent of Yogācāra, was a Chinese monk and a prominent disciple of Xuanzang.Lusthaus, Dan (undated). ''Quick Overview of the Faxiang School'' (). Source(accessed: December 12, 2007) His posthumous ...
,
Wonhyo Wŏnhyo (; ; 617 – 686, meaning: "Dawnbreak") was one of the most important philosophers and commentators in East Asian Buddhism and the most prolific scholar in Korean Buddhism.Muller, Charles元曉 Wonhyo, ''Digital Dictionary of Buddhism'' ...
, and
Yijing The ''I Ching'' or ''Yijing'' ( ), usually translated ''Book of Changes'' or ''Classic of Changes'', is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. The ''I Ching'' was originally a divination manual in ...
, had the intention of being reborn there after their death. Xuanzang was a famous devotee of Maitreya who vowed to be reborn in his Tushita palace so that he could "serve upon the Kind Lord", and to eventually "descend with him to perform the deeds of the Buddhas, until we attain unsurpassed bodhi". Xuanzang also taught a devotional verse (gatha) and taught everyone to recite it, the gatha is:
Namo Maitreya Tathagata, the Perfectly Awakened One! May all living beings swiftly be in the presence of your kind visage. Namo the inner community abiding with Maitreya Tathagata! After I shed this life, may I be reborn among them.
The work of the Silla monk Wŏnhyo (617–686), especially his commentary on the Maitreya sutras, is an important source for East Asian Maitreya devotion. According to this work, Maitreya devotion consists of a visualization meditation in which one visualizes the majestic adornments of Tushita heaven and "the superiority of receiving rebirth
here Here may refer to: Music * ''Here'' (Adrian Belew album), 1994 * ''Here'' (Alicia Keys album), 2016 * ''Here'' (Cal Tjader album), 1979 * ''Here'' (Edward Sharpe album), 2012 * ''Here'' (Idina Menzel album), 2004 * ''Here'' (Merzbow album), ...
as a bodhisattva."Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. p. 98. Cambridge University Press, 1988. According to Spongberg, "this means that one is to visualize oneself, personally present, amidst all of the splendors of Tusita Heaven, splendors that certainly include, but are not limited to, Maitreya." The practice further includes hearing the name of Maitreya (a kind of mindfulness of the Buddha), "respectfully trusting in the virtues manifested by this name", repenting past bad deeds, and other ritual acts like taking care of stupas, offering incense, flowers, etc. According to Wonhyo, this practice results in being reborn in Tushita to personally receive teachings from Maitreya so that one cannot relapse from Buddhahood. A famous episode during Xuanzang's travels illustrates his devotion to Maitreya. While sailing on the
Ganges The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...
, he was overtaken by
pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...
who were going to sacrifice him to
Durga Durga (, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic ...
. After asking for a moment of silence to meditate, Xuanzang meditated on Maitreya, praying he would be reborn in
Tushita Tuṣita (Sanskrit and Pāli) or Tushita is one of the six deva-worlds of the Buddhist Desire realm (Kāmadhātu), located between the Yāma heaven and the heaven. Like the other heavens, Tuṣita is said to be reachable through meditation. It ...
with him and focusing his thoughts on the bodhisattva. Xuanzang then had a vision of Maitreya seated on his glittering throne in Tushita surrounded by many devas. Then a storm came and the pirates, terrified, threw themselves at Xuanzang's feet. Modern Chinese Buddhist monks, such as
Xuyun Xuyun or Hsu Yun (; 5 September 1840? – 13 October 1959) was a renowned Chinese Chan Buddhist master and an influential Buddhist teacher of the 19th and 20th centuries. Early life Xuyun was purportedly born on 5 September 1840 in Fujian, Qing ...
, have also been known to have dreamt of going to the Inner Court of Tushita. The modern Chinese reformer
Taixu Taixu (Tai-hsu, ; January 8, 1890 – March 17, 1947) was a Buddhist modernist, activist and thinker who advocated for a reformation and revival of Chinese Buddhism by drawing upon eclectic domestic and foreign sources and ideologies. Biograph ...
太虛 (1890–1947), one of the key founders of
Humanistic Buddhism Humanistic Buddhism () is a modern philosophy practiced by Buddhist groups originating from Chinese Buddhism which places an emphasis on integrating Buddhist practices into everyday life and shifting the focus of ritual from the dead to the l ...
, was also a devotee of Maitreya. He is known to have promoted devotional practices and liturgies focused on Maitreya and was even said to have propagated the "Maitreya School" (''Cizong'' 慈宗). Maitreya devotion is most widely practice in Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, but it may also be found in other
Chinese religions Religion in China is diverse and most Chinese people are either non-religious or practice a combination of Buddhism and Taoism with a Confucian worldview, which is collectively termed as Chinese folk religion. The People's Republic of C ...
, like
Yiguandao Yiguandao / I-Kuan Tao (), meaning the Consistent Way or Persistent Way, is a Chinese salvationist religions, Chinese salvationist religious sect that emerged in the late 19th century, in Shandong, to become China's most important redemptive ...
. Maitreya devotion was also popular in Silla Korea and in
Japanese Buddhism Buddhism was first established in Japan in the 6th century CE. Most of the Japanese Buddhists belong to new schools of Buddhism which were established in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). During the Edo period (1603–1868), Buddhism was cont ...
.Maitreya Devotion (彌勒信仰)
Digital Dictionary of Buddhism The project of the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (usually referred to by the acronym DDB) was initiated by Charles Muller, a specialist in East Asian Buddhism, during his first year of graduate school when he realized the dearth of lexicographic ...
(Muller et al.)


