Know in detail who is Maitreya, this figure that represents the Buddha of the future with its representation and characteristics.
Who is Maitreya?
Maitreya, in the Buddhist tradition, is the future Buddha, currently a bodhisattva residing in Tushita heaven, who will descend to earth to preach the dharma (“law”) again when Gautama Buddha’s teachings have completely decayed.
In Buddhist mythology he was accepted by all schools of Buddhism and remains the only bodhisattva generally honored by the Theravada tradition. The name Maitreya is derived from the Sanskrit maitri (“kindness”). 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 century, and his images are found throughout the Buddhist world; many of them beautifully convey his characteristic air of expectation and promise.
He is depicted in painting and sculpture as a bodhisattva and as a buddha, and is often depicted seated in European fashion or with his ankles slightly crossed.
Description
Maitreya is depicted in Buddhist art in many ways. Classical” representations often show him seated, as in a chair, with his feet on the ground. He is also depicted standing.
As a bodhisattva he is dressed as royalty; as a Buddha, he is dressed as a monk. He is said to reside in the heaven of Tushita, which is part of the Deva Realm of the Kamadhatu (Desire Realm, which is the world depicted in the Bhavachakra).
In China, Maitreya is identified as the “Laughing Buddha,” Pu-tai, which is the fat and cheerful portrait of Buddha that emerged from 10th century Chinese folklore.
Origins of Maitreya
Maitreya makes his first appearance in Buddhist scriptures in the Cakkavatti Sutta of the Pali Tipitika (Digha Nikaya 26). In this sutta, the Buddha spoke of a future time when the dharma is completely forgotten. Eventually, “Another Buddha, Metteyya (Maitreya), will gain Awakening, his monastic sangha numbering in the thousands.”
This is the only time the historical Buddha is recorded mentioning Maitreya. From this simple commentary emerged one of the most important figures in Buddhist iconography.
In the early first millennium CE, Mahayana Buddhism further developed Maitreya, giving him a specific story and attributes. The Indian scholar Asanga (ca. 4th century CE), co-founder of the Yogacara school of Buddhism, is particularly associated with the Teachings of Maitreya.
The story of Maitreya
The Cakkavatti Sutta speaks of a distant time when all skill in the practice of the dharma is lost and humanity will struggle with itself. Some people will take refuge in the wilderness, and when all others are killed, these few will emerge and seek to live virtuously. Then Maitreya will be born among them.
After this, various Mahayana traditions weave a story that closely resembles the life of the historical Buddha. Maitreya will leave Tushita heaven and be born in the human realm as a prince. As an adult, he will leave his wives and palaces and seek enlightenment; he will sit in meditation until he is fully awakened. He will teach the dharma exactly as other Buddhas have taught it.
Before getting too caught up in anticipation, it is important to understand that in most schools of Buddhism linear time is an illusion. This makes speaking of a literal future a bit problematic since “future” is an illusion. From this perspective, it would be a great mistake to think of Maitreya as a messianic figure who will come in the future to save humanity.
Maitreya Cults
One of the central teachings of the Buddha is that there is no one “out there” to save us; we are liberated by our own efforts. But the human longing for someone to come along, fix our problems and make us happy is powerfully strong.
False cults
Over the centuries, many have turned Maitreya into a messianic figure who will change the world. Here are just a few examples:
- A sixth-century Chinese monk named Faqing proclaimed himself to be the new Buddha, Maitreya, and attracted many followers. Unfortunately, Faqing seems to have been a psychopath, persuading his followers to become bodhisattvas by killing people.
- A 19th century spiritualist movement called Theosophy promoted the idea that Maitreya, a world redeemer, would soon come to lead humanity out of darkness. His failure to appear was a major setback for the movement.
- The late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya (using the Sanskrit spelling, Mettayya). Hubbard even managed to put together some fake scriptures to “prove it.”
- An organization called Share International teaches that Maitreya, the world teacher, has been living in London since the 1970s and will gradually make himself known. In 2010, Share founder Benjamin Creme announced that Maitreya had been interviewed on U.S. television and had been seen by millions. However, Creme did not reveal which channel hosted the interview.
- People picking up Creme’s claim have decided that Maitreya is the antichrist. Opinions differ as to whether this is good or bad.
It should be emphasized that even if Maitreya is going to appear in the literal future, this is not supposed to happen until the dharma is completely lost. And then Maitreya will teach the dharma exactly as it has been taught before. Since the dharma is available in the world today, there is no literal reason for Maitreya to appear. There is nothing he can give us that we do not already have.
The origin of the Maitreya myth
Buddhism developed, as traditionally accepted, during three distinguished periods of time, called: the Former, Middle and Latter Dharma Day.
The Latter Dharma Day refers to a time when Shakyamuni’s early and provisional (or preparatory) teachings would lose their power to help people, while, at the same time, his final teaching (of the Lotus Sutra) would emerge and flourish everywhere.
However, several Mahayana schools still follow the transitional (preparatory) teachings of the Buddha expounded before the Lotus Sutra. In these teachings prior to the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni had not yet revealed the Eternal Dharma.
For this reason, most schools of Buddhism (which do not accept the Lotus Sutra as the final and complete teaching in which Shakyamuni revealed the eternal Dharma) had to develop a Buddhist myth of a new Buddha who would reveal the eternal Dharma: starting Buddhism anew after its decline The belief in a “future Buddha” indicates doubts that Shakyamauni could deliver to humanity the final eternal message of Buddhism.
Self-destructive teachings
Traditional Buddhist schools teach that their own teachings are destined for ruin and disintegration in the future, thus acknowledging that their teachings are transitory and incomplete.
But if Shakyamuni was a Buddha capable of declaring the teaching of the eternal truth, the Universal Dharma, then there is no need for that Eternal Dharma to suffer future decline or failure.
The idea that a new Buddha (Maitreya) is necessary to declare a “new Dharma” undermines Shakyamuni’s capacity and validity as a Buddha.
Why is Maitreya redundant?
Buddhist teachings are expressions of permanent laws that do not disappear in time. Buddhist monks quote the Lotus Sutra: “All the characteristics of the world are eternal“. There is no “expiration date” for Buddhist truth.
For example, the Law of Impermanence, the Principle of Nonduality, the nature of Emptiness (non-substantiality), the truth of Dependent Origination, the nature of the Buddha Inherent in all people among others, explain that these principles are consistent and do not change in time or space They are final, complete and eternal, because they describe life, which is eternal.
The principles of Buddhism do not “decay”. For this reason, the supposed “new Buddha” will not bring anything “new” to the teachings now available in the Lotus Sutra, and as such the concept of New Buddha is redundant.
