Maitreya ,The Coming Buddha

Maitreya is the Buddha of the future, who will be born to teach enlightenment in the next age. According to Mahayana teachings, a Buddha is first born as a Bodhisattva and then, after many lifetimes, progresses on to Buddhahood. The historical Buddha was himself referred to as a bodhisattva before becoming the Buddha.

Where is Maitreya now?

The Tuṣita Heaven, Maitreya currently resides in the Tusita Heaven, said to be reachable through meditation. Gautama Buddha also lived here before he was born into the world, as all bodhisattvas live in Tuṣita Heaven before they descend to the human realm to become Buddhas.

 

What is a Maitreya?

Maitreya is the Buddha of the future, who will be born to teach enlightenment in the next age. According to Mahayana teachings, a Buddha is first born as a Bodhisattva and then, after many lifetimes, progresses on to Buddhahood. The historical Buddha was himself referred to as a bodhisattva before becoming the Buddha.

Maitreya, in Buddhist tradition, is the future Buddha, presently a bodhisattva residing in Tushita heaven, who will descend to earth to preach a new Dharma (“law”) when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have completely decayed. Maitreya is the earliest Bodhisattva around whom a cult developed and is mentioned in scriptures from the 3rd century CE. He was accepted by all schools of Buddhism and is still the only bodhisattva generally honoured by the Theravada tradition.

The name Maitreya is derived from the Sanskrit Maitri (“friendliness”). In Pali the name becomes Metteyya, in Chinese Milefo, in Japanese Miroku, and in Mongolian Maidari; in Tibetan the bodhisattva is known as Byams-pa (“Kind,” or “Loving”). 

His worship was especially popular from the 4th to the 7th centuries, and his images are found throughout the Buddhist world; many of them beautifully convey his characteristic air of expectancy and promise. He is represented in painting and sculpture both as a bodhisattva and as a buddha, and he is frequently depicted seated in European fashion or with his ankles loosely crossed.

In all branches of Buddhism, Maitreya Buddha is viewed as the direct successor of Gautama Buddha. (In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita.) According to the scriptures, Maitreya's teachings will be similar to those of Gautama Buddha (also known as Sakyamuni Buddha). The arrival of Maitreya is prophesied to occur during an era when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been disregarded or largely forgotten.

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 and that he is the Buddha of the future. 

While Maitreya is said to be a Bodhisattva who has long been prophesied to appear on Earth (being mentioned in scriptures as early as the 3rd century CE), traditional Buddhists believe that Maitreya at present resides in Tushita heaven. 

On account of his enlightenment and his relinquishing any sense of personal self or ego, Maitreya is poised to teach self-realisation as well as right action and right relationship, or the Dharma.

One mention of the prophecy of Maitreya is in the Maitreyavyākaraṇa. It implies that Maitreya is a teacher of meditative trance Sadhanā and states that gods, men, and other beings:

They will lose their doubts, and the torrents of their cravings will be cut off. Free from all misery, they will manage to cross the ocean of becoming, and, as a result of Maitreya's teachings, they will lead a holy life. No longer will they regard anything as their own; they will have no possession, no gold or silver, no home, no relatives! But they will lead the holy life of oneness under Maitreya's guidance. They will have torn the net of the passions; they will manage to enter into trances; and theirs will be an abundance of joy and happiness, for they will lead a holy life under Maitreya's guidance. 

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease.

But increase further and further.

 

Dedication of Merit

By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

 

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