Maitreya teachings and millenarianism

Throughout
Chinese history The history of China spans several millennia across a wide geographical area. Each region now considered part of the Chinese world has experienced periods of unity, fracture, prosperity, and strife. Chinese civilization first emerged in the Y ...
, the Buddhist prophecy of Maitreya and the doctrine of the age of social decline ( Chinese: 末法;
pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...
: ''Mò Fǎ''; "the Degenerate Age of Dharma") was adopted and wielded by numerous religious, social and political groups. Some of these groups operated as secret societies, like the White Lotus Society. Many of these groups held
millenarian Millenarianism or millenarism () is the belief by a religious organization, religious, social, or political party, political group or Social movement, movement in a coming fundamental Social transformation, transformation of society, after which ...
beliefs about the immanent arrival of Maitreya. Not all of these groups were orthodox Buddhists, and some combined
Chinese folk religion Chinese folk religion comprises a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. This includes the veneration of ''Shen (Chinese folk religion), shen'' ('spirits') and Chinese ancestor worship, ances ...
, Buddhism and
Taoist Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ...
beliefs. Nattier points out that there was a pre-existent Taoist belief in a messianic savior figure (
Li Hong Li Hong ( zh, s=, c=李弘, t=) (652 – 25 May 675), formally Emperor Xiaojing (孝敬皇帝, literally, "the filial and respectful emperor") with the temple name of Yizong (義宗), was a crown prince (not emperor, despite his formal title) of ...
). Some of these millenarian groups held antiestablishment views and even led rebellions against the Chinese state at various points of socio-political crisis.Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations 2nd edition.'' Routledge, 2009, p. 219. During the Sui Dynasty, there were three different rebellions led by three separate leaders who claimed to be Maitreya, one in 610 at the capital (
Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
) and two in 613 (one led by magician named Song Zixian and another by a monk named Xiang Haiming). During the Tang dynasty, another Maitreyan rebellion was led by a certain Wang Huaigu.Notable Maitreyan Rebellions
FYSM068—Collective Violence and Traumatic Memory in Asia. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
During the Song,
Wang Ze Wang Ze (died 14 March 1048) was a rebel leader during Emperor Renzong's reign in the Song dynasty, whose agrarian army occupied Bei Prefecture for 65 days before it was crushed by the government army led by Wen Yanbo. Wang utilized Maitrey ...
led a revolt of Buddhists expecting Maitreya (1047); they took over the city of Beizhou in
Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...
before they were crushed.Song Dynasty Renaissance 960–1279
, SAN-BECK. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
The
Song Dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
government declared Maitreya Sects to be "heresies and unsanctioned religions". Tens of thousands of Maitreya Sect followers were killed.Is Qigong Political? A new look at Falun Gong
QI: The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
The
Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...
saw the
Red Turban Rebellion The Red Turban Rebellions () were uprisings against the Yuan dynasty between 1351 and 1368, eventually leading to its collapse. Remnants of the Yuan imperial court retreated northwards and is thereafter known as the Northern Yuan in historiogr ...
(aka The First White Lotus Rebellion c. 1351–1368) led by Han Shantong, leader of the White Lotus Society, and Army Commander Liu Futong rebelled against the Mongols. A Second White Lotus Rebellion broke out in 1796 among impoverished settlers in the mountainous region that separates
Sichuan Sichuan is a province in Southwestern China, occupying the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau—between the Jinsha River to the west, the Daba Mountains to the north, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the south. Its capital city is Cheng ...
from
Hubei Hubei is a province of China, province in Central China. It has the List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP, seventh-largest economy among Chinese provinces, the second-largest within Central China, and the third-largest among inland ...
and
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
as a protest against heavy taxes imposed by the
Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...
rulers of the Qing Dynasty.White Lotus Rebellion
, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. May 2001. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
The White Lotus Society influenced the development of the 19th century " Society of Harmonious Fists" which led the
Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious F ...
in 1899.


Japanese Buddhism

Maitreya is a central figure for the Japanese Yogacara school (Hossō-shū) who considers Maitreya to be the founder of the tradition. Maitreya (Jp. Miroku) devotion was extensively promoted during the
Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
(1185–1333) by Hossō-shū scholars like Jōkei (1155–1213). Japanese illustration of Maitreya (Miroku), Chōgenji, Obama, Fukui, Japan. The monk and religious founder of the Shingon sect Kukai is believed by Shingon adherents to currently be in a state of meditation on
Mount Koya Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, ...
. He awaits the coming of Maitreya. Following his example, later Shingon meditators attempted to self-mummify (known as ''
Sokushinbutsu is a type of Buddhist mummy. In Japan the term refers to the practice of Buddhist monks observing asceticism to the point of death and entering mummification while alive. Although mummified monks are seen in a number of Buddhist countries, espe ...
'') through ascetic practices to also wait for the coming of Maitreya. In
Nichiren Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism (), also known as ''Hokkeshū'' (, meaning ''Lotus Sect''), is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222–1282) and is one of the Kamakura period school ...
, Maitreya is seen as a steward and protector of the bodhisattvas who teach the ''Lotus Sutra'', a view promoted by the sutra itself. According to
Nichiren was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''. Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
, all beings can be "Maitreya", since the true meaning of this name "designates the Votaries of the Lotus Sutra" who compassionately uphold the teaching of this sutra.


