Maitreya
Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pali), is a bodhisattva who is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in all schools of Buddhism, prophesied to become Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha.[2][3] In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is also referred to as Ajitā (Invincible, Unconquerable). In Tibetan Buddhism he is known as the "Lord of Love" or the "Noble Loving One" (Pakpa Jampa).[4] The root of his name is the Sanskrit word maitrī (Pali: metta; meaning friendliness, loving-kindness). The name Maitreya is also related to the Indo-Iranian name Mitra.[5]
This article is about the Buddhist Bodhisattva Maitreya. For other uses, see Maitreya (disambiguation).Maitreya
मैत्रेय
(Maitreya)
मेत्तेय्य
(Metteyya)
彌勒菩薩
弥勒菩萨
(Pinyin: Mílè Púsa)
Buddha Mitry
弥勒菩薩
(romaji: Miroku Bosatsu)
မဲၣ်တယါ ဘူးဒး
(Mehtuhyah Boodah)
សិអារ្យមេត្រី, អរិយមេត្តយ្យ
미륵보살
彌勒菩薩
(RR: Mireuk Bosal)
ᠮᠠᠢᠢᠳᠠᠷᠢ
ᠠᠰᠠᠷᠠᠯᠲᠤ
ဢရီႉမိတ်ႈတေႇယႃႉ
මෛත්රී බුදුන්
(Maithri Budun)
ᜀᜒᜆᜎ᜔ᜌᜀ
(Maitleya)
พระศรีอริยเมตไตรย
(RTGS: Phra Si Ariya Mettrai)
彌勒菩薩
(Di lặc Bồ Tát)
In all branches of Buddhism, Maitreya is viewed as the direct successor of Gautama Buddha. As the fifth and final Buddha of the current kalpa (eon), Maitreya's teachings will be focused around re-establishing the Buddha's Dharma on Earth. According to scriptures, Maitreya's teachings will be similar to those of Gautama (Śākyamuni).[6][7] The arrival of Maitreya is prophesied to occur during an era of decline 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 as a Buddha (since the Buddha's teachings have not been forgotten yet). Traditional Buddhists believe that Maitreya currently resides in Tushita heaven.[8] 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 tradition through his revelation of various scriptures like the Mahāyānasūtrālamkārakā, and the Madhyāntavibhāga.[9][10][11]
Maitreya has also been employed in a millenarian role by many non-Buddhist philosophies and religions, such as Theosophy, New Age, the White Lotus, as well as by modern new religious movements, such as Yiguandao and Falun Gong.
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.
The future Buddha Maitreya, Gandhara, 3rd century CE
A statue of Maitreya Buddha inside Trikal Maitreya Buddha Vihara (Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery) at Bouddhanath premises, Kathmandu, Nepal
Seated Maitreya, Japan, Asuka period (538–710)
Maitreya and disciples in Budai form, as depicted at the Feilai Feng grottos near Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, China
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. Phnom Penh.
Golden Maitreya Statue rises just over 100 feet or 55 meters in the center of the Beopjusa Temple Grounds, built in 1990