Non-Buddhist views


Chinese salvationist religions

Beginning with the White Lotus Society (whose roots go back to the 12th century), Maitreya has been an important part of many Chinese Salvanionist Religious sects. In many of these sects, Maitreya is seen as a "primordial one" and a heavenly religious leader who will come to change the world radically. The most common myth is that Maitreya is a savior sent by Eternal Venerable Mother (''
Wusheng Laomu The Queen Mother of the West, known by various local names, is a mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology, also worshipped later in neighbouring countries. She is attested from ancient times. The first historical information on her ...
'', i.e. Queen Mother of the West) to show people the way to their true home, the heaven of the Eternal Mother, where all beings are originally from.Sponberg, Alan; Hardacre, Helen (eds.). ''Maitreya, the Future Buddha''. pp. 110-112. Cambridge University Press, 1988. According to some of these sectarian salvation religions, Maitreya's arrival is immanent and he will usher the final age in which all beings will be reunited with the Eternal Mother, an event called the "recovery of original wholeness" (shou-yuan). One modern example of such a sect is
Yiguandao Yiguandao / I-Kuan Tao (), meaning the Consistent Way or Persistent Way, is a Chinese salvationist religions, Chinese salvationist religious sect that emerged in the late 19th century, in Shandong, to become China's most important redemptive ...
(Eternal Way), a 19th century salvationist religion. In Yiguandao, Maitreya is a key figure, a great savior, patriach and teacher sent by the Eternal Venerable Mother. Yiguandao claims that during the end times, Maitreya will incarnate on Earth to save humanity, known among believers as ''Mile Zushi'' ( Chinese: 彌勒祖師; lit. 'Grand Patriach Mile'). Maitreya appears as a similar figure in another popular salvation religion,
Xiantiandao The Xiantiandao (, or "Way of the Primordial"; Vietnamese language, Vietnamese: ', Japanese language, Japanese: ') or known as Blue/Green Lotus sect (), also simply Tiandao (; Vietnamese: ', Japanese: ') is one of the most productive currents of C ...
( Chinese: 先天道;
pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...
: ''Xiāntiān Dào''; lit. 'Way of Former Heaven').


Theosophy and New Age

In
Theosophy Theosophy is a religious movement established in the United States in the late 19th century. Founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and based largely on her writings, it draws heavily from both older European philosophies such as Neop ...
, Maitreya (or Lord Maitreya) has multiple aspects signifying not just the future Buddha, but similar concepts from other religious or spiritual traditions. For modern Theosophy, Maitreya is an advanced enlightened being and a high-ranking member of secret spiritual hierarchy, the Masters of the Ancient Wisdom. These masters guide the spiritual evolution of humanity and Maitreya is said to hold the "Office of the World Teacher". As such, Maitreya is in charge of teaching and guiding humanity. As
Annie Besant Annie Besant (; Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was an English socialist, Theosophy (Blavatskian), theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an arden ...
writes, Maitreya has "the duty of watching over the spiritual destinies of mankind; of guiding, blessing, maintaining the various religions of the world, founded in outline by Himself." Maitreya may occasionally incarnate in the world to guide humanity directly. Some Theosophists, like
C. W. Leadbeater Charles Webster Leadbeater (; 16 February 1854 – 1 March 1934) was a member of the Theosophical Society, Co-Freemasonry, an author on occult subjects, and the co-initiator, with J. I. Wedgwood, of the Liberal Catholic Church. Origi ...
, held that Maitreya previously reincarnated as
Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...
. In the early 20th century, leading Theosophists became convinced that a return of Maitreya as a "World Teacher" was imminent. At this time, a
South Indian South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
boy,
Jiddu Krishnamurti Jiddu Krishnamurti ( ; 11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian Philosophy, philosopher, speaker, writer, and Spirituality, spiritual figure. Adopted by members of the Theosophy, Theosophical tradition as a child, he was raised to fill ...
, was thought to be destined as the "vehicle" for Maitreya; however, in his early 30s, Krishnamurti, himself, declined to serve in this role. The Theosophical Maitreya gave rise to further Western conceptions of Maitreya as a future world teacher who would usher in a new age for humanity's spiritual evolution. The related
Ascended Master Teachings Ascendency or ascendancy is a quantitative attribute of an ecosystem, defined as a function of the ecosystem's trophic network. Ascendency is derived using mathematical tools from information theory Information theory is the mathematical s ...
also contains teachings about Maitreya. Various views regarding Maitreya can thus be found in contemporary
New Age New Age is a range of Spirituality, spiritual or Religion, religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western world, Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclecticism, eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise d ...
and
Esoteric Western esotericism, also known as the Western mystery tradition, is a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas and currents are united since they are largely distinct both from orthod ...
groups.


Post-theosophical movements

Since the growth of
Theosophy Theosophy is a religious movement established in the United States in the late 19th century. Founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and based largely on her writings, it draws heavily from both older European philosophies such as Neop ...
in the late 19th century, diverse religions and spiritual movements have adopted and reinterpreted older Jain, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs about Maitreya.
Share International Share International Foundation is a non-profit organization in London founded by Benjamin Creme (1922–2016) with sister organizations in Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Berkeley, California. From their 'about us' page, Share International describes the gro ...
, for example, equates
Maitreya Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pali), is a bodhisattva who is regarded as the future Buddhahood, Buddha of this world in all schools of Buddhism, prophesied to become Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha.Williams, Paul. ''Mahayana Buddhism: Th ...
with the prophesied figures of multiple religious traditions, claims that Maitreya is already present in the world but is preparing to make an open declaration of his presence in the near future. They claim that he is here to inspire mankind to create a new era based on sharing and justice. In the beginning of the 1930s, the
Ascended Master Teachings Ascendency or ascendancy is a quantitative attribute of an ecosystem, defined as a function of the ecosystem's trophic network. Ascendency is derived using mathematical tools from information theory Information theory is the mathematical s ...
placed Maitreya in the "Office of World Teacher" until 1956, when he was described as moving on to the "Office of Planetary Buddha" and "Cosmic Christ" in their concept of a Spiritual Hierarchy. In 1911, Rudolf Steiner claimed "Roughly three thousand years after our time the world will experience the Maitreya Buddha incarnation, which will be the last incarnation of Jeshu ben Pandira. This Bodhisattva, who will come as Maitreya Buddha, will also come in a physical body in our century in his reincarnation in the flesh—but not as Buddha—and he will make it his task to give humanity all the true concepts about the Christ Event." Steiner was careful to distinguish Jeshu ben Pandira as somebody entirely distinct from Jesus of Nazareth, as Maitreya was said to be entirely distinct from Jesus (but in moment-to-moment relationship with him the last three years of his life).


Ahmadiyya

The
Ahmadiyya Ahmadiyya, officially the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ), is an Islamic messianic movement originating in British India in the late 19th century. It was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908), who said he had been divinely appointed a ...
s believe
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (13 February 1835 – 26 May 1908) was an Indian religious leader and the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. He claimed to have been divinely appointed as the promised Messiah and '' Mahdī'', in fulfillment of th ...
(1835–1908) fulfilled expectations regarding the Maitreya Buddha. The founder has given the whole account about the truth of forthcoming of Jesus Christ and his travel via Tibet and the transformation of word "Masiha" to "Metteyya" in one of his Prolific writings "Jesus in India" (Maseeh Hindustan Mai).


Baháʼí Faith

Followers of the
Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion, essential worth of all religions and Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity, the unity of all people. Established by ...
believe that Bahá'u'lláh is the fulfillment of the prophecy of appearance of Maitreya, the fifth Buddha. Baháʼís believe that the prophecy that Maitreya will usher in a new society of tolerance and love has been fulfilled by Bahá'u'lláh's teachings on world peace.


Maitreya claimants

The following list is just a small selection of those people who claimed or claim to be the incarnation of Maitreya. Many have either used the Maitreya incarnation claim to form a new Buddhist sect, a new religious movement or cult or even a political rebellion. * In the 5th century, Fu Dashi (傅大士) implied that he was the reincarnation of Maitreya and founded the Maitreya Sect (彌勒教) which was established during the reign of Liang Wudi (梁武帝). * In 515, a monk from Jizhou of the
Northern Wei dynasty Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei ( zh, c=北魏, p=Běi Wèi), Tuoba Wei ( zh, c=拓跋魏, p=Tuòbá Wèi), Yuan Wei ( zh, c=元魏, p=Yuán Wèi) and Later Wei ( zh, t=後魏, p=Hòu Wèi), was an imperial dynasty of Chi ...
named Faqing (法庆), proclaimed himself as the "New Buddha", "Mahayana Buddha" quoting Buddhist scriptures that "Maitreya has descended to become a Buddha", and "Maitreya Buddha replaces Sakyamuni Buddha to save the world". Faqing gathered an army to rebel against the rule of the Wei dynasty in the name of Buddhism." * Feng Yi (冯宜) and Heyue (贺悦), Hu people from Wucheng County of the
Northern Wei dynasty Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei ( zh, c=北魏, p=Běi Wèi), Tuoba Wei ( zh, c=拓跋魏, p=Tuòbá Wèi), Yuan Wei ( zh, c=元魏, p=Yuán Wèi) and Later Wei ( zh, t=後魏, p=Hòu Wèi), was an imperial dynasty of Chi ...
in the 6th century led a rebellion claiming to be Maitreya Buddha against the Northern Wei army on the outskirts of Yuntai city. * Song Zixian (宋子贤), a native of
Tang County Tang County or Tangxian () is a county under the jurisdiction of Baoding prefecture-level city, in west-central Hebei province, People's Republic of China. Administrative divisions Towns: * Renhou (), Wangjing (), Gaochang (), Beiluo (), Baih ...
in the
Sui dynasty The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
, who was an expert in magic, and claimed to be able to transform into the form of Buddha and claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya Buddha and staged a rebellion. *In 613 the monk Xiang Haiming (向海明) claimed himself Maitreya and adopted an imperial title. He declared the beginning of new era Baiwu (白烏). *In the early years of Tang Dynasty rule (713), Wang Huaigu (王怀古) of Tangbeizhou led a rebellion claiming to be the New Buddha (interpreted as Maitreya Buddha). * In 690
Wu Zetian Wu Zetian (624 – 16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, was List of rulers of China#Tang dynasty, Empress of China from 660 to 705, ruling first through others and later in her own right. She ruled as queen consort , empress consort th ...
,
empress regnant A queen regnant (: queens regnant) is a female monarch, equivalent in rank, title and position to a king. She reigns '' suo jure'' (in her own right) over a realm known as a kingdom; as opposed to a queen consort, who is married to a reigni ...
of the Wu Zhou interregnum (690–705), proclaimed herself an incarnation of the future Buddha Maitreya, and made
Luoyang Luoyang ( zh, s=洛阳, t=洛陽, p=Luòyáng) is a city located in the confluence area of the Luo River and the Yellow River in the west of Henan province, China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zheng ...
the "holy capital". In 693 she temporarily replaced the compulsory ''
Dao De Jing The ''Tao Te Ching'' () or ''Laozi'' is a Chinese classic text and foundational work of Taoism traditionally credited to the sage Laozi, though the text's authorship and date of composition and compilation are debated. The oldest excavated po ...
'' in the curriculum with her own ''Rules for Officials''.Tang Dynasty Empire 618–906
, SAN-BECK. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
*
Gung Ye Kung Ye (; – 24 July 918) was the king of the short-lived state of Taebong (901–918), one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Kung Ye is alleged to have been a son of either King Heonan of Silla or Gyeongmun of Silla, though the accurac ...
, a South Korean warlord and king of the short-lived state of
Taebong Taebong (; ) was a state established by Kung Ye () on the Korean Peninsula in 901 during the Later Three Kingdoms. Name The state's initial name was Goryeo, after the official name of Goguryeo, a previous state in Manchuria and the northern ...
during the 10th century, claimed himself as the living incarnation of Maitreya and ordered his subjects to worship him. His claim was widely rejected by most Buddhist monks and later he was dethroned and killed by his own servants. *In 1047,
Wang Ze Wang Ze (died 14 March 1048) was a rebel leader during Emperor Renzong's reign in the Song dynasty, whose agrarian army occupied Bei Prefecture for 65 days before it was crushed by the government army led by Wen Yanbo. Wang utilized Maitrey ...
(王則), a farmer in
Zhuozhou Zhuozhou (), is a county-level city with 628,000 inhabitants in central Hebei province, southwest of Beijing. It is administered by Baoding prefecture-level city. Zhuozhou has 3 subdistricts, 6 towns, 5 townships, and 1 development zone. Histo ...
went to Beizhou to herd sheep for a local landowner, then rebelled claiming to be the ruler of Dongping (东平郡主) with the slogan "The time of Sakyamuni Buddha has passed, Maitreya Buddha takes the place of leading the power of nature." * Gao Tansheng (高昙晟), a monk from Huaizhou in the 7th century gathered nearly 50 monks to assassinate the county magistrate and the general of the city guard using the belief that the era of Maitreya Buddha was coming, and proclaimed himself as the "Mahayana Emperor (大乘皇帝)" and founded Jianyuan falun (建元法轮). *Liu Ningjing (刘凝静), a woman from Wannian County,
Sichuan Sichuan is a province in Southwestern China, occupying the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau—between the Jinsha River to the west, the Daba Mountains to the north, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the south. Its capital city is Cheng ...
during the
Northern Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, endin ...
claimed that the era of Maitreya would come to the world and rebelled. *Du Ke Yong (杜可用), also known as Du Wanyi (杜萬一), the leader of the Jiangxi people's revolution in the early Yuan dynasty, which began with the
White Lotus sect Illustration of a meeting of the Pure Land Buddhist White Lotus Society of Li_Gonglin.html" ;"title="Lushan Huiyuan in the style of Li Gonglin">Lushan Huiyuan in the style of Li Gonglin, The term White Lotus Society () or White Lotus Teaching ...
, referred to himself as Du Shengren (杜聖人), called by the name of Vidyārāja (明王), using the narrative "Maitreya has been born, and Vidyārāja has been born." *Wang Lun (王倫), a leader of the White Lotus sect in Shandong province, China in the 1770s said that he was the rebirth of Maitreya and destined to become the Emperor of China, he mobilized his followers and marched towards the city of Shouzhang to stage a rebellion in October 1774. *In 1777, a man named Wang Fulin, announced that he was an incarnation of Maitreya Buddha and his mother was Wusheng Laomu at a Yuan-tun sect meeting he called the Great Dragon Flower meeting with about a thousand disciples to stage an uprising in Hozhou city and Lanzhou province. * Bahá'u'lláh (1817–1892), the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, is recognized by Bahá'ís as the promised Maitreya Buddha and Promised One of all religions. * Wang Tianzu (王添組), a disciple of Wu Zixiang (10th patriarch of
Yiguandao Yiguandao / I-Kuan Tao (), meaning the Consistent Way or Persistent Way, is a Chinese salvationist religions, Chinese salvationist religious sect that emerged in the late 19th century, in Shandong, to become China's most important redemptive ...
) claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya and claimed to foresaw an approaching apocalypze. He had a disciple Liao Ganzhou (廖幹周) who gathered 1500 followers who wore white turbans emblazoned with red crosses and organized a rebellion in Shicheng province, Jiangxi in the year of November 1803. * Xu Hai Wu (徐還無), is believed by Yiguandao followers to be an incarnation of Maitreya along with Yang Hai Xiu (楊還虛) who is believed to be an incarnation of
Guan Yin Guanyin () is a common Chinese name of the bodhisattva associated with compassion known as Avalokiteśvara (). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means " he One WhoPerceives the Sounds of the World". Originally regarded as male in Indian ...
and became the 13th patriarch in Yiguandao's lineage. * Lin Qing (林清) claiming to be an reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha together with Li Wencheng (李文成) claiming to be an incarnation of the Vidyārāja jointly carried out the Eight Trigrams Rebellion in 1813. His followers considered him to be sent by Wusheng Laomu to overthrow the Qing dynasty which they considered had lost
mandate of heaven The Mandate of Heaven ( zh, t=天命, p=Tiānmìng, w=, l=Heaven's command) is a Chinese ideology#Political ideologies, political ideology that was used in History of China#Ancient China, Ancient China and Chinese Empire, Imperial China to legit ...
to rule. * Liu Xi Er (劉四兒), the son of Liu Song (劉松) of the
White Lotus sect Illustration of a meeting of the Pure Land Buddhist White Lotus Society of Li_Gonglin.html" ;"title="Lushan Huiyuan in the style of Li Gonglin">Lushan Huiyuan in the style of Li Gonglin, The term White Lotus Society () or White Lotus Teaching ...
also claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya Buddha, and had a mission on earth to help Niu Ba (牛八) who was allegedly a descendant of the Ming empire to regain power. *
Lu Zhongyi Lu Zhongyi (; 18 May 1849 – 26 February 1925) was the seventeenth patriarch of Yiguandao. His religious titles were ''Tung Li Zu'' and ''Jin Gong Zu Shi'' (金公祖師; Golden Elder). Lu is, according to Yiguandao doctrine, the incarnation ...
(1849–1925), the 17th patriarch of
Yiguandao Yiguandao / I-Kuan Tao (), meaning the Consistent Way or Persistent Way, is a Chinese salvationist religions, Chinese salvationist religious sect that emerged in the late 19th century, in Shandong, to become China's most important redemptive ...
, claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya. *
Jiddu Krishnamurti Jiddu Krishnamurti ( ; 11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian Philosophy, philosopher, speaker, writer, and Spirituality, spiritual figure. Adopted by members of the Theosophy, Theosophical tradition as a child, he was raised to fill ...
, Indian-origin meditator, writer who frequently give lecture about life is believed to be the vehicle for Maitreya by Theosophical doctrine. *
Ram Bahadur Bomjon Ram Bahadur Bomjon (; born , sometimes spelled ''Bomjan'', ''Banjan'', or ''Bamjan''), previously known as ''Palden Dorje'' (his monastic name) is an ascetic from Ratanapuri, Bara district, Nepal who gained widespread attention and media popula ...
, a 34-year-old Nepalese ascetic who has been hailed by many as the new Buddha. Publicly labeling himself since 2012 as the "Maitriya" Guru, he and his followers openly claim that he is the awaited Maitreya Buddha. He is a controversial figure who is currently under investigation for rape charges, and separately for the disappearance of four members of his ashram. *
L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author and the founder of Scientology. A prolific writer of pulp science fiction and fantasy novels in his early career, in 1950 he authored the pseudoscie ...
, founder of the belief systems
Dianetics Dianetics is a set of pseudoscientific ideas and practices regarding the human mind, which were invented in 1950 by science fiction writer L.Ron Hubbard. Dianetics was originally conceived as a form of psychological treatment, but was reje ...
and
Scientology Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by the American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It is variously defined as a scam, a Scientology as a business, business, a cult, or a religion. Hubbard initially develo ...
, suggested he was "Metteya" (Maitreya) in the 1955 poem '' Hymn of Asia''. Numerous editors and followers of Hubbard claim that in the book's preface, specific physical characteristics said to be outlined—in unnamed
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
sources—as properties of the coming Maitreya were properties with which Hubbard's appearance supposedly aligned. * Samael Aun Weor (1917–1977) – stated in ''The Aquarian Message'' that "the Maitreya Buddha Samael is the Kalki Avatar of the New Age." The Kalkian Avatar and Maitreya Buddha, he claimed, are the same "White Rider" of the ''
Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation, also known as the Book of the Apocalypse or the Apocalypse of John, is the final book of the New Testament, and therefore the final book of the Bible#Christian Bible, Christian Bible. Written in Greek language, Greek, ...
''. *
Li Hongzhi Li Hongzhi ( zh, c=李洪志; born 1951 or 1952) is a Chinese religious leader. He is the founder and leader of Falun Gong, or ''Falun Dafa'', a United States–based new religious movement. Li began his public teachings of Falun Gong on 13 May ...
(李洪志), founder of the
Falun Gong Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a new religious movement founded by its leader Li Hongzhi in China in the early 1990s. Falun Gong has its global headquarters in Dragon Springs, a compound in Deerpark, New York, United States, near t ...
spiritual movement, whom some followers believe to be Maitreya. * American guru and godman Adi Da was suggested by his devotees to be Maitreya. * Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda - A Puerto Rican preacher who claimed to be Maitreya and Jesus Christ reincarnated in the early 2000s. * Followers of B.R. Ambedkar in the
Dalit Buddhist Movement The Dalit Buddhist movement is a religious as well as a socio-political movement among Dalits in India which was started by B. R. Ambedkar. He re-interpreted Buddhism and created a new school of Buddhism called Navayana. The movement has sou ...
regard him as a
bodhisattva In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, '' bodhi'' ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or ''bodhi'' in ...
, the Maitreya, although he never claimed it himself. * In
Honbushin (or 本普請, ) is a Tenrikyo-based ''Japanese new religions, shinshūkyō'' (Japanese new religion) founded on April 26, 1961 by Ōnishi Tama (大西玉), also known as "Miroku-sama" (みろく様) in the religion. It is headquartered in Okaya ...
, a
Japanese new religion Japanese new religions are new religious movements established in Japan. In Japanese, they are called or . Japanese scholars classify all religious organizations founded since the middle of the 19th century as "new religions"; thus, the term refe ...
, the religion's founder
Ōnishi Tama Ōnishi Tama (大西 玉, November 19, 1916 – September 1, 1969) was a Japanese religious leader known as the founder of Honbushin, a Tenrikyo-based (Japanese new religion). She was the daughter of Ōnishi Aijirō, who had founded the Ho ...
(1916–1969) is referred to as Miroku-sama (みろく様). ''Miroku'' (みろく) is the Japanese name for Maitreya, and ''sama'' is an honorific suffix. * Some modern authors claim the
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
Avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...
Kalki Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages i ...
is Maitreya. * Some Muslim writers claimed
Islamic prophet Prophets in Islam () are individuals in Islam who are believed to spread God's message on Earth and serve as models of ideal human behaviour. Some prophets are categorized as messengers (; sing. , ), those who transmit divine revelation, mos ...
Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
as Maitreya.


Gallery

File:Rituals in Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery.webm, Rituals in Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery Nepal File:MathuraMaitreya.JPG, Maitreya (
water bottle A water bottle is a container that is used to hold liquids, mainly water, for the purpose of transporting a drink while travelling or while otherwise away from a supply of potable water. Water bottles are usually made of plastic, glass, metal. ...
on left thigh), art of
Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
, second century CE File:Maitreya Komering Srivijaya Front.JPG, A 9th-century
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
n art bronze Maitreya from
South Sumatra South Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the southeast of the island of Sumatra. The capital and largest city of the province is the city of Palembang. The province borders the provinces of Jambi to the north ...
. A
stupa In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...
adorns his crown. File:TheFutureBuddhaGandhara3rdCentury.jpg, The future Buddha Maitreya, Gandhara, 3rd century CE File:Sitting Maitreya-AO 2910-IMG 8485-black.jpg, Sitting Maitreya (holding
kumbha A kumbha () is a type of pottery in India. Traditionally, it is made by Kumbhars, also known as ''Prajapati''s. In the context of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology, the kumbha symbolises the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative ...
), Gandhara, 3rd century CE File:Nepal Kathmandu Boudhanath 2.jpg, A statue of Maitreya Buddha inside Trikal Maitreya Buddha Vihara (Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery) at Bouddhanath premises,
Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...
, Nepal File:SeatedMaitreyaKoreaMuseeGuimet.jpg, Seated Maitreya, Korean, 4–5th century CE,
Guimet Museum The Guimet Museum (full name in ; ''MNAAG''; ) is a Parisian art museum with one of the largest collections of Asian art outside of Asia that includes items from Cambodia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Tibet, India, and Nepal, among other countries. Found ...
File:Maitreya Koryuji.JPG, Seated Maitreya, Japan, Asuka period (538–710) File:Budai Statue flipped.jpg, The monk
Budai Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddh ...
as an incarnation of Maitreya File:Maitreya and discilples carving in Feilai Feng Caves.jpg, Maitreya and disciples in
Budai Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddh ...
form, as depicted at the Feilai Feng grottos near
Lingyin Temple Lingyin Temple () is a prominent Chan Buddhist temple near Hangzhou that is renowned for its many pagodas and grottos. Its name is commonly and literally translated into English as Temple of the Soul's Retreat. The monastery is the largest ...
in
Hangzhou Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...
, China File:Bingling Temple 02.jpg, Monumental statue of Maitreya at
Bingling Temple The Bingling Temple () is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. It lies just north of where the Yellow River empties into the Liujiaxia Reservoir. Administrat ...
, China File:伏虎羅漢納納答密答喇尊者.jpg, Statue of the Tiger Subduing
arhat In Buddhism, an ''Arhat'' () or ''Arahant'' (, 𑀅𑀭𑀳𑀦𑁆𑀢𑁆) is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved ''Nirvana (Buddhism), Nirvana'' and has been liberated from the Rebirth (Buddhism ...
, believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya File:Maitreya figurine, Bat Trang kiln, Hanoi, Restored Le dynasty, 17th-18th century AD, crackle glazed ceramic - National Museum of Vietnamese History - Hanoi, Vietnam - DSC05441.JPG, Maitreya figurine, Bát Tràng kiln, Hanoi,
Revival Lê dynasty The Revival Lê dynasty ( 茹黎中興; Hán-Việt: 黎中興朝 ''Lê trung hưng triều''), also called the Later Lê Restoration in historiography, officially Đại Việt (Chữ Hán: 大越), was a Vietnamese dynasty that existed between ...
, 17th–18th century CE File:National_Museum_of_Cambodia_(12105737664).jpg, Eight-armed male deity (Maitreya). Provenance Vat Ampil Tok, Kg. Chhnang. 10th century. Bronze with dark patina. Green traces on the feet. H. 75 cm. Inv. 2024.
National Museum of Cambodia The National Museum of Cambodia () is Cambodia's largest museum of cultural history and is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum. It is located in Chey Chumneas, Phnom Penh. Overview The museum houses one of the world's l ...
. Phnom Penh. File:Saigon Lai Thieu Ceramic (9997205636).jpg, Maitreya figurine, Lái Thiêu kiln, HCMC,
Nguyễn dynasty The Nguyễn dynasty (, chữ Nôm: 茹阮, chữ Hán: 朝阮) was the last List of Vietnamese dynasties, Vietnamese dynasty, preceded by the Nguyễn lords and ruling unified Vietnam independently from 1802 until French protectorate in 1883 ...
, 18th–19th century CE File:Tượng Di Lặc trên núi Cấm.jpg, Statue of Maitreya in
Budai Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddh ...
form surrounded by a
dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
on Cấm Mountains, Vietnam Maitreya_Buddha_-_Nubra.jpg, 110 ft (35 metre) Maitreya Buddha facing down the Shyok River, Nubra Valley near Diskit Monastery Beopjusa-TempleStay-Korea_1765.jpg , Golden Maitreya Statue rises just over 100 feet or 55 meters in the center of grounds of the temple Beopjusa, built in 1990


See also

*
Baháʼu'lláh Baháʼu'lláh (, born Ḥusayn-ʻAlí; 12 November 1817 – 29 May 1892) was an Iranian religious leader who founded the Baháʼí Faith. He was born to an aristocratic family in Iran and was exiled due to his adherence to the messianic Báb ...
, similar eschatological figure in the Baháʼí Faith *
Budai Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddh ...
, a traditional manifestation of Maitreya *
Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...
, similar eschatological figure in Christianity *
History of Buddhism in India Buddhism is an ancient Indian religion, which arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now Bihar, India). It is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE and was deemed a "Buddha" or an " ...
** Dalit Buddhist movement ** Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent ** Navayana ** Spread of Buddhism * Index of Buddhism-related articles *
Kalki Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages i ...
* Kalki Purana * Leshan Giant Buddha * Lord of Light * Mahdi, similar eschatological and messianic figure in Islam.Hardacre, H., van Voss, M. H., & Werblowsky, R. J. Z. (1984). Chronicle and Calendar of Events. Numen, 155-158. * Maitreya (Benjamin Creme) * Maitreya (Mahābhārata) * Maitreya Project * Maitreya (Theosophy) * Messiah, similar eschatological figure in Christianity and Judaism * Paraclete, similar eschatological figure in Christianity *
Saoshyant Saoshyant ( ) is an Avestan-language term that literally means "one who brings benefit", and which is used in several different ways in Zoroastrian scripture and tradition. In particular, the expression is the proper name of ''the'' Saoshyant, an ...
, similar eschatological figure in Zoroastrianism * Secular Buddhism


Notes


Further reading

* *Mipham, Jamgon; Maitreya; Shenga, Khenpo; Dharmachakra Translation Committee, trans. (2013). ''Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Intrinsic Nature: Maitreya's Dharmadharmatavibhanga with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham.'' Snow Lion. . * *Mipham, Jamgon; Maitreya; Dharmachakra Translation Committee, trans. (2021). ''Middle Beyond Extremes: Maitreya's'' Madhyantavibhaga ''with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham''. Snow Lion. . * * * * *


External links

*
April 2010 Smithsonian Magazine Article





The Jonang Dharma on Maitreya
* {{Authority control Maitreya, Bodhisattvas Buddhist eschatology Sanskrit words and phrases Messianism Sinhalese Buddhist deities Buddhism in China Chinese gods Journey to the West characters